Four books on the eleventh of Matthew

But now a Godly man, when you speak to him the things of God, and what the ways of Christ are, such a man receives them, because you speak to him that that is in his heart, it is in his heart before, ⟨p. 708⟩you speak to his heart, and he finds somewhat in his heart that comes presently to close with it, which makes it easy, there is in his heart such a principle, as upon mentioning any thing of the ways of Christ, he closeth with it, and takes hold upon it, there being the same thing in his heart, for though there be an object seen, except there be something in the eye suitable to the object to close with it, there would be no sight, so the heart of a Christian makes the ways of God easy, and readily embraceth them, because there is something in the heart that is like to Gods ways, and therefore it is ready to receive and close with them. As now if you bring fire to a stick that hath some fire in it, as soon as ever you bring the fire, the fire that was in the stick before, will come out to the other fire that you bring near to it, and will join together and so grow into a flame. If you bring a candle that hath some fire remaining upon it unto a fire, it lights presently, so it is with the heart of a Godly man, a gracious heart sets before him the excellency of the ways of God, now there is a holy principle, a principle of holiness in the heart that comes out unto what is said in the word of the ways of God, and so closeth with them: I, these are the things that I find in my heart; now these things must needs be easy, because they are the very element of a gracious heart, and they are suitable to his heart, there is a freeness to choose, That is the Second.

But now a Godly man, when you speak to him the things of God, and what the waies of Christ are, such a man receives them, because you speak to him that that is in his heart, it is in his heart before, ⟨p. 708⟩you speak to his heart, and he finds somwhat in his heart that comes presently to close with it, which makes it easy, there is in his heart such a principle, as upon mentioning any thing of the waies of Christ, he closeth with it, and takes hold upon it, there being the same thing in his heart, for though there be an object seen, except there be something in the eye suitable to the object to close with it, there would be no sight, so the heart of a Christian makes the waies of God easy, and readily imbraceth them, because there is somthing in the heart that is like to Gods waies, and therefore it is ready to receive and close with them. As now if you bring fire to a stick that hath some fire in it, as soon as ever you bring the fire, the fire that was in the stick before, will come out to the other fire that you bring neare to it, and will joyne together and so grow into a flame. If you bring a candle that hath some fire remaining upon it unto a fire, it lights presently, so it is with the heart of a Godly man, a gracious heart sets before him the excellency of the waies of God, now there is a holy principle, a principle of holiness in the heart that comes out unto what is said in the word of the waies of God, and so closeth with them: I, these are the things that I find in my heart; now these things must needs be easy, because they are the very element of a gracious heart, and they are suitable to his heart, there is a freeness to chuse, That is the Second.