12 Unto one that was tempted with worldly shame, and thought the distemperature1 of his mind proceeded thereof, he said on this sort: First know, that Satan hath no absolute power, but a power by permission to try us: against which we must arm our selves ly faith; which will assure us, that either the Lord will mitigate our temptation, if our power and patience be not great: or else, if he ••large the trial, he will increase our strength according to the proportion of our temptation. We must also pray, that the2 Lord give not out that measure of leave to the devil, which we give out to sin, to work3 rebellion in us against his majesty: but that he would rather make Satan a Chirurgeon to show us our sins, than a Sergeant to confound us for them. It is the policy of the adversary, to persuade many that the weakness of their body, and feebleness of their brain4 proceedeth of their temptations; when indeed it cometh of their unstained minds, wandering too much after the motions of the devil, in that they not resting on the word, nor depending on Christ, nor contenting themselves to be tried, nor comforting themselves by meditation, attend too much, and confer too often with the devils illusions and temptations, and so they complain of the effects, and not of the causes of the temptations, being more grieved for their present sufferings, than for their sins past. The root of this worldly shame, is pride, and haughtiness of mind, which is a privy evil, and hardly will be beaten into the head of them that are infected with it. But sure it is that we would never be so grieved for the loss of a thing, if we did not too much desire it, and too immoderately use it, whilst we had it, Joh. 12. 42. Which sin of haughtiness, the Lord seeing in his children, that they are more humbled with the loss of worldly credit, than with the sense of their sins, and loss of his glory; he striketh them with the want of that thing which is most precious unto them, because they made no conscience of that honour which is most precious unto him. Wherefore this is the best remedy, rather to be grieved that we feel not our sins to be pardoned with God, than that we are known to be sinners against men:
12 Vnto one that was tempted with worldly shame, and thought the distemperature1 of his minde proceeded thereof, he said on this sort: First know, that Sathan hath no absolute power, but a power by permission to trie vs: against which we must arme our selues ly faith; which will assure vs, that either the Lord will mittigate our temptation, if our power and patience be not great: or else, if he ••large the triall, he will increase our strength according to the proportion of our temptation. We must also pray, that the2 Lord giue not out that measure of leaue to the diuell, which we giue out to sinne, to worke3 rebellion in vs against his maiestie: but that he would rather make Sathan a Chirurgion to shew vs our sinnes, than a Sergeant to cōfound vs for them. It is the pollicie of the aduersarie, to perswade many that the weakenes of their body, and feeblenes of their braine4 proceedeth of their temptations; when indeed it commeth of their vnstained mindes, wandring too much after the motions of the diuell, in that they not resting on the word, nor depending on Christ, nor contenting themselues to be tried, nor comforting themselues by meditation, attend too much, and confer too often with the diuels illusions and temptations, and so they complaine of the effects, and not of the causes of the temptations, being more grieued for their present sufferings, than for their sinnes past. The roote of this worldly shame, is pride, and haughtines of mind, which is a priuie euill, and hardly will be beaten into the head of them that are infected with it. But sure it is that we would neuer be so grieued for the losse of a thing, if we did not too much desire it, and too immoderatly vse it, whilest we had it, Ioh. 12. 42. Which sinne of haughtines, the Lord seeing in his children, that they are more humbled with the losse of worldly credit, than with the sense of their sinnes, and losse of his glorie; he striketh them with the want of that thing which is most precious vnto them, because they made no conscience of that honour which is most pr•cious vnto him. Wherefore this is the best remedie, rather to be grieued that we feele not our sinnes to be pardoned with God, than that we are knowne to be sinners against men:
- 1To be tempted with worldly shame, and the remedies.To be tēpted with worldly shame, and the remedies.
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- 4When and how temptations breed.
