A Golden Chain

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: