“What absolute need there is to stir up ourselves to holy duties.
In respect of the sluggishness of our hearts to that which is spiritual: blunt tools need whetting, a dull creature needs spurs.
Our hearts are dull and heavy in the things of God, therefore we had need spur them on, and provoke them to that which is good.
The flesh hinders from duty: when we would pray, the flesh resists; when we should suffer, the flesh draws back. How hard is it sometimes to get leave of our hearts to seek God!
Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.
Had not we need then provoke ourselves to duty? If our hearts are so unstrung in religion, we had need prepare and put them in tune.”
–Thomas Watson, The Christian Soldier, or Heaven Taken by Storm, Showing The Holy Violence A Christian Is To Put Forth In The Pursuit After Glory (Matthew 11:12), Ed. Joel Beeke (Grand Rapids, MI: Soli Deo Gloria, 1669/1992), 11.
