Answ. 3 Thirdly therefore. It is possible, that a good, and gracious mans discouragements may extend thus far too. You will think it strange that I find an instance for this in that holy man Jeremiah: yet if you look into Jer. 20.7.8. and 9. verses, you find it made good. Indeed (saith he) The word was as fire in my bones, and I could not forbear: But for the time he did resolve to forbear preaching in the name of God, which was his duty, which he had commission to do: for (says he) I will not make mention of him; nor speak any more in his name. This Holy, Gracious man, was under temptation, he was much discouraged, and thereupon he said so. Yet (verse 13.) he saith, Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil doers. But then mark the next words, Cursed be the day wherein I was born; let not the day wherein my mother bare me, be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my Father, saying, A man child is born to thee. What a sudden change was here, even in the best of the Saints, from encouragements, to discouragements. O! but I have not only cursed the day of my birth (as Jeremiah) and wished that I had never been born; But I am weary of my life, and have sought after mine own death: and was there ever any Godly, Gracious man, that was thus discouraged, and cast down?
Answ. 3 Thirdly therefore. It is possible, that a good, and gracious mans discouragments may extend thus far too. You wil think it strange that I find an instance for this in that holy man Jeremiah: yet if you look into Jer. 20.7.8. and 9. verses, you find it made good. Indeed (saith he) The word was as fire in my bones, and I could not forbear: But for the time he did resolve to forbear preaching in the name of God, which was his duty, which he had commission to do: for (saies he) I wil not make mention of him; nor speak any more in his name. This Holy, Gracious man, was under temptation, he was much discouraged, and thereupon he said so. Yet (verse 13.) he saith, Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil doers. But then mark the next words, Cursed be the day wherein I was born; let not the day wherein my mother bare me, be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my Father, saying, A man child is born to thee. What a sudden change was here, even in the best of the Saints, from incouragments, to discouragements. O! but I have not only cursed the day of my birth (as Jeremie) and wished that I had never been born; But I am weary of my life, and have sought after mine own death: and was there ever any Godly, Gracious man, that was thus discouraged, and cast down?
