Now to these holy meditations and prayers, let us add also an holy fear & misdoubting of our selves,1 suspecting our own weakness, and even trembling to think, that we may be grossly overtaken. Blessed is he that feareth always, for this fear will be the cause of safety to him. Whiles a soldier feareth his enemy, he keeps his harness upon him, and will not disarm himself, so long as he mistrusteth the approach of an enemy: But security makes a man lay his weapons aside, and give himself to pleasure, ease, and sleep, and then if an enemy assault him, he is soon slain, or put to flight. he that is afraid of falling into some deadly sickness, will easily be persuaded to look to his diet, and to take some necessary physic. Say therefore in thy self, O if I grow careless, sin will quickly grow strong in my weakness, and quickly raise up it self against me, and do my soul more mischief then tongue can express! how have many of Gods Saints been foiled, that were far and far better then my self? shall not their misery be my warning? If such Worthies were overthrown and wounded, what will become of me? If I grow foolishly bold, and make too ⟨p. 152⟩fair promises to my self: fear lest one shall fall, will keep him upright, even in a very slippery way: but soon are his feet caught from him, that looketh about, and never suspecteth a fall. A moderate doubting of our own strength, will quicken us to prayer and meditation. This virtuous jealousy and suspicion of our weakness, will make us shun the occasions of sin, and so preserve us in safety, when others that are more venturous, shall be sooner foiled, though they be more strong: when we fear our selves most, we pray most to God, and most trust in him; and prayer and confidence will keep us in safety. Indeed, we never cast off this wariness, and cautelousnesse, till we be first beguiled with the deceitfulness of sin; and when it hath deceived us, it will easily do us a mischief. Look about, therefore, see how thou standest environed with enemies, see what an ill nature thou hast within thee, what a violent adversary without thee. Thou art like a besieged City, full of traitors, the wise men in such a City, will quickly mistrust and doubt the worst; they will ever suspect, that mischief is plotting against them, and by fearing, they become careful to prevent it.
NOw to these holy meditations and prayers, let vs adde also an holy feare & misdoubting of our selues,1 suspecting our owne weakenesse, and euen trembling to thinke, that we may bee grossely ouertaken. Blessed is hee that feareth alwayes, for this feare will bee the cause of safety to him. Whiles a soulier feareth his enemie, he keepes his harnesse vpon him, and wil not disarme himselfe, so long as he mistrusteth the approch of an enemie: But security makes a man lay his weapons aside, and giue himselfe to pleasure, ease, and sleepe, and then if an enemie assault him, he is soone slaine, or put to flight. he that is afraid of falling into some deadly sicknesse, will easily bee perswaded to looke to his diet, and to take some necessary physicke. Say therefore in thy selfe, O if I grow carelesse, sinne will quickly grow strong in my weakenesse, and quickly raise vp it selfe against me, and doe my soule more mischiefe then tongue can expresse! how haue many of Gods Saints beene foyled, that were farre and farre better then my selfe? shall not their misery bee my warning? If such Worthies were ouerthrowne and wounded, what will become of me? If I grow foolishly bold, and make too ⟨p. 152⟩faire promises to my selfe: feare lest one shall fall, will keepe him vpright, euen in a very slippery way: but soone are his feet caught from him, that looketh about, and neuer suspecteth a fall. A moderate doubting of our own strength, will quicken vs to prayer and meditation. This vertuous ielousie and suspition of our weaknes, will make vs shunne the occasions of sinne, and so preserue vs in safety, when others that are more ventrous, shall be sooner foyled, though they be more strong: when we feare our selues most, wee pray most to God, and most trust in him; and prayer and confidence will keepe vs in safety. Indeed, we neuer cast off this warinesse, and cautelousnesse, till wee bee first beguiled with the deceitfulnesse of sinne; and when it hath deceiued vs, it will easily doe vs a mischiefe. Looke about, therefore, see how thou standest inuironed with enemies, see what an ill nature thou hast within thee, what a violent aduersary without thee. Thou art like a besieged City, full of traitors, the wise men in such a City, will quickly mistrust and doubt the worst; they will euer suspect, that mischiefe is plotting against them, and by fearing, they become carefull to preuent it.
- 1Fear of our selves, a means to mortify sin.Feare of our selues, a meanes to mortisie sin.
