2. Though strong Desires and Resolutions of Mind be not in your Power, yet Painfulness of Endeavours is in your Power. 'Tis in your Power to take Pains in the Use of Means, yea very great Pains. You can be very painful and diligent in watching your own Heart, and striving against Sin; though there is all Manner of Corruption in the Heart, that is continually ready to work, yet you can very laboriously watch and strive against these Corruptions; and 'tis in your Power, with great Diligence to attend the Matter of your Duty towards God, and towards your Neighbour 'Tis in your Power to attend all Ordinances, and all public and private Duties of Religion, and to do it with your Might. It would be a Contradiction to suppose that a Man can't do these Things with all the Might he has, tho' he can't do them with more might than he ha•. The Dullness and Deadness of the Heart, and Slothfulness of Disposition, don't hinder Men's being able to take Pains; tho' it hinders their being willing: That is one Thing wherein your Laboriousness may appear, even striving against your own Dullness. That Men have a dead and sluggish Heart, don't argue that they be not able to take Pains; it is so far from that, that it gives Occasion for Pains: It is one of the Difficulties in the Way of Duty, that Persons have to strive with, and that gives Occasion for Struggling and Labour. If there were no Difficulties attended seeking Salvation there would be no Occasion for Striving; a Man would have ⟨p. 145⟩nothing to strive about. There is indeed a great Deal of Difficulty attending all Duties required of those that would obtain Heaven. 'Tis an exceeding difficult Thing for them to keep their Thoughts; 'tis a difficult Thing seriously, or to any good Purpose, to consider of Matters of the greatest Importance; 'tis a difficult Thing to hear, or read, or pray attentively: But it don't argue that a Man can't strive in these Things because they are difficult; nay, he could not strive in them •f there were not Difficulty in them: For what is there excepting Difficulties that any can have to strive or struggle with, in any Affair or Business?—Earnestness of Mind, and Diligence of Endeavour, tend to promote each other. He that has an Heart earnestly engaged, will take Pains;
2. Though strong Desires and Resolutions of Mind be not in your Power, yet Painfulness of Endeavours is in your Power. 'Tis in your Power to take Pains in the Use of Means, yea very great Pains. You can be very painful and diligent in watching your own Heart, and striving against Sin; though there is all Manner of Corruption in the Heart, that is continually ready to work, yet you can very laboriously watch and strive against these Corruptions; and 'tis in your Power, with great Diligence to attend the Matter of your Duty towards God, and towards your Neighbour 'Tis in your Power to attend all Ordinances, and all publick and private Duties of Religion, and to do it with your Might. It would be a Contradiction to suppose that a Man can't do these Things with all the Might he has, tho' he can't do them with more might than he ha•. The Dulness and Deadness of the Heart, and Slothfulness of Disposition, don't hinder Men's being able to take Pains; tho' it hinders their being willing: That is one Thing wherein your Laboriousness may appear, even striving against your own Dulness. That Men have a dead and sluggish Heart, don't argue that they be not able to take Pains; it is so far from that, that it gives Occasion for Pains: It is one of the Difficulties in the Way of Duty, that Persons have to strive with, and that gives Occasion for Struggling and Labour. If there were no Difficulties attended seeking Salvation there would be no Occasion for Striving; a Man would have ⟨p. 145⟩nothing to strive about. There is indeed a great Deal of Difficulty attending all Duties required of those that would obtain Heaven. 'Tis an exceeding difficult Thing for them to keep their Thoughts; 'tis a difficult Thing seriously, or to any good Purpose, to consider of Matters of the greatest Importance; 'tis a difficult Thing to hear, or read, or pray attentively: But it don't argue that a Man can't strive in these Things because they are difficult; nay, he could not strive in them •f there were not Difficulty in them: For what is there excepting Difficulties that any can have to strive or struggle with, in any Affair or Business?—Earnestness of Mind, and Diligence of Endeavour, tend to promote each other. He that has an Heart earnestly engaged, will take Pains;
