The oil of gladnessThe oyle of gladnesse

§ 2.

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