The oil of gladnessThe oyle of gladnesse

§ 2.

Yea but J find my self even weary of praying, and ready to faint & give over. I answer, so did David too, Psal. 69. when he said his eyes did fail and he was weary of crying, and yet he cried still, and so do thou, which so long ⟨p. 180⟩as thou dost, thou art in none other estate then he was, and therefore in a good estate, only so that thou wilt be content, as I said to live by faith and not by feeling. Yea but I am not alone void of all peace and comfort, but even filled with fears & terrors. I answer so was David too, in divers places, by name Psal. 69.1. where he saith, that the waters were come unto his soul and that he stuck fast in the mire. If any say this is meant alone of danger from his outward enemies. J answer, believe ⟨p. 181⟩that who can, I cannot. David was no coward, that the apprehension of a mere natural death should drive him unto such complaints, sure there was more in it then so, his soul also was well near overwhelmed with temptations & fears of Gods displeasure as well as thine. So was he that made the 77. Psalm, he saith, my soul refused comfort, he neither could nor scarce would take comfort, yea complains, will the Lord cast off for ever? showing that he had much ado to keep himself ⟨p. 182⟩from sinking under despair. So Heman the Ezrahite, Psal. 88. saith, ver. 16. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me, and thy terrors cut me off, but how behaved he himself in these terrors? he cried unto the Lord, and said, that in the morning his prayers should prevent him. I say then to thee, whither do thy terrors drive thee, from God, or to God? If from God, let them do so no more, and thou shalt have comfort, if to God, do so still, and that will prove thy state good.