Objections Answered.: An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve… by Richard Steele | AskReformation

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:126p. 51–52¶2

2. And in this sense,¹ there is no divine precept impossible: Though our Lord Jesus saith, Joh. 15.5. Without me ye can do nothing, yet the Apostle finds, Phil. 4.13. I can do all things through him, that strengtheneth me. If all things, then why not this! Though it were impossible ex parte Rei, in its self, yet is it possible ex parte Dei, with Gods help, we are prone to think that we can compass easy things by our own strength, and that difficult things are too hard for God. Have you ever tried to the utmost what God and you can do! could you not have heard a Sermon better, if a naked sword had hanged by a single twist over your bare heads; and have prayed more cordially, if you had seen every word you prayed, written down by the hand of God. The same circumspection ⟨p. 52⟩that keeps a Distraction out of one sentence, might (were you faithful therein) keep it out of two or ten or twenty, and he that can be temperate for a day, might be temperate every day, if he did his best.^*

2. And in this sense,¹ there is no divine precept impossible: Though our Lord Jesus saith, Joh. 15.5. Without me ye can do nothing, yet the Apostle finds, Phil. 4.13. I can do all things through him, that strengtheneth me. If all things, then why not this! Though it were impossible ex parte Rei, in its self, yet is it possible ex parte Dei, with Gods help, we are prone to think that we can compass easie things by our own strength, and that difficult things are too hard for God. Have you ever tryed to the utmost what God and you can do! could you not have heard a Sermon better, if a naked sword had hang'd by a single twist over your bare heads; and have prayed more cordially, if you had seen every word you prayed, written down by the hand of God. The same circumspection ⟨p. 52⟩that keeps a Distraction out of one sentence, might (were you faithful therein) keep it out of two or ten or twenty, and he that can be temperate for a day, might be temperate every day, if he did his best.^*

1Answ• 2.
*Mr. Jo. Ba•• would often say, He would undertake to prove, That a Moral Heathen might possibly by his circumspection secure himself from uttering one froward word all his life long.Mr. Io. Ba•• would often say, He would undertake to prove, That a Moral Heathen might possibly by his circumspection secure himself from uttering one froward word all his life long.

:132p. 54–55¶3

¹3. And is there no hardship in attending upon sin? Is it an easy thing to serve the Devil? Wise Solomon saith, Prov. 13.15. The way of Transgressors is hard. Our love to it blinds our eyes, or else he serves an hard service, that dances attendance on any sin; The Lascivious man swallows many difficulties, perhaps weeks and months together, to continue the ⟨p. 55⟩pleasure of an hour. How many dark nights doth the Drunkard walk, and hard words endure, and hard shift make to feed that senseless lust! who would digest the life of a covetous worldling? hard fare, hard work, hard journeys, for what may be consumed in two hours; to say nothing of the life of the envious, the ambitious, the malicious man, whose daily bread is mingled not only with sweat, but gall and bitterness; and yet who hears them complain of difficulty, or throw off their designs for hardness. And is it not far better to conquer difficulties for Heaven than Hell, and venture upon hardship for Christ and thine own soul, than for Satan and thy damnation? especially when Love to the service of God would make this yoke as easy, as transgressors labour is to them.

¹3. And is there no hardship in attending upon sin? Is it an easie thing to serve the Devil? Wise Solomon saith, Prov. 13.15. The way of Transgressors is hard. Our love to it blinds our eyes, or else he serves an hard service, that dances attendance on any sin; The Lascivious man swallows many difficulties, perhaps weeks and months together, to continue the ⟨p. 55⟩pleasure of an hour. How many dark nights doth the Drunkard walk, and hard words indure, and hard shift make to feed that sensless lust! who would digest the life of a covetous worldling? hard fare, hard work, hard journeys, for what may be consumed in two hours; to say nothing of the life of the envious, the ambitious, the malicious man, whose daily bread is mingled not only with sweat, but gall and bitterness; and yet who hears them complain of difficulty, or throw off their designs for hardness. And is it not far better to conquer difficulties for Heaven than Hell, and venture upon hardship for Christ and thine own soul, than for Satan and thy damnation? especially when Love to the service of God would make this yoke as easie, as transgressors labour is to them.

