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…

To go forward then, for the edifying of the rest, who, by Gods grace, are many more then the former, who all desire to leave and forsake their noisome corruptions, and rebellious wills; but yet have nothing the largeness of heart, and measure of grace, which some others have, I would willingly say to them that which the Lord hath revealed unto me: That they be not troubled at this, that they be behind others of Gods servants in the overcoming of themselves, and have not gotten mastery of all affections in such sort, as some have done: neither doubt they that faith and godliness are utterly to seek with them, because of this. For all believers have not their part in one and the same measure of mortification, and grace: all men cannot reach §Cand attain to that which some do: all know not alike; all value not goodness and liberty from fleshly lusts alike: and therefore cannot take pains for the same, as some others do: some receive thirty fold, some sixty fold, and some an hundred fold, by that which they hear. It is commendable and meet, that we should walk, as we have the best, for our examples; and to follow them, as they are patterns of good things unto us: but to stay at this, that we are not at all in Christ, because we are not in all points like unto some other in subduing our affections, that is in no sort to be yielded unto, if that which is in us, be in us in truth. Which thing I speak for their cause, who both think, and oft utter the same, saying: Oh I am not, as such of Gods children! they are §Dhappy, for that they are not troubled with frowardness, impatience, anger, weariness of good exercises, wandering in hearing of Sermons, reading and prayer, and such other like carnal desires, as I am: and yet the same persons both have had a true taste of eternal life, and earnest combats with their corruptions: yea and while they complain, they testify their going forward in subduing their corruptions, far otherwise then they who are not so troubled; and do declare plainly that they love the grace which they mourn for, and hate deadly the corruption, which they complain and cry out of. Therefore let no man measure himself by another: but in that little which he knoweth, let him be faithful, renouncing fleshly lusts, as he seeth what an §Eexcellent estate of life it is to be freed from them, I mean, not to be in bondage to them:

To goe forward then, for the edifying of the rest, who, by Gods grace, are many more then the former, who all desire to leaue and forsake their noysome corruptions, and rebellious willes; but yet haue nothing the largenes of heart, and measure of grace, which some others haue, I would willingly say to them that which the Lord hath reuealed vnto me: That they be not troubled at this, that they bee behind others of Gods seruants in the ouercomming of themselues, and haue not gotten masterie of all affections in such sort, as some haue done: neither doubt they that faith and godlines are vtterly to seeke with them, because of this. For all beleeuers haue not their part in one and the same measure of mortification, and grace: all men cannot reach