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Sometime also it cometh to pass, that one shall be tempted with such a sin, as neither heretofore, nor presently he hath given any liking or entertainment unto; and yet the Lord by it may forewarn him how he may fall into it hereafter, as also to show that he hath stood all his former life, rather by the grace of God than by the strength of flesh and blood. Wherefore when thou art moved to doubt of God, of Christ, of the word, or of justification, do not so much stand wondering at these strange tentations, as think with thy self that it is the mercy of God by them, to cause thee better to discern of those tentations in others: when thou shalt have observed with fear and trembling how they make their first entry into a mans heart, how they gather strength, how they agree with our corrupt nature, in what degrees they come to some growth, how the spirit of God doth resist them, what be the means best to prevail against them. And ⟨p. 52⟩thus if thou make thy profit by them, thou shalt so wonderfully search and descry by several veins, the body, age and sleight to of these tentations in others, by an holy experience which God hath taught thee in others, that besides that thou shalt lay forth mens secrete corruptions, as if thou wast in their bosoms; thou shalt be able also by the seed of sorrow in thy self, to beget an unspeakable joy in others, who in time may be tempted as thou now art.

Sometime also it commeth to passe, that one shall bee tempted with such a sinne, as neither heretofore, nor presently he hath giuen any liking or entertainement vnto; and yet the Lord by it may forewarne him how he may fall into it hereafter, as also to shew that hee hath stoode al his former life, rather by the grace of God than by the strength of flesh and bloode. Wherefore when thou art moued to doubt of God, of Christ, of the word, or of iustification, do not so much stand wondring at these strange tentations, as thinke with thy selfe that it is the mercy of God by them, to cause thee better to discerne of those tentations in others: when thou shalt haue obserued with feare and trembling how they make their first entrie into a mans heart, how they gather strength, how they agree with our corrupt nature, in what degrees they come to some growth, how the spirit of God doth resist them, what bee the meanes best to preuaile against them. And ⟨p. 52⟩