The new birthThe nevv birth

if he have built him a fair house, and purchased a good living, or two, lying near about it: and yet in such terms standeth his soul with God, that if he should (as he may) decease to night, he were sure to be roaring in Hell before morning. But thou, to whom Heaven is ascertained by the most plain evidence, and strong assurance, that God can tell how to make unto his creature of a future thing; if thou have an ill child, a froward yoke-fellow, a sickly body, a penurious and friendless estate; doest spend thy time in sullen discontentment, weeping, and wailing, and taking on, with little less immoderateness of grief, then Rachel weeping for her children, which would not be comforted, because they were not. I tell thee the truth in the name of the Lord, this is a great sin of thine, ⟨p. 119⟩and a soul shame for thee. Is it not a sin to underprize heaven? is it not a sin to embase Gods richest gifts? is it not a sin to dis-esteem these benefits, that pass all the estimation of all men? and what is this but a dis-esteeming, embasing, underprising of heaven it self, to carry thy self as if the comfort and felicity thereof, were not of worth enough, to keep thee from sinking under the burden of sorrow, about earthly matters? Again, tell me, if thou shouldest hear of a man that had at the same time made two bargains, by the one of which he should loose some four or five shillings (or pounds say); and by the other he should gain so many hundred thousand pounds: and upon the former trifling loss, should sit weeping and sighing, and wringing his hands, and crying out that he were undone; though he knew well enough what a rich amends his second bargain had made him. If (I say) thou shouldest hear of such a person; what wouldest thou say to him? wouldest thou not cease pitying him; and even break into laughter, at his so ridiculous and absurd folly, that would needs torment himself without all cause, and would not enjoy the good that God had offered him? In truth few men would find in their hearts, so much as to take compassion of such a wilfully-miserable man. Hearken now then what I say; Thou art this man forespoken of, and thy carriage is just his carriage: so that what accusations of folly and absurdness thou wouldest cast upon him, the same do (in the truest application of things) appertain to thy self.

if he haue built him a faire house, and purchased a good liuing, or two, lying neere about it: and yet in such termes standeth his soule with God, that if hee should (as hee may) decease to night, hee were sure to bee roring in Hell before morning. But thou, to whom Heauen is ascertained by the most plaine euidence, and strong assurance, that God can tell how to make vnto his creature of a future thing; if thou haue an ill childe, a froward yoke-fellow, a sicklie bodie, a penurious and friendlesse estate; doest spend thy time in sullen discontentment, weeping, and wailing, and takeing on, with little lesse immoderatenesse of griefe, then Rahel weeping for her children, which would not bee comforted, because they were not. I tell thee the truth in the name of the Lord, this is a great sinne of thine,