The new birthThe nevv birth

but go you now out of Gods house (refreshed with the sweetness of this comfort) unto your own houses rejoicing, as once the man did that was healed of the palsy. And if thine heart (after all this) object and say, Indeed if I were sure of my regeneration, and so of my salvation, your speeches were to some ⟨p. 124⟩purpose: but alack! I want that assurance. Why then I answer thee, thou hast other more necessary work then to grieve for crosses or losses, for the unkindness of thy yoke-fellow, or death, or undutifulness, or afflictions of thy children; even for this, that thou canst not tell but that thou mayest be in hell (where thou shalt meet with that, which is incomparably worse then all hard usage in the world), and that within the space of 24. hours or less. Wherefore now turn thy thoughts from striving to put away grief, and only labour to change the object of it; that by grieving for thy sins, and by considering thy wickedness of nature, and of life, and sorrowful confession of the same to God, with humble supplications for a redress of all, thou mightest at last become a new creature, and be assured that thou art so; and then set thy self to enjoy the fore-named consolation. Either (brethren) you be not certain of your new birth, and then you have cause to grieve for things of a more dangerous nature then outward crosses, and so to labour to know your selves borne again; or else you be certain of your new birth, and then you have reason even to scorn to be cast down at any outward evils, as much as a great rich man will scorn to cry for the loss of a shilling. Wherefore if you be not regenerate, your selves according to the former exhortation, to become so; if you be, and know it not as yet certainly, settle your selves to search into your hearts and lives, and to consider of the things formerly delivered, whether you have found them in your souls yea or no, and so bring your selves to certainty in this point: and if you be once certain of it, then apply your selves, maugre earth and hell, to live with glad hearts, and cheerful ⟨p. 125⟩countenances. For once the word of David is a most true word. It becometh upright men to rejoice. And (my brethren) that you may the better rejoice, know, that you are to be frequent in practising the duty of thanks-giving to God, for this mercy of all mercies:

but goe you now out of Gods house (refreshed with the sweetnesse of this comfort) vnto your owne houses reioycing, as once the man did that was healed of the palsie. And if thine heart (after all this) obiect and say, Indeed if I were sure of my regeneration, and so of my saluation, your speeches were to some