Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

And here another question ariseth, whether this turbulent kind of sorrow be of absolute necessity, ¹that is, whether to the right receiving of Christ, it is necessary that Christians have this kind of sorrow.

And here another question ariseth, whether this turbulent kinde of sorrow be of absolute necessitie, ¹that is, whether to the right receiving of Christ, it is necessary that Christians have this kind of sorrow.

1. 12. Quest.

To this I answer; first, that it is not the greatest turbulent sorrow that breaks the heart ¹and mollifies and softens it, but there is another sorrow, which I call a tempered sorrow, and that sorrow hath in it both a sight of hell, and a sight of heaven, a sight of sin, and a sight of grace in Christ which far exceeds this sorrow; for as it is with joy, the greatest joy is not expressed by laughter, for that is the greatest joy that is the joy of the inward man, so it is not the ⟨p. 244⟩greatest grief that is expressed by tears, and as it is not the greatest fire that makes the most crackling and noise, nor that the deepest water that makes the most roaring, so is it not the greatest grief or sorrow that expresseth it self by this turbulent passion of the mind; but the greatest grief is nothing when a sinner apprehends sin within, and sees it in its own colour, then it humbles him.

To this I answer; first, that it is not the greatest turbulent sorrow that breakes the heart ¹