The persons ministering in this affliction must be men learned, of sound judgement, wise, and of good experience, meek and of most loving spirits. I counsel thee (saith he) if thou canst not come to the particular sight of sin i• and by thy self, use the help of such men, unto whom thou must offer freely thine heart to be g•ged an• searched, and the whole course of thy life to be examined by the bright shining glass of the law of God. 16 A certain cause or known sin is either already committed, and not repented: or a sinn• not committed, but whereunto we be tempted. If troubles come for some special sin committed, say thus: Doth this one sin so displease thee? and deserve I thus to be punished and far more grievously for this one? how great then should my punishment be, if thou shouldest so deal with me for all my other sins? If the heart be terrified with fear of the commission of sin, for temptations and motions unto si•ne: we are not so much to dispute with our motions, as to resist them strongly by instant and extraordinary watchfulness in prayer. 17. If thou labourest in this due examination of thy self▪ thou shalt in time be able to discover the veins, body, age, and strength of many temptations in others, by an holy experience which God hath taught thee, thou shalt see into mens secret corruptions and be able to beget an inspeakeable joy in others, who may be tempted as thou ar• ▪ or hast been, 18. Again, when men proceed in this cure, they must remember two special grounds: first▪ to labour that the afflicted may be persuaded their sins are pardonable, and their sores curable. Secondly, that their visitations is not so much a sign of Gods wrath and anger, as a seal of his mercy and favour: for that it is not blind and barren, but like to be plentiful in good effects, & fruitful in godly issues. 19. Albeit some in this cure, suppress the Law and apply the Gospel only: yet I see not▪ but that there must be a sound sorrow for sin, before the pardon of sin be sealed, and men must know and acknowledge themselves sick, before they seek the Physician: yet here is wisdom required, neither to press the Conscience too severely, nor to release it too unadvisedly 20. Lastly, in applying the Law to some persons afflicted, he warneth us wisely to observe:
The persons ministring in this affliction must be men learned, of sound iudgement, wise, and of good experience, meeke and of most louing spirits. I counsell thee (saith he) if thou canst not come to the particular sight of sinne i• and by thy selfe, vse the helpe of such men, vnto whom thou must offer freely thine heart to be g•ged an• searched, and the whole course of thy life to be examined by the bright shining glasse of the law of God. 16 A certaine cause or knowne sinne is either alreadie committed, and not repented: or a sinn• not committed, but whereunto we be tempted. If troubles come for some speciall sinne committed, say thus: Doth this one sinne so displease thee? and deserue I thus to be punished and farre more grieuously for this one? how great then should my punishment be, if thou shouldest so deale with me for all my other sinnes? If the heart be terrified with feare of the commission of sinne, for temptations and motions vnto si•ne: we are not so much to dispute with our motions, as to resist them strongly by instant and extraordinarie watchfulnes in prayer. 17. If thou labourest in this due examination of thy selfe▪ thou shalt in time be able to discouer the veines, bodie, age, and strength of many temptations in others, by an holy experience which God hath taught thee, thou shalt see into mens secret corruptions and be able to beget an inspeakeable ioy in others, who may be tempted as thou ar• ▪ or hast beene, 18. Againe, when men proceed in this cure, they must remember two speciall groundes: first▪ to labour that the afflicted may be perswaded their sinnes are pardonable, and their sores curable. Secondly, that their visitations is not so much a signe of Gods wrath and anger, as a seale of his mercy and fauour: for that it is not blinde and barren, but like to be plentifull in good effects, & fruitfull in godly issues. 19. Albeit some in this cure, suppresse the Law and applie the Gospell onely: yet I see not▪ but that there must bee a sound sorrow for sinne, before the pardon of sinne be sealed, and men must know and acknowledge themselues sicke, before they seeke the Physition: yet here is wisedome required, neither to presse the Conscience too seuerely, nor to release it too vnaduisedly 20. Lastly, in applying the Law to some persons afflicted, hee warneth vs wisely to obserue:
