The third follows, and that is conference. ⟨p. 114⟩Make thy case known to others of Gods people, for wisdom lies not all in one breast, so that any one man should be able for himself to answer all Satan's crafty cavils, especially the weak Christian cannot, therefore must he show his case, and crave counsel; David could comfort himself, Bathsheba could not. Wherefore devour not thy sorrows all alone, but ask advice, seek abroad for comfort, and make an happy use of the fellowship and communion of ⟨p. 115⟩Saints. More easily can the devil over reach one then many, communicate therefore thy griefs and fears, to some or other of Gods faithful people or Ministers. Now is the time of hearkening to the counsel of Saint James, who bids us, Confess our faults one to another, 1and pray one for another that you may be healed, when men that are tormented in spirit, suffer themselves to be stopped by shame or fear, from opening their wounds, they multiply their own ⟨p. 116⟩miseries, and increase the flames by stifling them. Do not so therefore any longer, but make manifest thy terrors, and acknowledge thy sins to some or other comforter. A man in a desperate disease will run to the Chirurgeon. Be sure thou hast not committed any so grievous sins, but some or other of Gods children have committed as bad. Be sure that no temptation ceaseth upon thee, so foul and hideous, but the same or as bad, hath ⟨p. 117⟩been found before in some or other of the Saints. J say therefore again, make haste to seek advice, and discover thine whole soul freely and fully to him whom thou takest for thy Physician, and leave nothing, no nothing unuttered that doth trouble thee; and resolve to believe rather the words of him that seeks to comfort thee, then thine own strong fancies, and Satan's lying cavils against thee. It is evident that a sound man can easily do that for a sick ⟨p. 118⟩man, which he by no means is able to do for himself in the time of his sickness. Therefore do the sick send for the whole, and the whole come to the sick, and even so must the sick and comfortless soul do likewise, only do this speedily, and put not off till thou beest already overwhelmed with griefs. As a bone out of joint, that is too long afore it be set, is far more hardly restored to his place, and is ever ready to be slipping out again:
The third followes, and that is conference. ⟨p. 114⟩Make thy case knowne to others of Gods people, for wisdome lies not all in one brest, so that any one man should bee able for himselfe to answer all Satans crafty cavills, especially the weake Christian cannot, therefore must he shew his case, and crave counsell; David could comfort himselfe, Bathsheba could not. Wherefore devoure not thy sorrowes all alone, but aske advice, seeke abroad for comfort, and make an happy use of the fellowship and communion of ⟨p. 115⟩Saints. More easily can the divell over reach one then many, communicate therefore thy griefes and feares, to some or other of Gods faithfull people or Ministers. Now is the time of hearkening to the counsell of Saint Iames, who bids us, Confesse our faults one to another, 1and pray one for another that you may be healed, when men that are tormented in spirit, suffer themselves to bee stopped by shame or feare, from opening their wounds, they multiply their own ⟨p. 116⟩miseries, and increase the flames by stifling them. Do not so therefore any longer, but make manifest thy terrors, and acknowledge thy sinnes to some or other comforter. A man in a desperate disease will runne to the Chyrurgion. Bee sure thou hast not committed any so grievous sins, but some or other of Gods children have committed as bad. Bee sure that no temptation ceaseth upon thee, so foule and hideous, but the same or as bad, hath ⟨p. 117⟩beene found before in some or other of the Saints. J say therefore againe, make haste to seeke advice, and discover thine whole soule freely and fully to him whom thou takest for thy Physitian, and leave nothing, no nothing unuttered that doth trouble thee; and resolve to beleeve rather the words of him that seekes to comfort thee, then thine owne strong fancies, and Satans lying cavills against thee. It is evident that a sound man can easily doe that for a sick ⟨p. 118⟩man, which hee by no meanes is able to doe for himselfe in the time of his sicknesse. Therefore doe the sicke send for the whole, and the whole come to the sicke, and even so must the sick and comfortlesse soule doe likewise, onely doe this speedily, and put not off till thou beest already overwhelmed with griefes. As a bone out of joynt, that is too long afore it bee set, is farre more hardly restored to his place, and is ever ready to be slipping out againe:
- 1James 5.16.
