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Now the remedy against this trouble is, willingly and wittingly not to cherish sin,¹ to wish that the minister should touch our most privy and secret sins, to be glad privately to be admonished, to profit by our enemies when they do reproach us: and rather ⟨p. 27⟩to desire (in such a case) to be humbled than to suffer our selves to be flattered. 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 and feeling of the spirit,) we begin to fight and conflict with our own consciences saying; though I must pray, I must have time also to provide for my family; if I go so 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 cut short in the use of my pleasures. Wherefore it shall be good to search our hearts, not only 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 been praying, but with no power of the spirit; I have received the Sacrament, but without those joys glorious and unspeakable, which I was wont to taste of. I saw the Discipline of the Church executed, but without any fear of sin at all in my self, or compassion to the member censured.

Now the remedie against this trouble is, willingly and wittingly not to cherish sin,¹ to wish that the minister should touch our most priuie and secret sinnes, to be glad priuately to be admonished, to profite by our enemies when they doe reproach vs: and rather ⟨p. 27⟩to desire (in such a case) to be humbled than to suffer our selues to be flattered. This trying of our selues must yet strech it selfe farther, not only to the committing of euill, but also to the omitting of good. As when (after some good working and feeling of the spirite,) we begin to fight and conflict with our own consciences saing; though I must pray, I must haue time also to prouide for my familie; if I goe so to heare the worde of God, surely I shall bee in danger to loose this profite; if I thus attend vpon the exercises of religion, I shall be cut short in the vse of my pleasures. Wherefore it shall be good to search our heartes, not onely in the carelesse not vsing of the meanes; but also in the negligent watching ouer the fruites of the meanes: saying to our selues in this manner; I haue heard a Sermon, but (alas) without anie feeling or working vpon my affections; I haue beene praying, but with no power of the spirite; I haue receiued the Sacrament, but without those ioyes glorious and vnspeakeable, which I was woont to taste of. I saw the Discipline of the Church executed, but without anie feare of sinne at all in my selfe, or compassion to the member censured.