The new birthThe nevv birth

And then propound the case unto thine own self indifferently, and say unto thy soul; O my soul, look on both sides with an unpartial eye: look to the condition of my body, and estate, and take a view of the miseries that lie upon me; but look withal to the condition of my soul, and ponder well upon the happiness that I am admitted unto; and then be thou but an impartial judge betwixt sorrow and joy, to whether rather thou oughtest to incline. I am sickly, but I am regenerate and shall be saved: I am poor, but I am borne again, and shall see the kingdom of God: I have few friends, but I am made the child of God, and shall attain heaven. I have few friends, but I have received the spirit of grace to beget me again to a kingdom immortal, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. I have a froward husband, or ⟨p. 123⟩wife, or a stubborn son or a daughter; but I am Gods son or daughter, and have Christ Jesus to be mine husband and yoke-fellow. Have I these blessings to countervail these miseries? and shall I pule, and whine, and look with a sad countenance, and walk with a dead heart? Nay I ought not; nay I must not; nay I will not yield to this extreme weakness of carnal lamentation. I have cause to be glad, I have reason to be merry; and in spite of all that the worst yoke-fellow, or worst child, or worst estate can do to grieve me, I will be merry, and I will be glad. O my soul rejoice in the Lord, be merry in thy father, and shout for joy in Christ thy Redeemer. Thou art begotten again, thou art made new, thou art regenerate: who should be lively, if not the children of Kings? who should rejoice, if not the heirs of Crowns? I am Gods heir, heaven is mine inheritance, and a crown of glory is laid up for me, and I will be glad. Thus you must labour against the untowardly griefs of your own hearts, and enjoy the wonderful blessing of regeneration. So must you wipe away those unprofitable tears from your eyes, and clothe your selves with the garments of gladness. For it is a wrong to your selves, a disgrace to the good thing given, & an ingratitude to God the giver; if he bestow precious benefits upon you, and you enjoy them not. See therefore that your hearts do not droop, nor your faces look sad as in former time;

And then propound the case vnto thine owne selfe indifferently, and say vnto thy soule; O my soule, looke on both sides with an vnpartial eye: look to the condition of my body, and estate, and take a view of the miseries that lie vpon me; but look withall to the condition of my soule, and ponder well vpon the happinesse that I am admitted vnto; and then be thou but an impartiall iudge betwixt sorrow and ioy, to whether rather thou oughtest to encline. I am sickly, but I am regenerate and shall bee saued: I am poore, but I am borne againe, and shall see the kingdome of God: I haue few friends, but I am made the child of God, and shall attaine heauen. I haue few friends, but I haue receiued the spirit of grace to beget me againe to a kingdome immortall, vndefiled, and that fadeth not away. I haue a froward husband, or