A Golden Chain

even so my cecity and blindness, and corrupt affections, and the rage of my conscience did so overshadow the sight of Gods seed in me, & so overwhelm his spirit, as though I had bin a plain reprobate. And thus it came to pass that David making his prayer to God according to his own sense and feeling, but not according to the truth; desired of God to give him again his spirit. Which thing God never doth indeed: although he made me to think so for a time: for always he holdeth his hand under his children in their falls, that they lie not still as other do which are not regenerate. I being thus turmoiled and stung with the conscience of sin and the cockatrice of my poisoned nature, having beheld her self in the glass of the righteous law of God, there was no other salve or remedy but to run to the brazen serpent Christ Jesus which shed his blood, hanging upon the cross, and to his everlasting testament and merciful promise, that was shed for me for the remission of my sins, therefore I got me speedily into a close corner in my house, and there upon my face grovelling, I confessed my sin and prayed a•ter this manner in effect. Father, what an horrible ⟨p. 632⟩monster am I? What traitor? What wretch and villain? Thy mercy is wonderful, that hell hath not devoured me having deserved a thousand damnations. I have sinned, I have sinned against thy godly, holy, and righteous law, and against my brother by robbing him, whom I ought to love for thy sake as dearly as my self: forgive me father for thy son Christ his sake, according to thy most merciful promises and testament: forget not good Lord thy old mercies showed upon me, let them not at this time in me be quite removed. On this manner praying I continued many hours, and God which is near to all them that call upon him, heard me, eased my pain, and assured me of the remission of my sin. After presently, for the more easing of my conscience I went to my neighbour, and between him & me upon my knees confessed my fault with tears, desiring him to forgive me, and I would (as Gods law requireth) restore that which I stole, fourfold: he (I thank him) was contented and took pity on me, and ever since hath been by Gods mercy my good friend. So by little and little, God restored me to my first estate:

euen so my cecitie and blindnes, and corrupt affections, and the rage of my conscience did so ouershadow the sight of Gods seed in me, & so ouerwhelme his spirit, as though I had bin a plaine reprobate. And thus it came to passe that Dauid making his praier to God according to his own sense and feeling, but not according to the truth; desired of God to giue him againe his spirit. Which thing God neuer doth indeede: although he made me to thinke so for a time: for alwaies he holdeth his hand vnder his children in their falls, that they lie not still as other doe which are not regenerate. I beeing thus turmoyled and stung with the conscience of sinne and the cockatrice of my poisoned nature, hauing beheld her selfe in the glasse of the righteous law of God, there was no other salue or remedie but to runne to the brasen serpent Christ Iesus which shed his blood, hanging vpon the crosse, and to his euerlasting testament and mercifull promise, that was shedde for me for the remission of my sinnes, therefore I got me speedily into a close corner in my house, and there vpon my face groueling, I confessed my sinne and praied ater this manner in effect. Father, what an horrible