A most sweet and assured comfort for all those that are afflicted in conscience…A most sweete and assured comfort for all those that are afflicted in consciscience…

This trying of our selves must yet stretch it self farther, not only to the committing of evil, but also to the omitting of good. As when (after some good working of the spirit, and feeling thereof) we begin a fight and conflict with our consciences: though I must pray, I must have time also to provide for my family▪ if I go to hear the word of God, surely I shall be in danger to loose this profit; if I thus attend upon the exercises of religion, I shall be ⟨image 34⟩cut short in the use of my pleasures. Wherefore it shall be good to search our hearts, both in the careless not using of the means; but also in the negligent watching over the fruits of the means: saying to our selves in this manner; I have heard a Sermon, but (alas) without any feeling or working upon my affections; I have bin praying, but with no power of the spirit; I have received the Sacrament, but without those joys glorious & unspeakable, which I was wont to taste of it; I saw the Discipline of the Church executed, but without any fear of sin at all ⟨image 35⟩in my self, or compassion of the member censured. And here I dare from my own observation assuredly affirm, that outward sins have not been at some times so grievous to Gods Children; as that they have some times used very good means with little reverence & less fruit. And no marvel, we shall see many men at some times, not so much grieved for the sickness it self, as for that they have willingly neglected the means, which might have preserved their health, or abused the Physic that might have restored their health to them again: in like manner ⟨image 35⟩(I say) it fareth with them, who either unreverentlye have refused the means, which should keep their souls from surfeiting, or else unthankfully have abused those helps, which might have recovered them again. From hence it cometh, that some are much grieved for not using their good gifts to the benefit of Gods Church; as others are troubled for abusing their good gifts to the hurt of Gods Church: as we shall see a rich man sometimes humbled for not giving money to the poor, which he might have done; as also for heaping up riches falsely, that ⟨image 36⟩he ought not to have done. And thus, many (having received good gifts and graces from the Lord) are seasoned and sanctified by afflictions; whereby they are taught to put their gifts in ure, and to offer their service to Christ: