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…

§. 15. Some godly persons, by the subtle and cruel malice of the Devil are brought to this bondage,¹ that they are persuaded that they are utter reprobates, and have no remedy against their desperation. And this temptation enough of it self to shake and terrify the afflicted, is made far more grievous when Melancholy possesseth the party: for that raiseth excess of distrust and fear, and causeth the party to persuade himself of misery, where there is no cause. In this weakness Satan assails such poor servants of God by spiritual suggestion, tempting them to such sins as be very strange, and such as they abhor the very least conceit of them, and when by such temptations they are brought low, in the anguish and bitterness of their souls, the Devil laboureth especially to dim their knowledge and judgement, that they may have no sure hold of any point of doctrine, which may soundly comfort them, that so he may as a roaring Lyon devour them speedily. And when he hath covered their hearts with darkness, and brought them into a dreadful fear of Gods wrath, he holdeth them at this vantage, that every thing which is before them, is made matter to increase their distressed estate. For the stay and comfort of such distressed souls,² they are to be persuaded, that they be not under the wrath of God, neither is his anger kindled against them, for all the fear that oppresseth them, when their estate is in their own feeling at the worst because they have not sinned against the holy Ghost, nor maliciously set themselves against the truth and Gospel of God, nor persecuted it wilfully against knowledge and conscience: which one sin only is able to shut them out from all hope of salvation. And here they must beware, they make no more sins of that kind, then God himself ⟨p. 191⟩hath pronounced to be of that sort: for in these matters that concern Gods Religion, even the perfection of our wisdom is but folly, much more our sick brains and melancholic understanding is to be removed far from handling such holy things. And seeing their consciences do bear them witness, how much these temptations are repugnant to their desires and liking, how gladly they would be freed and delivered from them, how grievous and burdensome they are unto them, and chiefly raised by Satan, who abuseth their simplicity: