The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

but when one mans words do not cure them, they say, This is not the man that God hath appointed to cure me: And so another, and that is not the man: When they should rather say, This is not the way, then This is not the man: This lazy complaining is not it that will do the work; but faithful practising the Directions given you.

But I know some will say, That it is near to Popish Auricular Confession which I here persuade Christians to, and it is to bring Christians under the Tyranny of the Priests again, and make Them acquainted with all mens secrets, and Masters of their Consciences.

But I know some will say, That it is near to Popish Auricular Confession which I here perswade Christians to, and it is to bring Christians under the Tyranny of the Priests again, and make Them acquainted with all mens secrets, and Masters of their Consciences.

Answ. 1. To the last, I say, to the railing Devil of this age, no more but, The Lord Rebuke thee. If any Minister have wicked ends, let the God of heaven convert▪ him, or root him out of his Church, and cast him among the weeds and briers. But is it not the known voice of Sensuality and Hell, to cast reproaches upon the way and ordinances of God? who knoweth not that it is the very Office of the Ministry, to be Teachers and Guides to men in matters of salvation? and ⟨p. 515⟩Overseers of them? and that they watch for their souls, as those that must give an account? and the people therefore bound to obey them? Heb. 13.7, 17. should not the shepherd know his sheep, and their strayings and diseases? How else shall he cure them? should not the Physician hear the Patient open all his disease, yea study to discover to the utmost every thing he knows; and all little enough to the cure? A disease unknown is unlike to be cured: and a disease well known is half cured. Mr. Tho. Hooker saith truly, It is with many people as with some overmodest Patients, who having a disease in some secret place, they will not for shame reveal it to the Physician, till it be past cure, and then they must lose their lives by their modesty: So do many by their secret and more disgraceful sins. Not that every man is bound to open all his sins to his Pastor: but those that cannot well be otherwise cured, he must: either if the sense of the guilt cannot be removed, and true Assurance of pardon obtained: or else, if power against the sin be not otherwise obtained, but that it still prevaileth: In both these cases we must go to those that God hath made our Directors and Guides: I am confident many a thousand souls do long strive against Anger, Lust, Flesh-pleasing. Worldliness and Trouble