For the better understanding of this that God worketh, sowing faith in the hart of man after this manner; it must be observed that a sinner is compared *to a sick man oft in the scriptures. And therefore that 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 lest 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 & 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 ⟨p. 47⟩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 the 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, eI know mine iniquities, and my sins are ever before me. Secondly, he felt Gods anger for his sins, fmake me (saith he) to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Thirdly he utterly despaired of his own strength, in that he said, gstablish me with thy free spirit; signifying thereby, unless the Lord would stay him with his glorious power, he should run headlong to his own confusion. Fourthly he comes to see himself stand in great need of Gods favour: hone mercy will not content him: he prayeth for the whole innumerable multitude of his mercies, to be bestowed on him, to do away his iniquities. Fifthly, his desire and his prayer for the forgiveness of his sin, are set down ⟨p. 48⟩in the whole Psalm.
For the better vnderstanding of this that God worketh, sowing faith in the hart of man after this manner; it must bee obserued that a sinner is compared *to a sicke man oft in the scriptures. And therefore that the curing of a disease fitly resembleth the curing of sinne. A man that hath a disease or sore in his bodie before hee can bee cured of it, hee must see it, feele paine of it, and be in a feare lest it bring him into danger of death: after this, he shall see himselfe to stande in neede of Phisick, and he longeth till he be with the Phisitian: when he is once come to him, he desireth him of all loues to helpe him & to shew the best skill he can: he will not spare for any cost: then he yeeldes himselfe into the Phisitians handes, perswading himselfe, that by Gods blessing, he both can and will helpe him: after this he comes to his former health againe. On the same manner, euerie man is wounded with the deadly wound of sinne at the very heart: and he that woulde bee saued and escape damnation, must see his sinne, bee sorrowfull for it, and vtterlie dispaire of his owne strength to attaine ⟨p. 47⟩saluation thereby: furthermore he must see himselfe to stande in neede of Christ, the good Phisition of his soule, and long after him, and crie vnto him with deepe sighes and grones for mercie: after this Christ Iesus will temper him a plaister, of his owne heart bloud, which beeing applied, he shall finde himselfe reuiued, and shall come to the assurance of the forgiuenes of all his sinnes. So it was in Dauid, when he repented of his adulterie and murther. First God made him see his sinnes, for he saith, eI know mine iniquities, and my sinnes are euer before me. Secondly, he felt Gods anger for his sinnes, fmake me (saith he) to heare ioy and gladnes, that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice. Thirdly hee vtterly dispaired of his owne strength, in that he said, gstablish me with thy free spirit; signifying therby, vnlesse the Lord woulde staie him with his glorious power, he should run headlōg to his own cōfusiō. Fourthly he comes to see himselfe stand in great neede of Gods fauour: hone mercie will not content him: hee praieth for the whole innumerable multitude of his mercies, to bee bestowed on him, to doe away his iniquities. Fiftly, his desire and his praier for the forgiuenes of his sin, are set down
- *Luk. 4. 18 Math. 9. 11 12.
- ePsal. 51. verse 3.
- fverse 8.
- gverse 12.
- hverse 1.
