I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 3 Thirdly, Whether have you not strained, and reached for some outward comfort so far, as to lose your inward comfort? I read of Francis Spira, that when he was in horror of conscience, he could not with peace and quietness behold his wife and children, for, to get an estate for them he denied the truth, and therefore when they came before him in his trouble, he cried out in much horror, How terrible is the sight of these to me! they had been comforts to him before, yet now he could not away with the sight of them, O! thought he, for your sakes, and for your provision, I have denied the truth and yielded to these superstitions, and therefore says he, How terrible is the sight of these unto me? What peace or comfort had Judas in the sight of his thirty pence? look what outward comfort a man strains his conscience for, that will be death unto him to behold. We read of David ⟨p. 32⟩that when his men had ventured for the waters of Bethlehem, he would not drink of it, but poured it out before the Lord, for (saith he) why should I drink the blood of these men? he did not sin in desiring of it, nor did he command his men for to venture through the enemies quarters, for those Hebrew words [Greek or Hebrew] quis dabit who will give me? are but words of wishing, who will give me to drink of the waters of Bethlehem that is, O! that I had the waters of Bethlehem: according to the hebrew language, but though he sinned not in his desires, yet when he had the waters he poured them forth before the Lord, and said, God forbid that I should drink the blood of these men; and will you drink the blood of your own conscience? Time was heretofore when you had peace and comfort, and by straining and stretching your conscience for your outward comfort; now you have lost your inward, will you not then take that outward comfort, and pour it forth before the Lord? and say, God forbid that I should drink the blood of mine own peace and comfort, how can any of you have peace, while those stolen, and unrestored goods lye by you?

Answ. 3 Thirdly, Whether have you not strained, and reached for some outward comfort so far, as to lose your inward comfort? I read of Francis Spira, that when he was in horror of conscience, he could not with peace and quietness behold his wife and children, for, to get an estate for them he denyed the truth, and therfore when they came before him in his trouble, he cryed out in much horror, How terrible is the sight of these to me! they had been comforts to him before, yet now he could not away with the sight of them, O! thought he, for your sakes, and for your provision, I have denyed the truth and yeilded to these superstitions, and therefore sayes he, How terrible is the sight of these unto me? What peace or comfort had Judas in the sight of his thirty pence? look what outward comfort a man strains his conscience for, that wil be death unto him to behold. We read of David