In the feeling of this sorrow, three things are to be observed. The first, all men must look, that it be seriously and soundly wrought in their hearts: for look as men use to break hard stones into many small pieces and into dust: so must this feeling of Gods anger for sin bruise the heart of a poor sinner and bring it to nothing. And that this may be so, sorrow is not to be felt for a brunt, but very often before the end of a mans life. The godly man dfrom his youth suffereth the terrors of god. Jacob wrestling with the Angel gets the victory of him, ebut yet he is fain to go halting to his grave, and trail one of his loins after him continually. fThe paschal Lamb was never eaten without sour herbs, to signify that they which will be free from the wrath of God by Jesus Christ, must feel continually the smart and bitterness of their own sins. The second, all men must take heed, least when they are touched for their sins, they besnare their own consciences: for if the sorrow be somewhat over sharp, they shall see themselves even brought to the gates of hell, and to feel the pangs of death. And when a man is in this perplexity, he shall find it a most hard matter to be freed from it, without the marvellous power and strength of Christ Jesus, who only is able to help him and comfort him: yea many when they are once plunged in this distress and anguish of soul, ⟨p. 589⟩shall never escape it, as may appear in Cain, Saul, Ahithophel, Judas, & now of late in John Hoffmeister a Monk, and Latomus, who for the space of certain days never left crying that he was damned, because that he had wilfully persecuted the Gospel of Christ, and so he ended his life. Therefore most worthy is Pauls counsel for the moderating of this sorrow: gIt is sufficient (saith he) unto the incestuous man that he was rebuked of many, so that now contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, least he should be swallowed up of overmuch heaviness. And further he giveth an other reason, which followeth, least Satan should circumvent us: for we are not ignorant of his *enterprises. And indeed common experience showeth the same, that when any man is most weak, then Satan most of all bestirreth himself to work his confusion. The third is, that all men which are humbled have not like measure of §3sorrow, but some more, some less.
In the feeling of this sorrowe, three things are to bee obserued. The first, all men must looke, that it be seriously and soundly wrought in their hearts: for looke as men vse to breake hard stones into many small peeces and into dust: so must this feeling of Gods anger for sinne bruise the heart of a poore sinner and bring it to nothing. And that this may be so, sorrow is not to bee felt for a brunt, but very often before the end of a mans life. The godly man dfrom his youth suffereth the terrors of god. Iacob wrestling with the Angel gets the victorie of him, ebut yet he is faine to goe halting to his graue, and traile one of his loynes after him continually. fThe paschall Lamb was neuer eaten without sowre hearbs, to signifie that they which wil be free from the wrath of God by Iesus Christ, must feele continually the smart and bitternesse of their owne sinnes. The second, all men must take heede, least when they are touched for their sinnes, they besnare their owne consciences: for if the sorrowe bee somewhat ouer sharp, they shall see themselues euen brought to the gates of hell, and to feele the pangs of death. And when a man is in this perplexitie, he shall find it a most hard matter to be freed from it, without the marueilous power and strength of Christ Iesus, who only is able to helpe him and comfort him: yea many when they are once plunged in this distresse and anguish of soule, ⟨p. 589⟩shall neuer escape it, as may appeare in Cain, Saul, Achitophel, Iudas, & now of late in Iohn Hoffmeister a Monke, and Latomus, who for the space of certaine daies neuer left crying that he was damned, because that he had wilfully persecuted the Gospell of Christ, and so he ended his life. Therefore most worthie is Pauls counsell for the moderating of this sorrow: gIt is sufficient (saith he) vnto the incestuous man that he was rebuked of many, so that now contrariwise ye ought rather to forgiue him and comfort him, least he should be swallowed vp of ouermuch heauines. And further he giueth an other reason, which followeth, least Sathan should circumuent vs: for we are not ignorant of his *enterprises. And indeede common experience sheweth the same, that when any man is most weake, then Sathan most of all bestirreth himselfe to worke his confusion. The third is, that all men which are humbled haue not like measure of
- dPsal. 88.15
- eGe. 32.25.
- fExod. 12. 8 Zach. 12.10
- g2. Cor. 2. 6,7.
- *Or policies.
