A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Thirdly, Consider that there have been very many under such dreadful horrors and terrors of Conscience, and under such wrath and displeasure of an angry God, and that have lain trembling upon their dying beds, and that have been even ready to be swallowed up in the gulf of despair, who would have given all the world (had it been in their power) ⟨p. 67⟩for the very probabilities of Grace.¹ Spira being in a deep despair for renouncing of those Doctrines of the Gospel, which he had once stoutly profest said, That he would willingly suffer the most exquisite tortures of Hell fire for the space of ten thousand years, upon condition he might be well assured to be released afterward. He further added in that hellish and horrible fit, that his dear wife and children (for whose sake principally he turned away from the Gospel, to embrace this present world) appeared now to him as Hangmen, Hags and torturers. A despairing Soul is Magor Missabib, a terror to himself, his heart a Hell of horror, his Conscience an Aceldama, a Field of black Blood: So that as Augustin describes such a one flying from the Field to the City, from the City to his house, from his house to his Chamber, from his Chamber to his bed, &c. So that he can rest no where, but is as if infernal Devils in fearful shapes were still following of him, and still terrifying and tormenting his distressed and perplexed Soul. Now doubtless such poor souls would have given ten thousand worlds (had they so many in their hands to give) and that for the very probabilities of Grace; and how many tempted, deserted, clouded, wounded, and benighted Souls are there, who would think it a Heaven on this side Heaven, if they could but see probabilities of Grace in their Souls? O therefore let not the probabilities of Grace be a small thing in your eyes, but bow the knee, and let the High Praises of God be found in your mouths, even for probabilities of Grace. But,

Thirdly, Consider that there have been very many under such dreadful horrors and terrors of Conscience, and under such wrath and displeasure of an angry God, and that have lain trembling upon their dying beds, and that have been even ready to be swallowed up in the gulf of despair, who would have given all the world (had it been in their power) ⟨p. 67⟩