The souls humiliationThe soules humiliation

In the strongest temptations. When Satan begins to besiege the heart of a poor sinner, and lays battery against him; the Soul is so settled, that he cannot be removed. See how the humbled heart tires the devil, and runs him out of breath, and out-shoots him in his own Bow, in the very highest of all his malice and indignation. Take a poor Soul at the under, when he hath been throughly burdened with a corruption, and laid gasping for a little grace, and favour, and could not find any evidence of mercy; the Soul cries continually, and begs for mercy earnestly; the devil seeth him, and (having some permission from God so to do) he lets fly at the poor Soul, and labours to knock him off from his course, and saith to him in this manner.

In the strongest temptations. When Sathan begins to besiege the heart of a poore sinner, and layes battery against him; the Soule is so settled, that he cannot be remooved. See how the humbled heart tires the divell, and runnes him out of breath, and out-shoots him in his owne Bow, in the very highest of all his malice and indignation. Take a poore Soule at the under, when hee hath beene throughly burthened with a corruption, and laid gasping for a little grace, and favour, and could not finde any evidence of mercy; the Soule cryes continually, and begs for mercy earnestly; the divell seeth him, and (having some permission from God so to doe) he lets flye at the poore Soule, and labours to knocke him off from his course, and saith to him in this manner.

Satan objects. Doest thou think to get mercy from the Lord?and doest thou dream of any mercy at the hands of God? when thy own conscience dogs thee. Nay, go to the place where thou livest, and to the chamber where thou lyest, and consider thy fearful abominations, and how thou art foiled by them to this day, set thy heart at rest, God hears not, and respects not the prayers of such vile sinners.

Sathan objects. Doest thou thinke to get mercy from the Lord?and doest thou dreame of any mercy at the hands of God? when thy own conscience dogs thee. Nay, goe to the place where thou livest, and to the chamber where thou lyest, and consider thy fearefull abhominations, and how thou art foyled by them to this day, set thy heart at rest, God heares not, and respects not the prayers of such vile sinners.