2. The grief that is raised, though it be right yet it must be bounded. Before we speak of raising grief in ⟨p. 98⟩the godly, we must know there are some who are altogether strangers to any kind of spiritual grief, or trouble at all; such must consider, that the way to prevent everlasting trouble, i• to desire to be troubled with a preventing trouble. Let those that are not in the way of grace think with themselves what cause they have, not to take a minutes rest while they are i• that estate. For a man to be in debt both body and soul, subject every minute to be arrested and carried prisoner to Hell, and not to be moved: Fo• man to have the wrath of GOD ready to be poured out upon him, and Hell gape for him, nay to carry a hell about him in conscience (if it were awake) and to have all his comfort here hanging upon a weak thread of this li•e ready to be cut and broken off every moment, and to be cursed in all those blessings that he enjoys: and yet not to be disquieted, but continually treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, by running deeper into God• books: for a man to be thus, and not ⟨p. 99⟩to be disquieted, is but the Devils peace, whilst the strong man holds possession: A burning Ague is more hopeful than a Lethargy; The best service that can be done to such men, is to startle and rouse them, and so with violence to pull them out of the fire (as Jude speaks) or else they will another day curse that cruel mercy that lets 1them alone now. In all their jollity in this world, they are but as a Book fairly bound, which when it is opened is full of nothing but Tragedies. So when the book of their consciences shall be once opened, there is nothing to be read but lamentations and woes. Such men were in a way of hope, if they had but so much apprehension of their estates, as to ask themselves, What have I done? If this be true that there are such fearful things prepared for sinners, why am I not cast down? Why am I no more troubled and discouraged for my wicked courses? Despair to such is the beginning of comfort; and trouble the beginning of peace. A storm is the way to a calm, and hell ⟨p. 100⟩the way to heaven.
2. The griefe that is raised, though it bee right yet it must bee bounded. Before wee speake of raising griefe in ⟨p. 98⟩the godly, wee must know there are some who are altogether strangers to any kinde of spirituall griefe, or trouble at all; such must consider, that the way to prevent everlasting trouble, i• to desire to be troubled with a preventing trouble. Let those that are not in the way of grace thinke with themselves what cause they have, not to take a minutes rest while they are i• that estate. For a man to bee in debt both body and soule, subject every minute to be arrested and caried prisoner to Hell, and not to bee moved: Fo• man to have the wrath of GOD ready to bee powred out upon him, and Hell gape for him, nay to cary a hell about him in conscience (if it were awake) and to have all his comfort here hanging upon a weake threed of this li•e ready to bee cut and broken off every moment, and to bee cursed in all those blessings that he enjoyes: and yet not to be disquieted, but continually treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, by running deeper into God• books: for a man to bee thus, and not ⟨p. 99⟩to bee disquieted, is but the Devills peace, whilest the strong man holds possession: A burning Ague is more hopefull than a Lethargy; The best service that can be done to such men, is to startle and rouze them, and so with violence to pull them out of the fire (as Iude speakes) or else they will another day curse that cruell mercy that lets 1them alone now. In all their jollity in this world, they are but as a Booke fairely bound, which when it is opened is full of nothing but Tragedies. So when the booke of their consciences shall be once opened, there is nothing to bee read but lamentations and woes. Such men were in a way of hope, if they had but so much apprehension of their estates, as to ask themselves, What have I done? If this bee true that there are such fearefull things prepared for sinners, why am I not cast downe? Why am I no more troubled and discouraged for my wicked courses? Despaire to such is the beginning of comfort; and trouble the beginning of peace. A storme is the way to a calme, and hell ⟨p. 100⟩the way to heaven.
- 1Jude 23.
