The saints everlasting rest

thou knowest also that a strange heart, a seldom and careless thinking of heaven, can fetch but little comfort thence: and dost thou yet for all this let slip thy opportunities, when thou shouldst walk above, and live with GOD? Dost thou commend the sweetness of an heavenly life, and yet didst never once try it thyself? But as the sluggard that stretched himself on his bed, and cried, O that this were working! So dost thou live at thy case, and say, O that I could get my heart to heaven! How many read books, and hear sermons, in expectation to hear of some easy course, or to meet with a shorter cut to comforts, than ever they are like to find? And if they can hear of none from the preachers of truth, they will snatch it with rejoicing from the teachers of falsehood; and presently applaud the excellency of the doctrine, because it hath fitted their lazy temper; and think there is no other doctrine will comfort the soul, because it will not comfort it with hearing and looking on. And while they pretend enmity only to the law, they oppose the easier conditions of the gospel, and cast off the burden which all must bear that find rest to their souls: the LORD of light and spirit of comfort, show these men in time, a surer way for lasting comfort. It was an established law among the Argi, That if a man were perceived to be idle and lazy, he must give an account before the magist rate, how he came by his victuals and maintenance: and sure, when I see these men lazy in the use of GOD'S appointed means for comfort, I cannot but question how they come by their comforts: I would they would examine it throughly themselves; for GOD will require an account of it from them. Idleness, and not ⟨p. 307⟩improving the truth in painful duty, is the common cause of men's seeking comfort from error: even as the people of Israel, when they had no comfortable answer from GOD, because of their own sin and neglect, would run to seek it from the idols of the heathens: so when men are false-hearted, and the Spirit of truth denies them comfort, because they deny him obedience, they will seek it from a lying spirit.

thou knowest also that a strange heart, a seldom and careless thinking of heaven, can fetch but little comfort thence: and dost thou yet for all this let slip thy opportunities, when thou shouldst walk above, and live with GOD? Dost thou commend the sweetness of an heavenly life, and yet didst never once try it thyself? But as the sluggard that stretched himself on his bed, and cried, O that this were working! So dost thou live at thy case, and say, O that I could get my heart to heaven! How many read books, and hear sermons, in expectation to hear of some easy course, or to meet with a shorter cut to comforts, than ever they are like to find? And if they can hear of none from the preachers of truth, they will snatch it with rejoicing from the teachers of falsehood; and presently applaud the excellency of the doctrine, because it hath fitted their lazy temper; and think there is no other doctrine will comfort the soul, because it will not comfort it with hearing and looking on. And while they pretend enmity only to the law, they oppose the easier conditions of the gospel, and cast off the burden which all must bear that find rest to their souls: the LORD of light and spirit of comfort, shew these men in time, a surer way for lasting comfort. It was an established law among the Argi, That if a man were perceived to be idle and lazy, he must give an account before the magist rate, how he came by his victuals and maintenance: and sure, when I see these men lazy in the use of GOD'S appointed means for comfort, I cannot but question how they come by their comforts: I would they would examine it throughly themselves; for GOD will require an account of it from them. Idleness, and not