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Action, the very life of the Soul. [ 1263]
WHilst the stream keeps running▪ it keeps clear; but if it comes once to a standing water,* 1.1 then it breeds Frogs and Toads, and all manner of filth: The Keyes that Men keep in their pocke••s, and use every day, wax brighter and brighter; but if they be laid aside and hang by the walls, they soon grow rusty; Thus it is that Action is the very life of the Soul; Whilst we keep going and run∣ning in the wayes of Gods Commandements, we keep clear and ••ree from the Worlds pollutions;* 1.2 but if we once flagge in our diligence and stand still, Oh, Wha•• a puddle of sin will the Heart be? How rusty and uselesse will our Graces grow? How unserviceable for Gods Worship, how unfit for Mans, by reason of the ma∣ny spirituall diseases that will invade the Soul? Just like Schollers that are for the most part given to a sedentary life, whose bodies are more exposed to ill humours then any others; whereas they whose livelihoods lye in a handicraft Trade, are alwayes in motion and stirring,* 1.3 so that the motion expells the ill humours that they cannot seize upon the body: So in the Soul, the lesse any Man acts in th•• matter of its concernment, the more spirituall diseases and infirmi••ies will grow in it; whereas the more active and industrious Men are, the lesse power will ill distempers have upon them.