Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general. And…

2 Therefore consider that this is but a temptation, and that is the Second thing that I would propound to those that shall omit a duty because they are not prepared, That this is but a Temptation to keep thee from it, to tell thee that thou art not prepared; and if thou shalt forbear it because thou art not prepared, in this thing thou doest gratify the Devil, and the Devil hath what he would have, and so would be encouraged to tempt thee another time because he hath now what he would have in causing thee to forbear the duty; First, he laboureth to unfit thee for it, and then he tempts thee to forbear it because thou art unfit, this is the subtlety of the Devil. From whence is it that thou art unfit but from the temptation of the Devil? And I find Luther again, that was a man that had as much converse with God as any in his days, and a man that had as much to draw his heart away, as many temptations, and as many businesses as any, for indeed the great Cause of Christ in all the Christian world in a great measure under God lay upon his shoulders, and yet saith he, If any one think that prayer must be deferred till the Soul be purified from impure cogitations, he doth no other than help the Devil who is powerful enough; he thinks to be wise in deferring the duty because he is not fit, and he hath many ill thoughts and troubles in his Spirit, he doth nothing else saith Luther but gratify the Devil that is strong enough without this. Oh let us take heed of gratifying the Devil in his temptations, therefore remember it is a temptation for thee to omit a duty merely because thou art not prepare •or the duty.

2 Therefore consider that this is but a temptation, and that is the Second thing that I would propound to those that shall omit a duty because they are not prepared, That this is but a Temptation to keep thee from it, to tell thee that thou art not prepared; and if thou shalt forbear it because thou art not prepared, in this thing thou doest gratifie the Devil, and the Devil hath what he would have, and so would be encouraged to tempt thee another time because he hath now what he would have in causing thee to forbear the duty; First, he laboureth to unfit thee for it, and then he tempts thee to forbear it because thou art unfit, this is the subtilty of the Devil. From whence is it that thou art unfit but from the temptation of the Devil? And I find Luther again, that was a man that had as much converse with God as any in his daies, and a man that had as much to draw his heart away, as many temptations, and as many businesses as any, for indeed the great Cause of Christ in all the Christian world in a great measure under God lay upon his shoulders, and yet saith he, If any one think that prayer must be defer'd till the Soul be puifed from impure cogitations, he doth no other than help the Devil who is powerful enough; he thinks to be wise in deferring the duty because he is not fit, and he hath many ill thoughts and troubles in his Spirit, he doth nothing else saith Luther but gratifie the Devil that is strong enough without this. Oh let us take heed of gratifying the Devil in his temptations, therefore remember it is a temptation for thee to omit a duty meerly because thou art not prepare or the duty.