A15010:98
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.
§ 7.
Thirdly, I will show you by what degrees this comfort groweth in the heart usually. When a mans sins lie most heavy upon his soul, and that the law like a sword hath ripped up and lanced his very heart that it runs and bleeds again; then he heareth the doctrine of the Gospel, teaching remission of sins by Jesus Christ, and ⟨p. 67⟩doth assent to the truth of it, as that it is an undoubted verity, and then strives to apply it to himself, and hath a secret persuasion that it shall be performed even to himself, now this persuasion groweth up in three degrees.
Thirdly, I will shew you by what degrees this comfort groweth in the heart usually. When a mans sinnes lie most heavie upon his soule, and that the law like a sword hath ripped up and launced his very heart that it runs and bleeds againe; then he heareth the doctrine of the Gospell, teaching remission of sins by Iesus Christ, and ⟨p. 67⟩doth assent to the truth of it, as that it is an undoubted verity, and then strives to apply it to himselfe, and hath a secret perswasion that it shall be performed even to himselfe, now this perswasion groweth up in three degrees.
First, the promise makes him think with himself, Assuredly my sins may be pardoned: The righteousness of Christ is sufficient to justify me, and God can accept and forgive me. This makes him run crying and praying to ⟨p. 68⟩God for pardon, and affords a little glimmering of comfort, as when a sick man knows his disease to be curable, and that the Physician can cure him, this is one grain of faith.