1On the other side, There is a contrary mistake, and that is sometimes by the godly soul, and such as truly fear God, They think not repentance enough, unless it be enlarged to such a measure and quantity of sorrow: as also extended to such a space of time; and by this means, because they cannot tell, when they have sorrowed enough, or when their hearts are broken as they should be, they are kept in perpetual labyrinths, and often through impatience do with Luther in such a temptation, Wish they never had been made men, but any creatures rather, because of the doubts, yea the hell they feel within themselves. Now although it be most profitable bitterly to bewail our sins, and to limit no time, yet a Christian is not to think, Pardon doth not belong to him, because his sorrow is not so great and sensible for sin as he desireth it. David indeed doth not only in his soul, but even bodily express many tears, yea rivers, because of his sin, and other mens sins; yet it is a good rule, That the people of God, if they have sorrow in the chiefest manner appretiativè, though not intensivè, by way of judgment and esteem, so that they had rather any affliction should befall them, then to sin against God, if this be in them, though they have not such sensible intense affections, they may be comforted. When the Apostle John makes this argument, He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how shall he love God, whom he hath not seen? implieth, That things of sense do more move us, then matter of faith. David made a bitter out-cry upon the death of Absalom, with sad expressions, Would to God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son, &c. But when Nathan told him of his Adultery and Murder, though he confessed his sin, yet we read not that he made such sensible lamentation. Thus Hierom writeth of a godly woman Paula, that at the death of her children, would be so dejected, that she did hardly escape death; yet it is not reported that she found such grief for her sins. So that as in corporal things, a man would choose the tooth-ache, rather then a pestilent fever, yet a man is more afflicted and pained ⟨p. 151⟩at the tooth-ache, or burning of his finger, then at a fever: So it may be here, a godly man would rather choose the loss of his children, or dearest relations, then lose the favour of God by his sin;
1On the other side, There is a contrary mistake, and that is sometimes by the godly soul, and such as truly fear God, They think not repentance enough, unlesse it be enlarged to such a measure and quantity of sorrow: as also extended to such a space of time; and by this means, because they cannot tell, when they have sorrowed enough, or when their hearts are broken as they should be, they are kept in perpetual labyrinths, and often through impatience do with Luther in such a temptation, Wish they never had been made men, but any creatures rather, because of the doubts, yea the hell they feel within themselves. Now although it be most profitable bitterly to bewail our sins, and to limit no time, yet a Christian is not to think, Pardon doth not belong to him, because his sorrow is not so great and sensible for sin as he desireth it. David indeed doth not only in his soul, but even bodily expresse many tears, yea rivers, because of his sin, and other mens sins; yet it is a good rule, That the people of God, if they have sorrow in the chiefest manner appretiativè, though not intensivè, by way of judgment and esteem, so that they had rather any affliction should befall them, then to sin against God, if this be in them, though they have not such sensible intense affections, they may be comforted. When the Apostle John makes this argument, He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how shall he love God, whom he hath not seen? implieth, That things of sense do more move us, then matter of faith. David made a bitter out-cry upon the death of Absolom, with sad expressions, Would to God I had died for thee, O Absolom, my son, my son, &c. But when Nathan told him of his Adultery and Murder, though he confessed his sin, yet we reade not that he made such sensible lamentation. Thus Hierom writeth of a godly woman Paula, that at the death of her children, would be so dejected, that she did hardly escape death; yet it is not reported that she found such grief for her sins. So that as in corporal things, a man would choose the tooth-ach, rather then a pestilent feaver, yet a man is more afflicted and pained ⟨p. 151⟩at the tooth-ach, or burning of his finger, then at a feaver: So it may be here, a godly man would rather choose the losse of his children, or dearest relations, then lose the favour of God by his sinne;
- 1The second of the godly.
