Heaven taken

Take heed of setting up your ¹stay in the lowest pitch of grace. He that hath the least grace, may have motion, but not violence. It is a pitiful thing to be contented with just so much grace as will keep life and soul ⟨p. 182⟩together^*. A sick man may have life, but is not lively. Grace may live in the heart, but is sickly, and doth not flourish into lively acts. Weak grace will not withstand strong temptations, or carry through great sufferings: it will hardly follow Christ upon the water. Little grace will not do God much service. A Tree that hath but little sap, will not have much fruit. It may be said of some Christians, though they are not still born, yet they are starvelings in grace: They are like a ship that comes with much ado to the Haven. Oh labour to grow to further degrees of sanctity. The more grace, the more strength; and the more strength, the more violence.

1. 19.
2. *Socordis a•imae est di ere Sufficit mihi si salver, quisque autem conari debet ut in Coelo sit primus. Corn. à Lap.

If you would be violent for Heaven, ¹take heed of this opinion, That it is not so hard to get the Kingdom; less violence will serve turn. He that thinks he need not run a Race so fast, will be apt to slack his pace. This hath undone many. Who will take pains for Heaven, that thinks it may he had at a cheaper rate? But if it ⟨p. 183⟩be so easy, what needs Christ say, Strive as in an Agony. What needed Paul beat down his body? Why doth the Text speak of taking the Kingdom by force? Is not conversion called a new birth?