Four books on the eleventh of Matthew

because he is not in his element, when he is in holy duties, and sanctifying the Sabbath, he is not in his element, when he is in wicked company, drinking, and Swearing, then he is in his element, but now that which is your elements is but sand to a Godly heart, and that is the reason that you think that such Godly people are dumpish, and heavy, and Melancholy, because they are not merry as you are, it is because of your company, they are not in their element, when they are ⟨p. 707⟩amongst company that they can converse withal, and talk of Godliness, and showing and discovering one another's hearts, and telling the experiences of Gods working in their hearts one to another, and so breathing graces one upon another, and praying one with another, then they can be as merry, and be as delightful in such things as you can be amongst your companions, swearing, rioting, and the like, you think it is impossible they should be so, but it is so, that is their proper element, as the other is your element, and therefore it is as easy for a Saint to go on in the ways of religion, as for a fish to swim in the water, so far as the regenerate part prevails, all Satisfaction flows from a suitableness between the faculty and the object, now the ways of God are the most suitable things to a gracious heart that can be, therefore there is a great deal of ease in them, there is nothing required in them but he finds it in his heart before it is required. It is said in Prov. 18. 2. Of a fool, that he doth not receive the way of Wisdom, the instruction of Wisdom, it is in your books, a fool hath not delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover it self, but I find it translated in the old vulgar Latin, that a fool receives not understanding, receives not what you say to him, except those things that are in his heart be spoken, except you speak to him such things as are in his heart, so they turn it, and so it is true in this, speak to any man any thing, if there be not a principle in his heart, to close with the thing that you speak, he will not easily receive it, therefore a fool will not receive that which you speak to him of, because it is not suitable to his heart.

because he is not in his element, when he is in holy duties, and sanctifying the Sabboth, he is not in his element, when he is in wicked company, drinking, and Swearing, then he is in his element, but now that which is your elements is but sand to a Godly heart, and that is the reason that you think that such Godly people are dumpish, and heavy, and Melancholy, because they are not merry as you are, it is because of your company, they are not in their element, when they are