Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…

And is it any marvel? For when they are thus over-matched by Satan, (that while they go about to think of the renouncing of their sin, they are brought contrarily to like of it) this disadvantageth them sore much more, and holdeth them more strongly in fear and persuasion that they shall still live in bondage and subjection to it, then if they had never at all gone about to resist it:¹ as he who maketh a fray, when he hath proved the strength of his enemy, and hath felt and perceived his own weakness to be far greater then he looked for, is much discouraged from attempting the like another time. And many of these sleights are in our common adversary the devil, which diverse true hearted (yet unexperienced) Christians not knowing nor §Hbeing acquainted with, are much astonished when they first prove it to be so, and are discouraged for long time after when they see what hard success they have had. And it must teach us all to come better armed then that we should think, with a bare desire to overcome our sin, or in having only a cold mislike of it: these weapons fray not so mighty and subtle an enemy. But we will take no knowledge of it, and that we have need to walk in fear always: and therefore we must of necessity smart, for that we would not be warned, till we say as many have said: Oh that we had been wiser. Therefore both at such times when we enter by our selves into the consideration of our sin, to the end we may grow further out of liking with it, and at all other §Itimes let us endeavour to follow that which hath been said concerning this point, namely: that we deal wisely in our own behalf, as by the former cautions we have been advised.

And is it any maruell? For when they are thus ouer-matched by Sathan, (that while they go about to thinke of the renouncing of their sinne, they are brought contrarily to like of it) this disaduātageth them sore much more, and holdeth them more strongly in feare and perswasion that they shall still liue in bondage and subiection to it, then if they had neuer at all gone about to resist it:¹ as he who maketh a fray, when he hath proued the strength of his enemie, and hath felt and perceiued his owne weakenesse to be farre greater then he looked for, is much discouraged from attempting the like another time. And many of these sleights are in our common aduersarie the diuell, which diuerse true hearted (yet vnexperienced) Christians not knowing nor