A15010:54
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.
§ 1.
First, it gives cause of a gentle reprehension to many of Gods servants, that keep on their garments of sorrow too long, and still feed on ⟨p. 34⟩wormwood and gall, almost refusing to be comforted, then, when comfort is due to them. Though they have searched their hearts and confessed their sins, and brought their hearts to a full purpose of amendment; yet they fail in that they do not take some measure of comfort to themselves, and do not partake of the consolations of God which he offers to them in his holy Word.
First, it gives cause of a gentle reprehension to many of Gods servants, that keepe on their garments of sorrow too long, and still feed on ⟨p. 34⟩wormewood and gall, almost refusing to bee comforted, then, when comfort is due to them. Though they have searched their hearts and confessed their sinnes, and brought their hearts to a full purpose of amendment; yet they faile in that they doe not take some measure of comfort to themselves, and doe not partake of the consolations of God which he offers to them in his holy Word.
There are some that make too much haste to comfort themselves, and ⟨p. 35⟩some that do not make hast enough. The Commoner, and the greater fault, is, to put away sorrows too soon: yet that of putting away comfort too far and too long from the soul is a fault also, and must not be denied where it is. Many of Gods people I say are excessive in their mourning, even for their sins, in that when they have true right to comfort, and God doth speak peace unto them, yet they do not give rest and peace unto their own souls,