4 It is the wisdom of God joined with mercy, for the preserving of his Children, in humility and thankfulness (if they forget to spy out, and to be humbled for their inward corruptions) either to let them fall into some sin, to punish their pride, and sway of their own wit, or else (which is his more merciful chastisement) to break them with some cross, until their harts be bruised. Hereof it cometh that the Lord is constrained to correct our haughtiness, and cool our courage by some kind of affliction, because we are ready to break out in time of prosperity. Wherefore to cut off the occasions of sin, which Satan would find out in our proud flesh, after long time of health, the Lord sendeth1 some sickness, or some weakness upon us, to cut short our horns, wherewith by reason of long wealth, we would (like Bulls of Bashan) push at the godly; the Lord sendeth fire, thieves, and oppressions to let us blood in our riches, least we should •e too rank, and grow into a surfeit. The best way in the middest of our prosperity is, to labour to think wisely and lowly of our selves: and to walk fearfully, as being now most jealous over this our corrupt nature, which least feareth, when Gods graces are greatest: and namely, as of all blessings this is one of the greatest, •uen in abundance, health, credit, and authority, to carry as humble and meek an heart, and faithful a spirit, as we would or ought to have, even when we come out of some affliction: So this of all the plagues is the greatest, to be pricked, and not to feel; to be stricken, and not to be humbled for it. And yet it is no great commendation to be made better by affliction: But this is the praise of godliness, to grow on more in prosperity, then, not to forsake our first love; then, to enter into a lowly conceit of our selves: for as it is a sign of a more liberal and ingenuous nature, to learn ⟨p. 35⟩more by lenity, than by severity; or if he slip, to recover himself as carefully at the sight of another corrected before him, as if he were beaten himself: So it is a token of a mind more reformed to have a bruised mind rather with the •aste of Gods mercies, than with the terror of his justice; or if he see but an inkling of Gods displeasure breeding, as much to strike his heart, as if the heavy hands of a fearful scourge were upon him.
4 It is the wisedome of God ioyned with mercie, for the preseruing of his Children, in humility and thankfulnes (if they forget to spie out, and to be humbled for their inward corruptions) either to let them fall into some sinne, to punish their pride, and sway of their owne wit, or else (which is his more mercifull chastisement) to breake them with some crosse, vntill their harts be bruised. Hereof it commeth that the Lord is constrained to correct our haughtines, and coole our courage by some kinde of affliction, because we are ready to breake out in time of prosperitie. Wherefore to cut off the occasions of sinne, which Sathan would finde out in our proude flesh, after long time of health, the Lord sendeth1 some sicknes, or some weaknes vpon vs, to cut short our hornes, wherewith by reason of long wealth, wee would (like Buls of Ba•an) push at the godly; the Lord sendeth fire, theeues, and oppressions to let vs bloud in our riches, least wee should •e too rancke, and grow into a surfet. The best way in the middest of our prosperitie is, to labour to thinke wisely and lowly of our selues: and to walke fearfully, as being now most jealous ouer this our corrupt nature, which least feareth, when Gods graces are greatest: and namely, as of all blessings this is one of the greatest, •uen in abundance, health, credit, and authoritie, to carrie as humble and meeke an heart, and faithfull a spirit, as wee would or ought to haue, euen when we come out of some affliction: So this of all the plagues is the greatest, to be pricked, and not to feele; to be striken, and not to be humbled for it. And yet it is no great commendation to bee made better by affliction: But this is the praise of godlinesse, to grow on more in prosperitie, then, not to forsake our first loue; then, to enter into a lowly conceit of our selues: for as it is a signe of a more liberall and ingenuous nature, to learne ⟨p. 35⟩more by lenitie, than by seueritie; or if he slip, to recouer himselfe as carefully at the sight of another corrected before him, as if he were beaten himselfe: So it is a token of a minde more reformed to haue a bruifed minde rather with the •aste of Gods mercies, than with the terror of his iustice; or if he see but an inckling of Gods displeasure breeding, as much to strike his heart, as if the heauie hands of a fearefull scourge were vpon him.
