The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

3. Ministers and others must take great heed lest while they avoid one extreme, they run upon another, which is a common error in practise, some for the prevention of despair, have made such unseasonable applications of comfort, as have begotten presumptuous hopes. Others again to prevent presumption have so indiscreetly aggravated things as to render them hopeless, and so careless, &c. there must therefore be a prudent contemperation of things together: as the wise Physician mixeth several ingredients, he puts in indeed things of a sharp and corroding nature, which may eat out or remove the noxious humours, ⟨p. 115⟩but addeth to them things of a more gentle temperature which by their levity may correct the acrimony of the former: God himself sets us a copy by the mouth of Samuel, 1 Sam. 12.20 You have done all this wickedness, there is the corrosions, he faithfully discovers that, and doth not daub with them, yet, lest the disease should rather be exasperated then removed, he adds this healing counsel, yet turn not a side from following the Lord, & this Cordial v 22. The Lo•d will not forsake his people: and Ezra follows it, Ezra 10.2. We have trespassed against God, and have taken strange wives, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this, now therefore let us make a covenant with God.

3. Ministers and others must take great heed lest while they avoid one extream, they run upon another, which is a common errour in practise, some for the prevention of despair, have made such unseasonable applications of comfort, as have begotten presumptuous hopes. Others again to prevent presumption have so indiscreetly aggravated things as to render them hopeless, and so careless, &c. there must therefore be a prudent contemperation of things together: as the wise Physician mixeth several ingredients, he puts in indeed things of a sharpe and corroding nature, which may eat out or remove the noxious humours, ⟨p. 115⟩but addeth to them things of a more gentle temperature which by their leuity may correct the acrimony of the former: God himself sets us a copy by the mouth of Samuel,