1Answ. 3.

:134p. 56–57¶5

¹5. Though it be hard, yet it is sweet, Prov. 3.17. Her ways are ways of Pleasantness; and this is one of them. You shall ever observe, the more wandering the heart, the more wearisome the Duty; a Divided heart can taste but partial comfort, and fullness of joy follows, where the full bent of the soul goes before. Our common experience tells us, what peace, what joy, what confidence, what suavity fills the heart, when we have (though with some difficulty) approached the Lord, enjoyed him, and attended on him without Distraction^*. What is more hard to the brain and body, than study? for pains, a Scholar would choose the Plough before it; the brain, the back, the heart and spirits are pained and spent: yet no employment so sweet, the mind and brain and heart refreshed, and a right Scholar would hardly change employments with a Prince; so sweet; so ravishing is this hard employment. Even so it is with Prayer or any holy Ordinance, ⟨p. 57⟩the sweetness of a watchful serious frame, doth fully compensate the difficulty thereof.

¹5. Though it be hard, yet it is sweet, Prov. 3.17. Her wayes are wayes of Pleasantness; and this is one of them. You shall ever observe, the more wandring the heart, the more wearisome the Duty; a Divided heart can taste but partial comfort, and fulness of joy follows, where the full bent of the soul goes before. Our common experience tells us, what peace, what joy, what confidence, what suavity fills the heart, when we have (though with some difficulty) approached the Lord, enjoyed him, and attended on him without Distraction^*. What is more hard to the brain and body, than study? for pains, a Schollar would choose the Plough before it; the brain, the back, the heart and spirits are pained and spent: yet no employment so sweet, the mind and brain and heart refreshed, and a right Schollar would hardly change employments with a Prince; so sweet; so ravishing is this hard employment. Even so it is with Prayer or any holy Ordinance, ⟨p. 57⟩the sweetness of a watchfull serious frame, doth fully compensate the difficulty thereof.

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*The fineness which a Hymn or Psalm affords Is, when the Soul unto the lines accords. Herbert.The fineness which a Hymne or Psalm affords Is, when the Soul unto the lines accords. Herbert.

:141p. 60¶4

¹4. In such an universal loitering, thy care will be more acceptable; Loyalty is doubly valued and rewarded, where Rebellion is general; and one dutiful Child is cherished among many disobedient. Isa. 66.2. To this man will I look, to him that is poor and contrite and trembleth at my word. The Great Jehovah there overlooks Heaven and Earth, and the House of his rest, to fix his blessed eye on this man or woman, that when he comes to a Sermon doth not, dare not trifle, but trembles at the word, and that feels every sentence at his heart. When Gallants come into the Congregation then Man looks, but when the poor trembling Hearer comes in, then God looks; The Angels gaze at such guests, as vain people do at Silks and Fashions. O its a rare sight to see a Christian in earnest, to behold an humble man converse with God, the Host of Heaven rise up and are taken with it. If therefore it be so common to be distracted in Duties, do thou disdain to be in the common fashion, get quickly into the Mode of Heaven.

¹4. In such an universal loytering, thy care will be more acceptable; Loyalty is doubly valued and rewarded, where Rebellion is general; and one dutiful Child is cherisht among many disobedient. Isa. 66.2. To this man will I look, to him that is poor and contrite and trembleth at my word. The Great Iehova there overlooks Heaven and Earth, and the House of his rest, to fix his blessed eye on this man or woman, that when he comes to a Sermon doth not, dare not trifle, but trembles at the word, and that feels every sentence at his heart. When Gallants come into the Congregation then Man looks, but when the poor trembling Hearer comes in, then God looks; The Angels gaze at such guests, as vain people do at Silks and Fashions. O its a rare sight to see a Christian in earnest, to behold an humble man converse with God, the Host of Heaven rise up and are taken with it. If therefore it be so common to be distracted in Duties, do thou disdain to be in the common fashion, get quickly into the Mode of Heaven.

1Answ. 4.