A Golden Chain

For the better understanding of this, that God worketh saving faith in the heart of man after this manner; it must be observed that a sinner is compared ^eto a sick man oft in the Scriptures. And therefore the curing of a disease fitly resembleth the curing of sin. A man that hath a disease or sore in his body before he can be cured of it, he must see it, feel pain of it, and be in a fear least it bring him into danger of death: after this he shall see himself to stand in need of physic, and he longeth till he be with the physician: when he is once come to him, he desireth him of all loves to help him: and to show the best skill he can: he will not spare for any cost: then he yields himself into the Physicians hands, persuading himself, that by Gods blessing he both can and will help him: after this he comes to his former health again. On the same manner, every man is wounded with the deadly wound of sin at the very heart: and he that would be saved and escape damnation, must see his sin, be sorrowful for it, and utterly despair of his own strength to attain salvation thereby: furthermore, he must see himself to stand in need of Christ, the good Physician of his soul, and long after him, and cry unto him with deep sighs and groans for mercy: after this, Christ Jesus will temper him a plaster of his own heart blood; which being applied, he shall find himself revived, and shall come to a lively assurance of the forgiveness of all his sins. So it was in David, when he repented of his adultery and murder. First, God made him see his sins: for he saith,^f I know mine iniquities, and my sins are ever before me. Secondly, he felt Gods anger for his sins,^g