The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…

3. That when thy sickness and disease is at the extremest, yet it is less and easier than thy sins have deserved. Let thine own Conscience judge whether thou hast not deserved worse than all that thou dost suffer.

3. That when thy sickness and disease is at the extreamest, yet it is less and easier than thy sins have deserved. Let thine own Conscience judge whether thou hast not deserved worse than all that thou dost suffer.

Murmur not therefore, but considering thy manifold and grievous sins, thank God that thou art not plagued with far more grievous punishments. Think how willingly the damned in Hell would endure the extremest pains a thousand years, on condition that they had but the hope to be saved, and (after so many years) to be eased of their eternal torments. And seeing that it is his mercy that thou art not rather consumed than corrected; ¹how canst thou but bear patiently his temporal correction, seeing the end is to save thee from eternal damnation?²

Murmur not therefore, but considering thy manifold and grievous sins, thank God that thou art not plagued with far more grievous punishments. Think how willingly the damned in Hell would endure the extreamest pains a thousand years, on condition that they had but the hope to be saved, and (after so many years) to be eased of their eternal torments. And seeing that it is his mercy that thou art not rather consumed than corrected; ¹how canst thou but bear patiently his temporal correction, seeing the end is to save thee from eternal damnation?²

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