An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily…An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily…

As if a man were tied still to shoot in a warping bow; he settles himself in his ⟨p. 70⟩right postures, aims directly at the White, but his warping bow still carries the arrow quite besides the Butt, and his skill is rendered ineffectual: so the poor upright Christian in a duty, orders his business and his heart, as well as ever he can, and aims at the glorifying of God, and getting good to his soul; but the corruption of his nature diverts him, and perverts him from his purpose. This hinders the elevation of the soul, which would fix it in God's service, like one that hath a light heart, and an heavy body; the light heart would fly, the heavy body clips her wings, and will hardly creep. O, saith the soul, now will I arise and soar into heaven; I must, I will, speak with my God; my wants are pressing, my sins increase, Eternity approaches, who will give me the wings of an Eagle? I'll never live so far from God, I will away. Thus this Bird of Paradise takes wing, when behold the stone of her corrupt nature hangs at her leg, and weighs her down: she flutters a little, but cannot fly, for her heart she cannot fly, indeed because of the heart she cannot fly^*.

As if a man were tied still to shoot in a warping bow; he settles himself in his ⟨p. 70⟩right postures, aims directly at the White, but his warping bow still carries the arrow quite besides the Butt, and his skill is rendred ineflectual: so the poor upright Christian in a duty, orders his business and his heart, as well as ever he can, and aims at the glorifying of God, and getting good to his soul; but the corruption of his nature diverts him, and perverts him from his purpose. This hinders the elevation of the soul, which would fix it in God's service, like one that hath a light heart, and an heavy body; the light heart would flie, the heavy body clips her wings, and will hardly creep. O, saith the soul, now will I arise and soar into heaven; I must, I will, speak with my God; my wants are pressing, my sins increase, Eternity approaches, who will give me the wings of an Eagle? I'le never live so far from God, I will away. Thus this Bird of Paradise takes wing, when behold the stone of her corrupt nature hangs at her leg, and weighs her down: she flutters a little, but cannot flie, for her heart she cannot flie, indeed because of the heart she cannot flie