To sum up this Use, I would request thee to be so great a friend to thy precious soul, as to be impartial and faithful in its search and trial. Look much at the constant bent and inclination of thy heart: One act will not speak an habit; nor a few good or bad motions, an holy or evil heart. Thou mayst have some cogitations of heaven, when thy conversation is not in heaven. The air is light, yet not a lightsome body, because it's lighted by the presence of another; when that is removed, its dark, as in the night: So if thy light of holiness in any of the forementioned particulars, be only like a flash of lightning, for a fit, it is a sign the root of the matter is not in thee. On the other side, thou mayst have flesh in thee, and yet thou not be in the flesh. Thou mayst be in the right way to heaven, though thou art sometimes stopped and hindered in thy journey. A stream or vent of a river may be to go downward, yet the River may be dammed up for a while, but 'twill rise higher and higher, and at length beat down and overcome that which hindereth it; so if the tendency of thine inward man, its ordinary frame and ⟨p. 194⟩temper be but towards God and the Divine nature, be not discouraged, though there may be the mud of corruption to stop the stream; for this living water of grace, will be so beating upon it, that twill over-power it, and ride triumphantly over it. But be sure that thou bring the matter in debate to an issue, by no means desist till thou bringest it to some result. If Satan can but persuade thee either to daub about it (for his his speech will be like that of Peter to Christ, Master, pity thy self) or to leave the question still in doubt, he knoweth that he shall spoil the working of all this Physic, be it never so good. I know that thine heart will be as hard to be kept to it, as an eel in thine hands; therefore serve thine heart, as the Judge serveth the Jurors at an Assize. First, they are sworn to be true and faithful in deciding and determining the difference between party and party: next, they hear the evidence and proofs on both sides: After that they are shut up together, and have neither fire, nor candle, nor bread, nor drink allowed them, till they are agreed on their verdict, which when they have done they bring it into the Court, and there 'tis entered and recorded. Go thou and do likewise:
To sum up this Use, I would request thee to be so great a friend to thy precious soul, as to be impartial and faithful in its search and trial. Look much at the constant bent and inclination of thy heart: One act will not speak an habit; nor a few good or bad motions, an holy or evil heart. Thou mayst have some cogitations of heaven, when thy conversation is not in heaven. The air is light, yet not a lightsom body, because it's lighted by the presence of another; when that is removed, its dark, as in the night: So if thy light of holiness in any of the forementioned particulars, be only like a flash of lightning, for a fit, it is a sign the root of the matter is not in thee. On the other side, thou mayst have flesh in thee, and yet thou not be in the flesh. Thou mayst be in the right way to heaven, though thou art sometimes stopt and hindered in thy journey. A stream or vent of a river may be to go downward, yet the River may be dammed up for a while, but 'twill rise higher and higher, and at length beat down and overcome that which hindereth it; so if the tendency of thine inward man, its ordinary frame and ⟨p. 194⟩temper be but towards God and the Divine nature, be not discouraged, though there may be the mud of corruption to stop the stream; for this living water of grace, will be so beating upon it, that twill over-power it, and ride triumphantly over it. But be sure that thou bring the matter in debate to an issue, by no means desist till thou bringest it to some result. If Satan can but perswade thee either to daub about it (for his his speech will be like that of Peter to Christ, Master, pity thy self) or to leave the question still in doubt, he knoweth that he shall spoil the working of all this Physick, be it never so good. I know that thine heart will be as hard to be kept to it, as an eel in thine hands; therefore serve thine heart, as the Judge serveth the Jurors at an Assize. First, they are sworn to be true and faithful in deciding and determining the difference between party and party: next, they hear the evidence and proofs on both sides: After that they are shut up together, and have neither fire, nor candle, nor bread, nor drink allowed them, till they are agreed on their verdict, which when they have done they bring it into the Court, and there 'tis entred and recorded. Go thou and do likewise:
