The Soul's Conflict with Itself

First, when it hinders us from holy duties, ¹or in the performance of them, by distraction or otherwise; whereas they are given to carry us to that which is pleasing to GOD, and good to our selves.

1. 1Answ. 1

Grief is ill when it taketh off the soul from minding that it should, and so indisposeth us to the duties of o• callings. Christ upon the Cross was grieved to the utmost, yet it did not take away his care for his mother; so the good thief in the middest of his pangs laboured to gain his fellow, and ¹to save his own soul, and to glorify Christ. If this be so in grief of body ⟨p. 95⟩which taketh away the free use of reason, and exercise of grace more then any other grief, then much more in grief from more remote causes, for in extremity of body the sickness may be such, as all that we can perform to God is a quiet submission, and a desire to be carried unto Christ by the prayers of others; we should so mind our grief as not to forget Gods mercy, or our own duty.

Griefe is ill when it taketh off the soule from minding that it should, and so indisposeth us to the duties of o• callings. Christ upon the Crosse was grieved to the utmost, yet it did not take away his care for his mother; so the good theefe in the middest of his pangs laboured to gaine his fellow, and ¹to save his owne soule, and to glorifie Christ. If this be so in griefe of body ⟨p. 95⟩