The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax

3. If CHRIST should not be merciful to our infirmities, he should not have a people to serve him.

3. If CHRIST should not bee mercifull to our infirmities, hee should not haue a people to serve him.

Put case therefore we be very weak, yet so long as we are not found amongst malicious opposers, and underminers of ⟨p. 153⟩GODS truth, let us not give way to despairing thoughts, we have a merciful Saviour. But lest we flatter our selves without ground, we must know that weaknesses are accounted ¹either 1. imperfections cleaving to our best actions, or 2. such actions, as proceed from want of age in CHRIST, whilst we are Babes; or 3. from want of strength, where there hath been little means, or 4. they are sudden indeliberate breakings out, contrary to our general bent and purpose, whilst our judgement is overcast with the cloud of a sudden ⟨p. 154⟩temptation. After which, 1 we are sensible of our infirmity, 2 we grieve or it, 3, and from grief complain, and with complaining strive, and labour to reform, and in labouring get some ground of our corruption. There be some (almost) invincible infirmities, as forgetfulness, ²heaviness of spirit, sudden passions, fears, &c. which though natural, yet are for the most part tainted with sin, of these we are weary, and would fain shake them off, as a Sick man his Ague; otherwise it is not to be esteemed weakness, so much ⟨p. 155⟩as wilfulness, and the more will, the more sin: and little sins when God shall awake the conscience, and set them in order before us, will prove great burdens, and not only bruise a Reed, but shake a Cedar. Yet GODS children never sin with full will, because there is a contrary Law of the mind, whereby the Dominion of sin is broken, which always hath some secret working against the Law of sin. Yet there may be so much will in a sinful action, as may wonderfully waste our comfort afterward, and keep