A15010:2
The oil of gladnessThe oyle of gladnesse
The oil of gladness. Or, Comfort for dejected sinners First preached in the parish church of Banbury in certain sermons, and now published in this present treatise. By William Whately minister there.The oyle of gladnesse. Or, Comfort for dejected sinners First preached in the parish church of Banbury in certaine sermons, and now published in this present treatise. By William Whately minister there.
London: printed by G. Miller for George Edwards, 1637
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To all wearied sinners, all happiness here and hereafter be granted, and this following Treatise be dedicated.
To all wearied sinners, all happinesse here and hereafter bee granted, and this following Treatise be dedicated.
Beloved in our LORD. You know it was one part of John Baptists office,1 to fill valleys, as was foretold of him. Valleys are dejected sinners, filling the valleys, is, comforting of such sinners. This Work is both ⟨image 3⟩necessary and difficult. For to what purpose is it to beat down a sinner, if he be not raised up again? The demolishing of an old house doth not afford habitation, if a new building be not set up in its room: so neither doth the casting down of mens high thoughts, make them a fit dwelling for God; if the fair palace of spiritual comfort be not also erected in them. Our souls are not united to God in hearty love, nor subjected to him in sincere obedience, by bare terrors: (nay, that bitter anguish, which floweth from the sight of sin, ⟨image 3⟩and death deserved by sin, will rather increase our enmity against God, and irritate our rebellious nature, if it be not somewhat eased by hope.) It is the sweetness of God (the taste whereof affordeth more content in him, then any thing could give, which would allure us from him) that makes the heart to cleave to him, and to his ways. Worldly businesses, are better dispatched, after Sun-rising, then at midnight; so men do make best speed in a journey, by day-light: so doth the journey of a godly conversation, ⟨image 4⟩and the whole work of righteousness, go forward most prosperously, when the shining beams of spiritual gladness, have enlightened the soul, as it were a quiet and light morning after a dark and tempestuous night. How hard a thing it is to quiet the troubled soul, they can best tell, that have been most employed in it. The devil opposeth the success of that labour with all his might, and craft; for he findeth inexperience, that the Lord hath none so faithful and valiant soldiers, in all his army as those