A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

§. 6. Many Christians be exercised with this temptation, that they cannot be the children of God, because they never had that deep sorrow¹ and long lying under it that many of their Brethren have had.² Whereas they should know, that not mens examples but Gods word must be our rule of direction. The Lord dealeth not with ⟨p. 177⟩all alike, because in wisdom he knoweth what is most meet for every man. Doth any man complain because his joints are set, or his wounds cured with little smart and pain? The Physician knows best the strength of his patient, and what he can bear: what is necessary for one, would kill another. It is good to grieve,³ because we can grieve no more for sin: But to doubt of Gods love, because he deals gently with us, least we should be swallowed up of sorrow, is great ignorance, weakness and folly. God many times keeps from his servants the horrible and ghastly aspect of their sins in wonderful mercy, least the horror of them and Gods wrath due for them, should over-whelme them.⁴ If God by enticements and speaking to thy heart have brought thee home unto him, thou hast cause to magnify the tender mercy of the Lord, who hath not dealt with thee after thine iniquities: for had he set thee upon the rack, as many have been, thou hast reason to think, thou hadst never been able to bear it. Fear of conscience, grief of mind, doubtfulness of salvation commends no man to God; neither is it against a man or with him in assuring himself of salvation, whether he have long or short time been pressed with such sorrows, but that he be well freed and delivered from such trouble, and discharged of his fear.

§. 6. Many Christians be exercised with this temptation, that they cannot bee the children of God, because they neuer had that deepe sorrow¹ and long lying vnder it that many of their Brethren haue had.