§. Sect. 2 The obiection of naturall want and weakenesses in performing this exercise answered.
Secondly, we are apt to pretend our naturall weakenesse and imbecil∣lity to performe so high and hard a duty, as the ignorance of our mindes, the auersenesse of our hearts, the coldnesse of our zeale, deuotion, and such like. But these wants and inabilities should not discourage vs from this exercise, but mooue vs to vse it so much the rather, because it is a chiefe meanes ordained of God to increase our strength, and to bring vs to more perfection. We doe not, because we are weake and sickly in our bodies, abstaine altogether from food and Physicke, but the rather vse them, that we may recouer our health and strength. Yea, when our appetite is small, we force our selues, that by eating a little at once, we may get a stomake. We doe not shut the windowes, because the house is darke, and wee dim∣sighted; but are ready the sooner to open them, to let in the light, of which we stand in need more then others, in respect of our naturall defects, that we may the better dispatch our businesse; and the colder wee feele our selues, the more necessary we thinke it to come vnto the fire, or to vse some exercise, that we may recouer our naturall heate. And so in like manner, the sight of these defects should not hinder vs from this exercise; seeing it is the meanes to inlighten our mindes with more knowledge, to get spi∣rituall health and strength, whereby wee may be inabled to performe this and all other good duties daily in more perfection; and to warme our cold and frozen hearts, that we may performe seruice vnto God, with more heate of godly zeale and feruour of deuotion. Besides, though we be not able of our selues, so much as to thinke a good thought, yet if in obedience to God we vse this his holy Ordinance, he will inable vs vnto it, being all∣sufficient to make vs both to thinke and do whatsoeuer he requireth at our hands.