Secondly, when sin is so odious unto us, that our hearts do condemn us for it, then let us strive to be persuaded that it is pardonable, yea and that it shall be pardoned unto us: that though we deserve to be thrown out of service, because we have dealt so foolishly, yet seeing we are Gods servants, he will not go to extremities with us, but deal as a father with his own children, this anchor of hope we had need still to hold fast by: for if we be not in some good measure resolved, that we shall find the Lord gracious, and that we our selves are not hypocrites, but such as to whom mercy belongeth, we shall presently give over prayer: for who would seek unto a Chirurgeon to cure him, of whom he is afraid lest he should wound him, in that he hath cause and ability so to do? Therefore hold this for a firm ground, once Gods child, and ever: once his servant, and never his enemy: in which regard we may come with confidence unto him, and say, Lord, I am unworthy to be called thy son; yet art thou my merciful Father: I have done thee ill service, yet am I thy poor servant still: and though I be bad now, yet time hath been when I have bin better, & done better: when I have prayed in secret, and humbled my soul; and shed tears for my sins in private; and have had an utter detestation of those evils, which now through the corruption of my nature I have fallen into, and therefore Lord be pacified towards me, and put out of thy remembrance the trespass of thy servant. If any one want these testimonies of Gods love towards him, and ⟨p. 16⟩of his love towards God, when affliction overtaketh him for his sins, he will either flee from the Lords presence, as Adam did, or if he adventure to come unto him, his prayers will descend as plummets of lead upon him, and Satan and his own conscience will be ready to accuse him, and to say, what hast thou to do with God? he heareth not sinners: thou shall rather provoke his vengeance, then obtain his favour by thy petitions; and because thou hast been his enemy heretofore, he will show himself to be thine now: and because thou hast cast his word behind thy back, he will shut out thy cries, that they shall not have any access unto him. Which uncomfortable news, will be as a dart to strike through the liver of an hypocrite, and as a two edged sword to pierce his soul:
Secondly, when sinne is so odious vnto vs, that our hearts doe condemne vs for it, then let vs striue to be perswaded that it is pardonable, yea and that it shall be pardoned vnto vs: that though we deserue to be throwen out of seruice, because we haue dealt so foolishly, yet seeing we are Gods seruants, he will not goe to extremities with vs, but deale as a father with his owne children, this ancor of hope we had need still to hold fast by: for if we be not in some good measure resolued, that we shall finde the Lord gratious, and that we our selues are not hypocrites, but such as to whom mercy belongeth, we shall presently giue ouer prayer: for who would seeke vnto a Chirurgion to cure him, of whom he is afraid lest he should wound him, in that he hath cause and abilitie so to doe? Therefore hold this for a firme ground, once Gods childe, and euer: once his seruant, and neuer his enemie: in which regard we may come with confidence vnto him, and say, Lord, I am vnworthy to be called thy sonne; yet art thou my mercifull Father: I haue done thee ill seruice, yet am I thy poore seruant still: and though I be bad now, yet time hath bene when I haue bin better, & done better: when I haue praied in secret, and humbled my soule; and shedde teares for my sinnes in priuate; and haue had an vtter detestation of those euils, which now through the corruption of my nature I haue fallen into, and therefore Lord be pacified towards me, and put out of thy remembrance the trespasse of thy seruant. If any one want these testimonies of Gods loue towards him, and ⟨p. 16⟩of his loue towards God, when affliction ouertaketh him for his sinnes, he will either flee from the Lords presence, as Adam did, or if he aduenture to come vnto him, his prayers will descend as plummets of lead vpon him, and Sathan and his owne conscience will be readie to accuse him, and to say, what hast thou to doe with God? he heareth not sinners: thou shall rather prouoke his vengeance, then obtaine his fauour by thy petitions; and because thou hast bene his enemie heretofore, he will shew himselfe to be thine now: and because thou hast cast his word behind thy backe, he will shut out thy cries, that they shall not haue any accesse vnto him. Which vncomfortable newes, will be as a dart to strike thorow the liuer of an hypocrite, and as a two edged sword to pearse his soule:
