The saints everlasting rest

I desire thee in the fear of GOD, stay here a little, and search thy heart. Art thou one that hath used violence with thy conscience? Art thou a wilful neglecter of known duties, either public or private? Art thou a slave to thine appetite, in eating or drinking, or to any other commanding sense? Art thou a seeker of thine own esteem, and a man that must needs have men's good opinion? Art thou a peevish or passionate person, ready to take fire at every word, or every supposed slight? Art thou a deceiver of others in thy dealing; or one that hath set thyself to rise in the world? Not to speak of greater sins, which all take notice of. If this be thy case, I dare say, heaven and thy soul are very great strangers; I dare say, thou art seldom with GOD, and there is little hope it should be better, as long as thou continuest in these transgressions: these beams in thine eyes will not suffer thee to look to heaven; these will be a cloud between thee and GOD. How shouldst thou take ⟨p. 298⟩comfort from heaven, who taketh so much pleasure in the lusts of the flesh? Every wilful sin will be to thy comforts as water to fire; when thou thinkest to quicken them, this will quench them; when thy heart begins to draw near to GOD, this will presently fill thee with doubting. Besides it doth utterly indispose thee, and disable thee to this work; when thou shouldst wind up thy heart to heaven, it is biassed another way; it is entangled, and can no more ascend in divine meditation, than the bird can fly whose wings are clipped, or that is taken in the snare. Sin doth cut the very sinews of the soul; therefore I say of this heavenly life, as Mr. Bolton saith of prayer, Either it will make thee leave sinning, or sin will make thee leave it, and that quickly too: for these cannot continue together. If heaven and hell can meet together, then mayst thou live in thy sin, and in the tastes of glory. If therefore thou find thyself guilty, never doubt but this is the cause that estrangeth thee from heaven; and take heed lest it keep out thee, as it keeps out thy heart. Yea, if thou be a man that hitherto hast escaped, and knowest no reigning sin in thy soul, yet let this warning move thee to prevention, and stir up a dread of this danger in thy spirit, especially resolve to keep from the occasions of sin, and, as much as possible, out of the way of temptations.

I desire thee in the fear of GOD, stay here a little, and search thy heart. Art thou one that hath used violence with thy conscience? Art thou a wilful neglecter of known duties, either public or private? Art thou a slave to thine appetite, in eating or drinking, or to any other commanding sense? Art thou a seeker of thine own esteem, and a man that must needs have men's good opinion? Art thou a peevish or passionate person, ready to take fire at every word, or every supposed slight? Art thou a deceiver of others in thy dealing; or one that hath set thyself to rise in the world? Not to speak of greater sins, which all take notice of. If this be thy case, I dare say, heaven and thy soul are very great strangers; I dare say, thou art seldom with GOD, and there is little hope it should be better, as long as thou continuest in these transgressions: these beams in thine eyes will not suffer thee to look to heaven; these will be a cloud between thee and GOD. How shouldst thou take