The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

If the Sword of the Word pierce thy soul, hack and hew, and slay thy most beloved sins (those enemies within thee, which would not have Christ to reign over thee) the arm of the Lord must wield it: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, 2 Cor. 10.4. Surely that voice of Thunder must come from Heaven, which can pluck up the strong trees of thy natural unbelief and senselessness, ⟨p. 218⟩and pull down the high Towers of pride and self. If the Word, which is called a Seal (Rom. 6.17.) ever imprint thy Saviours Image on thee to thy Regeneration, God must add weight to the Seal, or it will make no stamp: He hath of his own will begotten you by the Word of Truth, James 1.21. He that made the Watch, can make it strike right; and he that made the Word, can make it strike home, even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, Hebr. 4.12. If the Word which is called life (John 6.63.) quicken thee to thine eternal Salvation, God must breathe on thy dry bones, and bid thee live: I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God to salvation, Rom. 1.16.

If the Sword of the Word pierce thy soul, hack and hew, and slay thy most beloved sins (those enemies within thee, which would not have Christ to reign over thee) the arm of the Lord must weild it: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, 2 Cor. 10.4. Surely that voice of Thunder must come from Heaven, which can pluck up the strong trees of thy natural unbelief and senslessness,