The Soul's Conflict with Itself

It is the foolish wisdom of the ¹world to prevent trouble by sin, which is the way indeed to pull the greatest trouble upon us. For sin dividing betwixt God and us, moveth him to leave the soul to entangle it self in •s own ways. When the conscience is clear, then there is nothing between God and us to hinder our trust. Outward troubles rather drive us nearer unto God, and stand with his love. But sin defileth the soul, and sets it further from God. It is well doing that enables ⟨p. 401⟩²us to commit our souls cheerfully •to him. Whatsoever our outward condition be, if our hearts condemn us […], we may have boldness with God. In ³my trouble our care should be, not to avoid the trouble, but sinful miscarry age in and about the trouble, and so trust God. It is a heavy condition to be under the burden of trouble, and under the burden of a guilty conscience both at once. When men will walk in the light of their own fire, and the sparks which they have kindled themselves, it is just with God, that they should lye down ⁴in sorrow.

It is the foolish wisdome of the ¹world to prevent trouble by sin, which is the way indeed to pull the greatest trouble upon us. For sinne dividing betwixt God and us, moveth him to leave the soule to intangle it selfe in •s owne wayes. When the conscience is cleare, then there is nothing between God and us to hinder our trust. Outward troubles rather drive us neerer unto God, and stand with his love. But sin defileth the soule, and sets it further from God. It is well doing that inables ⟨p. 401⟩²us to commit our soules cheerefully to him. Whatsoever our outward condition be, if our hearts condemne us , we may have boldnesse with God. In