The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

CHAP. 18. A fourth Ʋse. To be restless till we get our selves in∣to a good frame. (Book 18)

USE, 4. (Book 18)

A Fourth Use is this: If it be so that Gods people are in such a different frame of spirit; somtime they are afraid, and their hearts are down; at other times they have a spirit of courage, and fitness for any service that God wil have them to do: This should teach us when our hearts are down, and not in that fitness we desire, to be restless till we get our selves in a good frame: Somtime the Godly have their hearts in a good frame, and therefore it is possible to be had, and we should never be in rest til we had got it.

Quest. But how shall we get up our hearts when they are not in a frame fit for service?

Answ. First, Be sensible of the evil of an unser∣viceable heart, so as to be humbled before God for the want of it, and be more sensible of the evil of that, than sensible of the evil of want of peace and comfort: Many when they find their hearts down, and not in that de∣gree fit for service that they desire, they are troubled for it, but the reason is because their hearts being down, there arise doubts of their condition, and their peace is hindred, and they cannot have comfort in it, but they are not so much troubled because they are un∣serviceable, and want hearts fitted for duty, and that is the reason why their hearts are kept down: Now this should be our care, to be more sensible of the unservice∣ableness of our hearts, than of the unpeaceableness of our hearts.

Secondly, Observe which way the strength of your spirit is let out, and labor to recal your hearts from that; as thus: If the strength of a mans spirit be not for God, it is let out to somwhat else, it is alwaies working some way or other; if it be not let out to some one par∣ticular object, it is scattered and divided into divers ob∣jects. Now if your strength be not let out for God, call your hearts to an account, where is the strength of my heart? which way runs it? If it can be discerned which way the strength of your heart is let out, whe∣ther to any creature, or any lust, that should be your care to get it off.

Thirdly, When you come to present your selves be∣fore God in his Ordinances, come with hearts panting after strength: as when you come to the Word, Prayer, or Sacraments, bethink your selves beforehand, I come before the Lord that I may get this dull heart of mine quickned in such and such a particular, I find my heart unserviceable in such a particular. Now my heart pre∣sents it self before God, and pants after God to be fitted for service in such a particular; it is much may be done when we come to the presence of God panting for help from God in such particulars.

Fourthly, Observe the beginnings of Gods coming into your hearts, and acknowledg them, and improve them, and follow them, many times God is coming into the heart, and because God comes not in fully as much as they would at first, they take no notice of the begin∣nings of the work of God to imbrace them, and improve them: There are a great many sparks have fallen upon your hearts, if they had been gathered together, they might have been a flame by this time, but because God did not come in with a flame all together, they did not regard that; you said, what can a spark do upon my heart? if you had improved that little you might have had more by this time.

Fiftly, Labor to recall all those soul quickning

Truths that ever you have felt working upon your hearts: there was a time my heart was more lively, I can remember since God did come in with his truth, and work mightily upon my heart, labor to recal those truths, and set them fresh before your hearts, with as much power as possibly you can, and keep your hearts in view of them continually, and by meditation chafe them into your hearts; though the flesh be benummed, yet if it be rubbed, and exercised, there will come strength, and so those soul quickning Truths that you have found before have quickned your hearts, if you present them afresh before the heart, and chafe them by meditation, they wil get some strength and life into the heart.

Lastly, Look into the present condition you are in, and exercise the duties sutable to your present condi∣tion.