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…

But some will oppose against these things which we have delivered: Do you think it a remedy to cast down them that be already humbled? this is rather to be a Butcher than a builder of a mans conscience. To whom I answer, that I desire Preachers to be Builders, and not Butchers; and it is one thing generally to apply, and another particular to lay the medicine unto the wound. It is good to begin with searching first, to purge the sore by the vinegar of the Law, and after to supple it with the oil of the Gospel. Both which must be done in wisdom, ⟨image 63⟩using them to some in greater, to some in lesser measure. For as some having nothing but a decay of nature, and no mortal humour, need rather restorative, than purging medicines: So some rather troubled for spiritual wants, than for gross sins, needs not so much the threatenings of the Law, as the sweet promises of the Gospel. But if the body, thorough some extraordinary repletion hath gotten some great surfeit, not so much to the weakening of nature, as to the threatening of imminent death, and therefore requireth rather some strong purgation than comfortable ⟨image 64⟩and cordial medicines: then the soul also being brought to some extraordinary sin is rather to be bored and pierced with the denouncing of Gods judgement than otherwise. But because we would deal more plainly & less confusedly, it is good in our access to the afflicted consciences, to lay these two grounds. First, we must persuade the persons humbled, that their sins are pardonable & their souls curable: And after, that this visitation is not so much a sign of Gods wrath and anger, as a seal of his love and favour, in that it is not either blind or barren, ⟨image 64⟩but plentiful in good effects, and fruitful in Godly issues. The former how needful it is, the experience of so many as have been thrown down, is a sufficient witness, who have had this as a tag tied in their tentations: The Lord will surely make an end of them in some strange and unknown tentation. Wherein they are not unlike unto men fallen into some dangerous disease, who thinking to be without the fathom of the Physicians skill, and not to be within the compass of things recoverable, add a second and sorer grief unto their former.

But some wil oppose against these things which wee haue deliuered: Doo you thinke it a remedie to cast downe them that bee already humbled? this is rather to bee a Butcher than a builder of a mans conscience. To whom I answere, that I desire Preachers to be Builders, and not Butchers; and it is one thing generally to apply, and another perticular to lay the medicine vnto the wound. It is good to begin with searching first, to purge the sore by the vineger of the Lawe, and after to supple it with the oyle of the Gospell. Both which must bee done in wisedome,