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And that we be not too preposterous in our consolations, let us be warned by the blasphemous speech of that detestable Arian, who of late years was put to death at Norwich. This hellish heretic, a little before he should be executed,¹ afforded a few whorish tears asking whether he might be saved in Christ or no? When one told him, that if he truly repented, he should surely not perish: he brake out most monstrously into this speech: Nay, is your Christ so easily to be entreated indeed, as you say? Then I defy him, and care not for him. Oh how good a thing had it been not to have cast this precious stone to this swine? Oh how safe had it been to have dealt more bitterly, and to have dwelt more vehemently on the conscience of this caitiff?

And that we be not too preposterous in our consolations, let vs bee warned by the blasphemous speech of that detestable Arian, who of late yeares was put to death at Norwich. This hellish heretique, a little before he should be executed,¹ afforded a fewe whorish teares asking whether hee might bee saued in Christ or no? When one tolde him, that if he truely repented, he should surely not perish: he brake out most monstrously into this speech: Nay, is your Christ so easily to be intreated indeede, as you say? Then I defie him, and care not for him. Oh how good a thing had it beene not to haue cast this precious stone to this swine? Oh how safe had it beene to haue dealt more bitterlie, and to haue dwelt more vehementlie on the conscience of this caytife?

1. 1An Arian executed at Norwich.

Now to attain some discretion in curing ⟨p. 58⟩this wounded spirit, we must learn wisely to judge, both of the person afflicted, and of the nature of his affliction. First, we may note whether it be a man or a woman, because we may urge more fearfully the use of the law to a man, as being the stronger vessel. And as Satan knew the woman to be most easy and frameable to be wrought upon, at his first temptation: so is he not ignorant that she is the weaker party to sustain any temptation now. Then let us consider, whether they that are thus humbled have knowledge or no? Because, if they have no knowledge they think trouble of mind to be so strange a thing, as never any before had it: if they have knowledge, then Satan is ready to accuse them of the sin against the holy Ghost, as though every sin done against knowledge, were a sin of presumption. Further, we are to enquire, how strong or weak they are, that if they be sorely stricken we cease to humble them any further, if they be not sufficiently wounded then to touch them with some deeper sense of sin. Also we must be circumspect, to find out whether by nature they are more fearful & melancholy or no: As also, whether they be usual sinners, or have fallen once of infirmity; that so upon their disposition & inclination we may build our speeches the better. To these it is