A help to holy walking, or, A guide to glory containing directions how to worship God, and to walk with him in the whole course of our lives / by Edward Bury.

7. Direct. When thou hast thus wound up thy heart by Meditation to the highest pin, and work'd thy Affections into a heat, and brought thy work into a good posture, and gathered Observations for thy use: Take heed of letting thy heart flag too suddenly, or thy Affections cool over-hastily;

keep up that Spiritual Life, and vigour as long as thou canst; Live in the strength of that meat, if possible, as long as Elijah did, forty days; yea, labour to be the better for it all thy Life. 'Tis not safe in a great heat, to cool too hastily: he that climbs high should descend by leisure. Hast thou met with God in the Duty? Stir not thy Foot be∣fore thou hast given him thanks. We are apt to be sensible of our pressing wants, and our desires are let out for a supply in our needs; God hears of us then, we cry, arise, and save us: but a gra∣cious Heart should be as sensible of Mercies, as of Miseries; and be as ready to render praise for the one, as to put up Prayers for the removal of the other: But most men are like the Lepers; of ten, that are healed, but one gives thanks. And 'tis thy Duty also to Treasure up that knowledge which thou hast gained by this Duty; store up in thy Book or Memory the Conclusions thou hast gathered: Hast by Reason and Scripture found, that sin is bitter? Lay up this as a certain Truth, for hereafter. Hast thou found that Grace is Lovely, and Holiness amiable? Remember this also, lay up these Resolves, that they may stand thee in steed in a day of Temptation; that if ever Satan, the World, or thy own deceitful Heart should hereafter perswade thee to love sin, or dis∣own Holiness, thou mayst reply, nay, but at such a time, in such a place, I found by such Scrip∣tures, and such Arguments, that sin is filthy, and Holiness Lovely; in what false glass soever you now represent them to us. Nay, not only so, but devote thy self wholly unto God, and Resolve that thou wilt Live according to those Conclusions, thou hast raised, and those Truths thou hast found

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out; and that thou submit thy self to his Will, so far as he shall reveal it unto thee. Without this what benefit canst expect from the Duty? When thou hast found out the Duty, and by un∣deniable Arguments canst prove it to be thy Duty, and yet wilt not do it, thou wilt be beaten with the more stripes. If by the force of Reason, and Evidence of Scripture, thou find out that the way of sin is to be forsaken, and the Duties of Holi∣ness to be performed; and yet thou forsake Holi∣ness, and chuse sin, what Excuse canst thou plead? Thou wilt but sin with a Candle in thy hand: but if upon these Considerations, thou set thy self to hate sin, as the greatest evil; and walk in the path which is called Holy, in sincerity; then shalt thou reap Fruit by thy Meditation. If thou find upon Consideration, that God is the chiefest good, and Love him as the chiefest good, happy wilt thou be: If thou find the Devil to be the worst Master, and break out of his Prison, and resolve thou wilt never give him one more Act of willing Obedience, 'tis well: or, if thou find in the reach of thy Heart, that thy Grace is not true, and thereupon thou resolvest never to give thy Heart any rest, till thy Relation be changed; and God be thy Father, and Christ thy Husband, 'tis well: Or, if in the search thou findest Evidences of true Grace, Record them; they will be of use in a day of desertion, and help against the Devils fiery Darts: The Result of David's Meditation was to return home to God, Psal. 119.59. So it should of ours, if it make us not more in Love with God, and Holiness, and more to hate sin, and wicked∣ness, it doth us no good; if it strengthen not our Graces, or weaken not our Corruption, we

lose our Labour. In a word, conclude the whole Duty; either with Prayer to God for a Blessing, or if it may be convenient, with some Verses of a Psalm that is suitable.