A Goodly Heritage

Lift me Lord , for I fall and nothing stays me loveless and heedless, without faith or fear . I long to rise but lie unmoving here : The very self that wishes disobeys me . Though one , my self divides and then betrays me : at once both dead , alive ; sad full of cheer ; not able - though I can  - to persevere , I flee that sin that tangles and delays me . So obstinate am I , so steeled in will , that fear of being lost and fear to lose you have never yet dissuaded me from ill. Work then , your power and mercy , so I choose you, since I know some who mend each day  - and still find in myself but fresh desire to bruise you . Fray Miguel de Guevara. 1585 - 1646 . Translated from the Spanish

Four things are absolutely necessary to be experimentally known and felt before we can arrive at any saving or sanctifying  knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus   1. Divine light in the understanding .  2. Spiritual faith in the heart .   3. Godly fear in the conscience .  4. Heavenly love in the affections. Without light we cannot see . Without faith we cannot believe . Without Godly fear we cannot reverentially adore . Without love we cannot embrace Him who is the Truth  as well as the Way and the Life.    

Christ tells us that men ought always to pray , and not to faint . And again he tells us , that this is one definition of a hypocrite , that either he will not continue in prayer , or else if he do it ,. it will not be in power , that is , in the spirit of prayer , but in the form . for a pretence only (Job 27:10 Matt. 23 :14 ) It is the easiest thing to fall from the power to the form , but it is the hardest thing to keep in the life , spirit and power of any one duty , especially prayer ; that is such a work , that a man without the help of the Spirit , cannot so much as pray once , much less continue , without it , in a sweet praying frame , and  to pray so as to have his prayers ascend into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.  Jacob did not only begin , but held to it "  I will not let thee go , unless thou bless me ". So did the rest of the godly. But this could not be without the Spirit of prayer . It is through the Spirit that we have access to the Father .   Th...