Instructions for a right comforting afflicted consciences with special antidotes against some grievous temptationsInstructions for a right comforting afflicted consciences with speciall antidotes against some grievous temptations

and protest the impossibility of any such thing, as Hazael did in an other Case; yet ordinarily, (I know not what some One moral Puritan amongst a million might do) in such tumultuous times, and of universal confusion, for the securing of their temporal happiness; which, without timely turning on Gods side, is all the heaven they are like to have in this World, or the World to come: I say, upon a Point of great advantage, and advancement with safety, they would fly from the declining State, and down-fall of their old Master; tho formerly the mightiest Monarch upon ⟨image 8⟩earth, as from the ruins of a falling house. And it can be no otherwise; for they have no internal Principle, or super-natural power, to enlighten and enable them, to set their shoulders against the Torrent of the times, and to be overflown with it. But now, He that truly fears God, would rather lose His high Place; Nay, his posterity; As much hearts-blood, if He had it, as would animate a whole Kingdom; then leave His lawful Sovereign Lord, in such a Case, upon any terms, tho He might have even the Imperial Crown set upon His own Head. For conscience, that poor neglected Thing; Nay, in these last, and looser times, even laughed at by men of the World; yet a stronger tie of Subjects hearts unto their Sovereigns, then Man or Devil is able to dissolve; ever holds up his Royal heart erect and unshaken, when all Shebnaes, Hamans, and Ahitophels, would hide their heads, and shrink in the wetting. Which conscience of his, if upon such occasion He should unhappily wound; He knows full well, it would follow Him with guilty cries, for his so base temporizing, and traitorous slinking, all the days of his life. Whereas graceless and self-seeking greatness, can well enough, in the mean time, conquer such clamorous accusations of an ill conscience, with the boisterous excess of carnal contentments, even as the Sacrificers of their Sons to Moloch in ⟨image 9⟩the fire, drowned their lamentable cries, with the louder sound of Tabrets and Drums. Ambitious Nimrods, are able by the inordinate heat after humane greatness, to digest, and drive away the afterstings of bribery, baseness, if not close bloodshed (their ordinary means of mounting) with their delight in domineering, and being adored above others. It is a fit Passage therefore in our Common Prayer-Book:

and protest the impossibility of any such thing, as Hazael did in an other Case; yet ordinarily, (I know not what some One morall Puritan amongst a million might doe) in such tumultuous times, and of universall confusion, for the securing of their temporall happinesse; which, without timely turning on Gods side, is all the heaven they are like to have in this World, or the World to come: I say, upon a Point of great advantage, and advancement with safety, they would flie from the declining State, and downe-fall of their old Master; tho formerly the mightiest Monarch upon