The Soul's Conflict with Itself

Of casting down our selves. And specially by sorrow. Evils thereof.

Of casting downe our selves. And specially by sorow. Evills thereof.

TO return again to the words, Why art thou cast down ô my soul, &c. or, why dost thou cast down thy self? or, art cast down by thy self? Whence we may ¹further observe, That we are prone to cast down our selves, we are accessary to our own trouble, and weave the web of our own sorrow, and hamper our selves in the cords of our own twining. God neither loves nor wills that we should be too much cast down. We see our Saviour Christ how careful he was that his Disciples should not be troubled, and therefore he labours to prevent that trouble which might arise by his suffering and departure from them, by a heavenly sermon; Let not your hearts be troubled, &c. He was troubled himself that we should ²not be troubled: The ground therefore of our disquiet is chiefly from our ⟨p. 42⟩selves, though Satan will have a hand in it. We see many like sullen birds in a cage beat themselves to death. This casting down of our selves, is not from humility, but from Pride, we must have our will, or God shall not have a good look from us, but as pertish and peevish children, we hang our heads in our bosom, because our w• are crossed.

TO returne againe to the words, Why art thou cast downe ô my soule, &c. or, why dost thou cast downe thy selfe? or, art cast downe by thy selfe? Whence we may ¹further observe, That wee are prone to cast downe our selves, wee are accessary to our owne trouble, and weave the web of our owne sorow, and hamper our selves in the coards of our owne twining. God neither loves nor wills that we should be too much cast down. Wee see our Saviour Christ how carefull hee was that his Disciples should not bee troubled, and therefore hee labours to prevent that trouble which might arise by his suffering and departure from them, by a heavenly sermon; Let not your hearts bee troubled, &c. Hee was troubled himselfe that wee should