A Golden Chain

But if I deal with such as have before obeyed the Lords calling, and either by reason of some grievous sin into which they have fallen, or because they have absented themselves from the Church of GOD, or in that they, refusing public and private admonitions, have been offensive to the Church, or which in mine experience, hath befallen many very good and godly persons, whilst they satisfy not themselves they are so altogether busily conversant in reprehending and judging themselves that they for a while forget the mercy of God: with these, to omit such as for some natural infirmities, are, if they procure not speedy help of some expert Minister, most dangerously tempted, with these I say, I use this order.

But if I deale with such as haue before obeyed the Lords calling, and either by reason of some grieuons sinne into which they haue fallen, or because they haue absented themselues from the Church of GOD, or in that they, refusing publike and priuate admonitions, haue beene offensiue to the Church, or which in mine experience, hath befallen many very good and godly persons, whilest they satisfie not th•mselues they are so altogither busily conuersant in reprehending and iudging themselues that they for a while forget the mercie of God: with these, to omit such as for some natural infirmities, are, if they procure not speedy helpe of some expert Minister, most dangerously tempted, with these I say, I vse this order.

First, I desire that they intimate unto me, that which especially grieveth them, and as I understand both, the thing, and measure thereof by them: I take especial care of this, that they being already overmuch cast down, that I then, by the severe denunciation of the Law, do not quite overturn them: yet so as that I do not altogether withdraw them either from condemning their former sins, or the meditation of Gods judgement: And so, as much as I can, I temper the words of consolation, as that I nothing cloak Gods anger against them for their sins.

First, I desire that they intimate vnto me, that which especially grieueth thē, and as I vnderstand both, the thing, and measure thereof by them: I take especiall care of this, that they beeing already ouermuch cast down, that I then, by the seuere denunciation of the Law, doe not quite ouerturne them: yet so as that I doe not altogither withdrawe them either from condemning their former sinnes, or the meditation of Gods iudgement: And so, as much as I can, I temper the words of consolation, as that I nothing cloak Gods anger against them for their sinnes.