The saints everlasting rest

And as the same Seneca would say, when he passed by that sluggard's dwelling, Ibi situs est Vacia; so it may be said of the• there lies such a one, but not there lives such a one, for thou spendest thy days liker to the dead ⟨p. 291⟩than the living. One of Draco's laws to the Athenians was, That he who was convicted of idleness, should be put to death: thou dost execute this on thy own soul, whilst by thy idleness thou destroyest its life.

Thou mayst many other ways exercise thy parts, but this is the way to exercise •hy graces: they all come from GOD as their fountain, and lead to GOD as their end, and are exercised on GOD as their chief object: so that GOD is their all in all. From heaven they come, and to heaven they will direct and move thee. And as exercise maintaineth appetite, strength and liveliness to the body; so doth it also to the soul. Use limbs, and have limbs, is the known proverb. And use grace and spiritual life in these heavenly exercises, and you shall find it quickly cause their increase. The exercise of your mere abilities of speech will not much advantage your graces; but the exercise of these heavenly gifts, will inconceivably help the growth of both: for as the moon is then most full and glorious, when it doth most directly face the sun; so will your souls be both in gifts and graces, when you most nearly view the face of GOD. This will feed your tongue with matter, and make you abound and overflow, both in preaching, praying, and conferring. Besides the sire which you fetch from heaven for your sacrifices, is no false or strange fire. As your liveliness will be much more; so it will be also more sincere.

Thou mayst many other ways exercise thy parts, but this is the way to exercise •hy graces: they all come from GOD as their fountain, and lead to GOD as their end, and are exercised on GOD as their chief object: so that GOD is their all in all. From heaven they come, and to heaven they will direct and move thee. And as exercise maintaineth appetite, strength and liveliness to the body; so doth it also to the soul. Use limbs, and have limbs, is the known proverb. And use grace and spiritual life in these heavenly exercises, and you shall find it quickly cause their increase. The exercise of your mere abilities of speech will not much advantage your graces; but the exercise of these heavenly gists, will inconceivably help the growth of both: for as the moon is then most full and glorious, when it doth most directly face the sun; so will your souls be both in gifts and graces, when you most nearly view the face of GOD. This will feed your tongue with matter, and make you abound and everflow, both in preaching, praying, and confering. Besides the sire which you fetch from heaven for your sacrisices, is no false or strange fire. As your liveliness will be much more; so it will be also more sincere.