Sins of omission have much distempered Gods good children, the negligent use of the means of salvation, and for the not putting of their gifts ⟨image 60⟩in practise; many have been whipped afterwards in their naked consciences, and the Lord hath even pierced them in their secret bowels. 10. Some are troubled for their private pride, and this is a good preparative to receive Christ▪ Some for doing more in show than in truth, abusing their knowledge, in that they make it but a mask to juggle in, and for that they make but the•r affections to fight with their own judgement. Some righteous men are troubled when they offend not (for they are their own greatest accusers) for some secret corruptions in other matters: so that there is nothing more difficult, than to search our hearts to the bottom for sins past and present, for privy pride, hidden wants, and secret corruptions. 11. That we must carefully avoid too scrupulous a fear, as well as carnal security. If the aivell find us void of all fear, he thinks his assaults must be stronger, because our resistance is the weaker: but if he find in us a cowardly fear and fainting of heart, before we strike one stroke against him, he will suddenly stab us to the heart, and make a spoil of us. 12. If we see the godly afflicted in their consciences, either before or in the issues of death, we may not conclude therefore they are hypocrites, or great sinners before God: for that the Lord may as well make trial of their faith, as take punishment of their sins, as we see in Job and others: for (saith he) if such affliction come principally for sin, then the greatest sinners should have the greatest afflictions. 13. When any shall come to the cure of souls afflicted, they must not begin with words of compassion only; God is merciful, &c. but first with a gentle searching of their sores, labouring to draw out of them the confession of some special and secret sins. 14. All griefs are either confused or distinct •rising of known or unknown causes. The spiritual Physician must wisely consider of the original of the evil, whether it be in soul or body, or both: for this cause he warneth that in this distemper, the Physicians counsel be never severed, nor the godly ministers labour neglected. 15.
Sinnes of omission haue much distempered Gods good children, the negligent vse of the meanes of saluation, and for the not putting of their gifts ⟨image 60⟩in practise; many haue beene whipoed afterwards in their naked consciences, and the Lord hath euen pearced them in their secret bowels. 10. Some are troubled for their priuate pride, and this is a good preparatiue to receiue Christ▪ Some for doing more in shew than in truth, abusing their knowledge, in that they make it but a maske to iuggle in, and for that they make but the•r affections to fight with their owne iudgement. Some righteous men are troubled when they offend not (for they are their owne greatest accusers) for some secret corruptions in other matters: so that there is nothing more difficult, than to search our hearts to the bottome for sinnes past and present, for priuie pride, hidden wants, and secret corruptions. 11. That we must carefully auoide too scrupulous a feare, as well as carnall securitie. If the aiuell finde vs voide of all feare, he thinkes his assaults must be stronger, because our resistance is the weaker: but if he finde in vs a cowardly feare and fainting of heart, before we strike one stroke against him, he will suddenly stab vs to the heart, and make a spoile of vs. 12. If we see the godly afflicted in their consciences, either before or in the issues of death, we may not conclude therefore they are hypocrites, or great sinners before God: for that the Lord may as well make triall of their faith, as take punishment of their sinnes, as we see in Iob and others: for (saith he) if such affli•tion come principally for sinne, then the greatest sinners should haue the greatest afflections. 13. When any shall come to the cure of soules afflicted, they must not begin with words of compassion onely; God is mercifull, &c. but first with a gentle searching of their sores, labouring to draw out of them the confession of some speciall and secret sinnes. 14. All griefes are either confused or distinct •rising of knowne or vnknowne causes. The spirituall Physition must wisely consider of the originall of the euill, whether it be in soule or bodie, or both: for this cause he warneth that in this distemper, the Physitions counsell be neuer seuered, nor the godly ministers labour neglected. 15.
