Prima the first things, in reference to the middle and last things

Sect. 2. The first reason for this sorrow.

This must be done, first because without pangs no birth: Quid sunt dolores parturientis nisi dolores poenitentis? (saith Saint Austin) the pangs of a penitent man are as the pangs of a woman: ¹Now as there can be no birth without pains of travel going before, so neither true repentance without some terrors of the law, and straits of conscience. ²Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, saith the Apostle to the Romans; and what is that? but to show us, they once did receive it; when? but in the very first preparation to conversion: then it was that the Spirit of God in the law did so bear witness unto them of their bondage, that it made them to fear. And certainly thus it is with every man in his first conversion, his contrition must be compungent, and vehement, bruising, breaking, renting the ⟨p. 62⟩heart, and feeling the throws (as a woman labouring of child) before there can be a new birth, or the new creature be brought forth.

THis must be done, first because without pangs no birth: Quid sunt dolores parturientis nisi dolores poenitentis? (saith Saint Austin) the pangs of a penitent man are as the pangs of a woman: ¹Now as there can be no birth without pains of travel going before, so neither true repentance without some terrors of the law, and straits of conscience. ²Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, saith the Apostle to the Romans; and what is that? but to shew us, they once did receive it; when? but in the very first preparation to conversion: then it was that the Spirit of God in the law did so bear witness unto them of their bondage, that it made them to fear. And certainly thus it is with every man in his first conversion, his contrition must be compungent, and vehement, bruising, breaking, renting the