Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

3. Consolation.

But whilst I am representing the evil of it to some, it may be there are others ¹over-whelmed with the sorrowful sense of it, even to discouragement and despondency: Poor Christian, is this thy case? Are all the Afflictions in the world nothing to thee in comparison with this evil which is present with thee, when thou wouldst do good. ⟨p. 56⟩Well, though thou canst not do the good thou wouldst, nor free thy self yet from the evil thou wouldst rather than live be freed from: There are four things that may be much relief to thy pensive soul.

1. 13.

First: Though the presence of evil even ¹in thy best duties be sad, yet thy grief and affliction for it is sweet. That is a sad sin, but this is a sweet sign: It is not heart-evils, heart-wanderings in duties, hardness, and unbelief that Hypocrites mourn for, but more gross and external evils. Let this trouble for sin comfort thee, when the presence of sin grieves thee.

First: Though the presence of evil even ¹