Now, Reader, try thy self; Art thou alive to God? Doest thou take him in Christ for thy happiness, and make him thine end? Is it thy business and trade to do his will; thy calling and employment to finish his work? Is thy heart devoted to his fear, and thy life to his honour? how art thou affected to his word and worship? Dost thou perform duties out of love to God, with complacency in God? It it thy meant and drink to obey his precepts? How is thy soul ravished with the sweetnesses of his promises? Art thou joyful in the house of prayer? Is the Sabbath thy delight? Is the Scripture sweeter to thee then the honey and the honeycomb? At the Sacrament, canst thou fit under Christs shadow with great delight, and find his fruit sweet unto thy taste? Doest thou ⟨p. 172⟩esteem the yoke of thy Saviour easy, his service liberty, his ways ways of pleasantness, and all his paths peace? Canst thou say, One day in Gods Courts is better then a thousand elsewhere? Hast thou found that 'tis good for thee to draw nigh to God? If thou wert put to thy choice, hadst thou rather solace thy soul with sensual recreations, or in communion with the Father and Jesus Christ his Son? Examine thine heart; for if thou hast the divine nature, divine and spiritual things will be natural, and so pleasant to thee: A man whose nature is covetous, how exceedingly doth he delight in viewing and feeling money! as the Roman Emperor would putt off his clothes and tumble up and down in heaps of silver: If a mans nature be proud, how exceedingly pleased is he in the cap and the knee, in being flattered and respected? it is meat and drink to him (as we say) to be reverenced in mens carriage, and honoured in their language; men love those things a life, because they suit with their natures: So when a man hath a new nature, a spiritual holy nature, things which are spiritual and holy, will be acceptable to him, because they are suitable to his nature; the word will be welcome, prayer will be pleasant, ordinances will be as savoury as food to the hungry; the man will love the habitation of Gods house, and the place where Gods honour dwelleth; though his flesh be weak, his spirit ⟨p. 173⟩is always willing. He may be weary at a duty (that the wheels of his soul should so be clogged with the dirt of infidelity, and make him to drive so heavily) but he is never weary of duties;
Now, Reader, try thy self; Art thou alive to God? Doest thou take him in Christ for thy happiness, and make him thine end? Is it thy business and trade to do his will; thy calling and employment to finish his work? Is thy heart devoted to his fear, and thy life to his honor? how art thou affected to his word and worship? Dost thou perform duties out of love to God, with complacency in God? It it thy ment and drink to obey his precepts? How is thy soul ravished with the sweetnesses of his promises? Art thou joyful in the house of prayer? Is the Sabbath thy delight? Is the Scripture sweeter to thee then the honey and the honeycomb? At the Sacrament, canst thou fit under Christs shadow with great delight, and finde his fruit sweet unto thy taste? Doest thou ⟨p. 172⟩esteem the yoke of thy Saviour easie, his service liberty, his wayes wayes of pleasantness, and all his paths peace? Canst thou say, One day in Gods Courts is better then a thousand elsewhere? Hast thou found that 'tis good for thee to draw nigh to God? If thou wert put to thy choice, hadst thou rather solace thy soul with sensual recreations, or in communion with the Father and Jesus Christ his Son? Examine thine heart; for if thou hast the divine nature, divine and spiritual things will be natural, and so pleasant to thee: A man whose nature is covetous, how exceedingly doth he delight in viewing and feeling money! as the Roman Emperor would putt off his cloaths and tumble up and down in heaps of silver: If a mans nature be proud, how exceedingly pleased is he in the cap and the knee, in being flattered and respected? it is meat and drink to him (as we say) to be reverenced in mens carriage, and honored in their language; men love those things a life, because they suit with their natures: So when a man hath a new nature, a spiritual holy nature, things which are spiritual and holy, will be acceptable to him, because they are suitable to his nature; the word will be welcom, prayer will be pleasant, ordinances will be as savory as food to the hungry; the man will love the habitation of Gods house, and the place where Gods honour dwelleth; though his flesh be weak, his spirit ⟨p. 173⟩is alwayes willing. He may be weary at a duty (that the wheels of his soul should so be clog'd with the dirt of infidelity, and make him to drive so heavily) but he is never weary of duties;
