Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…

2. Another sort there are, much better and happier than the former, that yet to their great trouble are mistaken in this point: And that is, they that think they have no true Humiliation, because they find not such pangs of sorrow, and freedom of tears, as others have: when as, their hearts are contrite, even when they cannot weep a tear. Tell me but this: Are you vile in your own eyes, because you are guilty of sin, and that against the Lord, whom you chiefly love? Do you loath your sins, because of your abominations, and could you heartily wish, that you had been suffering when ⟨p. 158⟩you were sinning; and if it were to do again, would you choose to suffer rather then to sin? Have you a desire to grieve, when you cannot passionately grieve, and a desire to weep when you cannot weep? Can you quietly bear it, when you are vilified by others, because you know your selves to be so vile? And are you thankful to a plain Reprover, though he tell you of the most disgraceful sin? Do you think meanly of your own sayings and doings, and think better of others, where there is any ground, then of your selves? Do you justify Gods afflictions, and mens true rebukes, and think your selves unworthy of the Communion of the Saints, or to see their faces; and unworthy to live on the face of the Earth? Yea would you justify God, if he should condemn you? This is the state of a humbled Soul. Find but this, and you need not doubt of Gods acceptance, though you were unable to shed a tear. There's more Humiliation in a base esteem of our selves, then in a thousand tears: And more in a will, or desire to weep for sin, then in tears, that come through force of terror, or moisture of the brain, or passionate tenderness ⟨p. 159⟩of Nature. If the Will be right, you need not fear. It is he that most hateth sin, and is hardliest drawn to it, that is trulyest humbled for it. He that will lament it to day, and commit it to morrow, is far less humbled and penitent, then he that would not be drawn to it with the hopes of all the pleasures of the world, nor commit it, if it were to save his life.

2. Another sort there are, much better and happier than the former, that yet to their great trouble are mistaken in this point: And that is, they that think they have no true Humiliation, because they find not such pangs of sorrow, and freedom of tears, as others have: when as, their hearts are contrite, even when they cannot weep a tear. Tell me but this: Are you vile in your own eyes, because you are guilty of sinne, and that against the Lord, whom you chiefly love? Do you loath your sinnes, because of your abominations, and could you heartily wish, that you had been suffering when