The Most Tremendous Judgment Of

Let Not That Man Think He Makes Any Progress In Holiness Who Walks Not Over The Bellies Of His Lusts. He Who Doth Not Kill Sin In This Way Takes No Steps Toward His Journey's End.

Many There Are Who, Not Comprehending, Not Being Affected With, That Divine, Spiritual Description Of The Person Of Christ Which Is Given Us By The Holy Ghost In The Scripture, Do Feign Unto Themselves False Representations Of Him By Images And Pictures, So As To Excite Carnal And Corrupt Affections In Their Minds. By The Help Of Their Outward Senses, They Reflect On Their Imaginations The Shape Of A Human Body, Cast Into Postures And Circumstances Dolorous Or Triumphant; And So, By The Working Of Their Fancy, Raise A Commotion Of Mind In Themselves, Which They Suppose To Be Love Unto Christ.

Great Winds And Storms Help Fruit-bearing Trees. So Also Do Corruptions And Temptations Help The Fruitfulness Of Grace And Holiness. The Storm Loosens The Earth Round Its Roots So The Tree Is Able To Get Its Roots Deeper Into The Earth, Where It Receives Fresh Supplies Of Nourishment. But Only Much Later Will It Be Seen To Bring Forth Better Fruit. So Corruptions And Temptations Develop The Roots Of Humility, Self-abasement And Mourning In A Deeper Search For That Grace By Which Holiness Grows Strong. But Only Later Will There Be Visible Fruits Of Increased Holiness.

Would A Soul Continually Eye His Everlasting Tenderness And Compassion...[then] It Could Not Bear An Hour's Absence From Him; Whereas Now, Perhaps, It Cannot Watch With Him One Hour.

He, Then, That Would Really, Thoroughly, And Acceptably Mortify Any Disquieting Lust, Let Him Take Care To Be Equally Diligent In All Parts Of Obedience, And Know That Every Lust, Every Omission Of Duty, Is Burdensome To God, Though But One Is So To Him.