The souls possession of ChristThe soules possession of Christ

It is pretty to consider it even in nature; as it is ⟨p. 28⟩with a boat that stands partly upon the stream, and partly upon the ground; so long as it is thus the stream cannot carry it; but commit the boat wholly to the stream, and then it glides along easily: So it is with our souls, while we rest partly upon Christ, and partly upon our own strength, and what our parts and wit can do; the power of our Lord Jesus Christ will never carry us, nor enable us so cheerfully to go on in a Christian course, as otherwise we might do. It is true, the Lord hath given us power to do what he requires, ⟨p. 29⟩but the first moving of grace is not in our selves; the Fountain is in Christ, and to him we must first go, and from him have our graces supplied and strengthened.

It is pretty to consider it even in nature; as it is ⟨p. 28⟩with a boate that stands partly upon the streame, and partly upon the ground; so long as it is thus the streame cannot carry it; but commit the boat wholy to the streame, and then it glides along easily: So it is with our souls, while wee rest partly upon Christ, and partly upon our owne strength, and what our parts and wit can doe; the power of our Lord Jesus Christ will never carry us, nor enable us so chearefully to goe on in a Christian course, as otherwise wee might doe. It is true, the Lord hath given us power to doe what hee requires, ⟨p. 29⟩but the first moving of grace is not in our selves; the Fountaine is in Christ, and to him we must first goe, and from him have our graces supplyed and strengthened.

Here is the cause why many a Christian finding himself weak, and his corruptions strong, is much daunted, because he looks only to himself; and when any temptation stirs, and his lusts move, presently he begins to quarrel with his own heart, and saith, Never any man had such a heart as I have; by which means he is more troubled than before, and pores only upon his sins,