Reas. 6 6. Because the more diligent thou art, the less busy and operative will the motions of sin and suggestions of Satan be in thy Spirit. 1It is the speech of Bernard, By how much the more (saith he) the Devil finds a man well employed, by so much the less will he be able to fasten a temptation upon him. The more diligent and the more industrious you are in heavens way, the less force will the temptation of the Devil have upon you. I remember it was the speech of Mr. Greenham, That when the Devil tempted a poor soul, she came to him for advice to resist the temptation, and he gave her this Answer: Never be idle, but be always well employed; for in my own experience ⟨p. 13⟩I found this, When the Devil came to tempt me, I would tell the Devil, I am not at leisure to hearken to thy temptations: and by this means I did resist his assaults. Beloved, tell the Devil when he tempts you, you are not at leisure to lend an ear to his temptations, and then he will never fasten upon you. The Devil never gets advantage of us, but either when we are out of Gods way, or idle, or have our hands in some sinful employment; and then the Devil gets power over us. If once you slack in diligence, in this spiritual industry, you do even tempt the Devil to tempt you: you lay your selves open to a world of sin, and a world of snares. As you know it is with water, whilst the stream keeps running, it keeps clear; but let it stand still, it breeds frogs and toads, and all manner of filth. So while you keep going, you keep clear; but do but once flag in your diligence, and stand still, and O what a puddle of filth and sin will thy heart be! The Keys that you keep in your pocket, and use every day, are bright; but keys seldom used, the very rust eats them out. So it is with your graces; not used with diligence, they will soon grow rusty, and decay; the less diligent you are, the more will sin and Satan fasten upon you. Heb. 6.12. We desire you, saith the Apostle, every one of you to show the same diligence: to what? that you be not slothful. As if he should say, if once you slack in diligence, the sin of slothfulness will soon grow upon you. Whereas now, the more diligent you are, the less busy and operative will the suggestions of Satan, and the operations of sin be in thy soul While men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares, Mat. 13.25.
Reas. 6 6. Because the more diligent thou art, the less busie and operative will the motions of sin and suggestions of Satan be in thy Spirit. 1It is the speech of Bernard, By how much the more (saith he) the Divel finds a man well imployed, by so much the less wil hee be able to fasten a temptation upon him. The more diligent and the more industrious you are in heavens way, the lesse force wil the temptation of the Divel have upon you. I remember it was the speech of Mr. Greenham, That when the Divel tempted a poor soul, she came to him for advice to resist the temptation, and he gave her this Answer: Never be idle, but be alwaies well imployed; for in my own experience ⟨p. 13⟩I found this, When the Divel came to tempt me, I would tell the Divel, I am not at leisure to hearken to thy temptations: and by this means I did resist his assaults. Beloved, tell the Divell when he tempts you, you are not at leisure to lend an ear to his temptations, and then he will never fasten upon you. The Divel never gets advantage of us, but either when we are out of Gods way, or idle, or have our hands in some sinful imployment; and then the Divel gets power over us. If once you slack in diligence, in this spirituall industry, you doe even tempt the Divel to tempt you: you lay your selves open to a world of sin, and a world of snares. As you know it is with water, whilest the streame keeps running, it keeps clear; but let it stand still, it breeds frogs and toads, and all manner of filth. So while you keep going, you keep cleare; but doe but once flag in your diligence, and stand still, and O what a puddle of filth and sin will thy heart be! The Keys that you keep in your pocket, and use every day, are bright; but keyes seldome used, the very rust eats them out. So it is with your graces; not used with diligence, they will soon grow rustie, and decay; the less diligent you are, the more will sin and Satan fasten upon you. Heb. 6.12. We desire you, saith the Apostle, every one of you to shew the same diligence: to what? that you be not slothfull. As if he should say, if once you slack in diligence, the sin of slothfulnesse will soon grow upon you. Whereas now, the more diligent you are, the lesse busie and operative will the suggestions of Satan, and the operations of sin be in thy soul While men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares, Mat. 13.25.
- 1Quanto magis occupatum Diabolus invenit, tantò minus oecupat. Bern.
