A care-cloth

But,¹ it doth likewise preserve the mourners self from infection of sin, causing that it cannot seize upon his soul, to poison it, as else the nature of it is to do, so long as he continues to weep and groan for it. In common plagues, there is great enquiring after preservatives. One commends Rue; another, Wormwood; a third, Holy-thistle; some this, some that, as their judgement leads them. But beloved, the worst of all diseases, ⟨p. 218⟩the most catching, the most contagious, the most apt to lay hold upon all, that come within the breath of them that are over-run with it, is sin. The plague it self, and the most desperate of all plagues, is nothing so apt to leap from man to man, and house to house, as sin is. The scabs among sheep, the murrain among cattle, do not more speedily overrun the whole flock and Herd, then wickedness will do an whole house, town, and Country. Only there is one most notable preservative, which every man carries about with him, which he need not take pains to seek elsewhere, but in himself, nor be at cost to buy of any but himself, and that is sorrow, grief, tears, the same that the Psalmist here speaks of. And whosoever he be, that can take but a reasonable draught of his own tears, morning and evening, or but twice or thrice a week, yea, or seldomer, for the sins of the men, with whom he liveth, shall never be infected with them, nor drawn by imitation, to like and practise them: for the soul will never agree to do that it self, which it is pained in it self to see another do. Will you not now make for your selves, and take this sovereign medicine against this pestilent sickness? Oaths, lying, cursing, bribery, simony, cozenage, oppression, usury, idleness, voluptuousness, pride, revenge and filthiness, shall never catch you by the example of other men, if you mourn for them, and behold them committed of others, with grief and anguish of spirit. ⟨p. 219⟩Will you not therefore stir up your sorrows, and save your selves from the peril of an evil generation? Especially, seeing this sorrow will do yet more good, by making them,² in whom it is, careful of seeking the reformation of others, so far as lies in them, and their duty and power extendeth. As godly sorrow for a mans own sins, will bring forth repentance not to be repented of, and cause him to amend his own evil ways: