A16327:156
Helps to humiliation. By R.BHelpes to humiliation. By R.B
Helps to humiliation. By R.B.Helpes to humiliation. By R.B.
Oxford: printed by William Turner for Michael Sparke, 1631
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.
Look back upon all thy sins past that ever thou committedst, all thou hast been guilty of ever since thou wast borne, original, or actual, known, or unknown, of thought, word and ⟨p. 84⟩deed; They are written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, not to be raced out: they are all upon Record, and now lye as so many sleeping Lyons, gathering strength and vigour against such time as the Lord shall awake the conscience; and then they will appear & rent thy soul in pieces. ⟨p. 85⟩I say, let natural men consider of this point, and they shall see themselves miserable; for there are some for a small sin put to such frights, as they could not be comforted in a long space; as some who having an adulterous project, without any actual pollution; and others who having found a trifle, and made no conscience ⟨p. 86⟩to restore it; by the light of natural conscience, knowing they did not as they would be done by, were put into unspeakable horror; and some who having an unworthy thought of God, were put into such amazement, that they wished they had never been. If these for such small things (in mens account) ⟨p. 87⟩have come to such a pass, that they took no delight in any earthly thing, but are put to their wits end, ready to make away themselves, wishing themselves annihilated; then what tearing of hair, what horror of conscience will seize upon thee on thy bed of death: with what a ghastly countenance wilt thou ⟨p. 88⟩look upon that black and hellish Catalogue of all thy sins? as lies, oaths, railings, scoffings, at Gods people, rotten speeches; bedlam passions, goods ill gotten, time ill spent, profanation of Sabbaths, and killing Christ at every Sacrament, as all natural men do: These shall be summoned before thee; & charged ⟨p. 89⟩upon thy conscience by the just God; then consider in proportion what horror will be in thine heart; no heart can conceive it, nor tongue of men and Angels utter it. Now then attend, and let none bless themselves & say, I never felt this misery, therefore it shall never hurt me; I tell thee; it is the perfection of