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 these are they, who having manifest signs of faith, and the new birth in them: yet by the subtle and cruel malice of the devil (although not without §Hthe wise disposing of the Lord, to their great good, and example of others) are brought to this bondage, that they are persuaded that they are utter reprobates, and have no remedy against their desperation. They feel (they say) the wrath of God kindled against their souls: and anguish of conscience most intolerable: and can find no release, notwithstanding their continual prayers made unto the Lord, and in their judgement stand void of all hope of the inheritance promised, expecting the consummation of their misery, and the fearful sentence of eternal condemnation. Now this vehemency of temptation, though it be enough of it self barely, to shake and terrify the afflicted; yet when melancholy shall herewithall possess §Ithe party, then is it made far more grievous: for that raiseth excess of distrust, and fear, and persuadeth it self of misery, where there is no cause, and is the very seat of the devil, being an apt instrument for him, both to weaken the body, and to terrify the mind with vain and fantastical fears, and to disturb the whole tranquillity of our nature: and one chief property of this, is to fear a man without just cause. So many as are troubled with this latter, I exhort to read the treatise of Melancholy, set forth by Doctor Bright Physician, Anno 1586. unto the which also I may refer them, for the former point: that is to say, if they be deeply touched with the conscience of sin alone, how they may be comforted and delivered out of it.§K But seeing it is both appertaining to the matter which I have taken in hand, to say somewhat thereof, and the other treatise not alway at hand, I will partly borrow from thence, where it is largely and profitably set down: and partly add my self somewhat for the staying and persuading of such weak ones,¹ as their case requireth.

And these are they, who hauing manifest signes of faith, and the new birth in them: yet by the subtill and cruell malice of the diuell (although not without §Hthe wise disposing of the Lord, to their great good, and example of others) are brought to this bondage, that they are perswaded that they are vtter reprobates, and haue no remedie against their desperation. They feele (they say) the wrath of God kindled against their soules: and anguish of conscience most intolerable: and can finde no release, notwithstanding their continuall prayers made vnto the Lord, and in their iudgement stand voyde of all hope of the inheritance promised, expecting the consummation of their miserie, and the fearefull sentence of eternall condemnation. Now this vehemencie of temptation, though it bee enough of it selfe barely, to shake and terrifie the afflicted; yet when melancholie shall herewithall possesse