The Christian in Complete Armour

Fourthly, whom doest thou sympathize with? he is thy Prince, whose victories and losses thou layest to heart, whether ⟨p. 191⟩in thy own bosom, or abroad in the world. What saith thy soul, when God hedgeth up thy way, and keeps thee from that sin which Satan hath been soliciting for? If on Christs side thou wilt rejoice when thou art delivered out of a temptation, though it be by falling into an affliction; as David said of Abigail, so wilt thou here: Blessed be the Ordinance, blessed be the Providence which kept me from sinning against my God; but if otherwise thou wilt harbour a secret grudge against the Word which stood in thy way, and be discontented, thy design took not. A naughty heart (like Amnon) pines while his lust hath vent, Again, what music do the achievements of Christ in the world make in thy ear? when thou hearest the Gospel thrives, the blind see, the lame walk, the poor gospelized, doth thy spirit rejoice in that hour? If a Saint, thou wilt, as God is thy Father, rejoice thou hast more brethren borne; as he is thy Prince, that the multitude of his subjects increase; so when thou seest the plots of Christs enemies discovered, powers defeated, canst thou go forth with the Saints to meet King Jesus, and ring him out of the field with praises? or do thy bells ring backward, and such news make thee haste like Haman, mourning to thine house, there to empty thy spirit swollen with rancour against his Saints and truth? or if thy policy can master thy passion, so far as to make fair weather in thy countenance, and suffer thee to join with the people of God in their acclamations of joy, yet then art thou a close mourner within, and likest the work no better then Haman his office in holding Mordecai's stirrup, who had rather have held the ladder; this speaks thee a certain enemy to Christ, how handsomely soever thou mayest carry it before men.

Fourthly, whom doest thou sympathize with? he is thy Prince, whose victories and losses thou layest to heart, whether ⟨p. 191⟩in thy own bosome, or abroad in the world. What saith thy soul, when God hedgeth up thy way, and keeps thee from that sin which Satan hath been soliciting for? If on Christs side thou wilt rejoyce when thou art delivered out of a temptation, though it be by falling into an affliction; as David said of Abigail, so wilt thou here: Blessed be the Ordinance, blessed be the Providence which kept me from sinning against my God; but if otherwise thou wilt harbour a secret grudge against the Word which stood in thy way, and be discontented, thy designe took not. A naughty heart (like Amnon) pines while his lust hath vent, Again, what musick do the atchievements of Christ in the world make in thy eare? when thou hearest the Gospel thrives, the blinde see, the lame walk, the poor gospellized, doth thy spirit rejoyce in that houre? If a Saint, thou wilt, as God is thy Father, rejoyce thou hast more brethren borne; as he is thy Prince, that the multitude of his subjects increase; so when thou seest the plots of Christs enemies discovered, powers defeated, canst thou go forth with the Saints to meet King Jesus, and ring him out of the field with praises? or do thy bells ring backward, and such newes make thee haste like Haman, mourning to thine house, there to empty thy spirit swolne with rancour against his Saints and truth? or if thy policy can master thy passion, so far as to make faire weather in thy countenance, and suffer thee to joyne with the people of God in their acclamations of joy, yet then art thou a close mourner within, and likest the work no better then Haman his office in holding Mordecai's stirrup, who had rather have held the ladder; this speaks thee a certain enemy to Christ, how handsomely soever thou mayest carry it before men.