starving, nakedness? In all these things they were more than
conquerors, through him that loved them; who had also made them
willing in the day of his power.

2. See again, on the other side, the children of the devil, because
they are not willing, how many shifts and starting holes they will
have. 'I have married a wife;' 'I have a farm;' 'I shall offend my
landlord;' 'I shall offend my master;' 'I shall lose my trading;' 'I
shall lose my pride, my pleasures;' 'I shall be mocked and
scoffed,--therefore I dare not come.'--'I,' saith another, 'will stay
till I am older, till my children are out, till I am got a little
afore-hand in the world; till I have done this, and that, and the
other business.' But alas! the thing is, they are not willing; for
were they but soundly willing, these, and a thousand such as these,
would hold them no faster than the cords held Samson when he broke
them like burnt flax.

I tell you the will is all; that is one of the chief things which
turns the wheel either backwards or forwards; and God knoweth that
full well, and so likewise doth the devil; and therefore they both
endeavor very much to strengthen the will of their servants. God is
for making his a willing people to serve him; and the devil doth what
he can to possess the will and affection of those that are his with
love to sin. And therefore when Christ comes close to the matter,
indeed, saith he, "Ye _will not_ come to me." "How often would I have
gathered you as a hen doth her chickens; but _ye would not_." The
devil had possessed their wills and so long he was sure enough of
them.

O therefore cry hard to God to inflame thy will for heaven and Christ.