The application of redemption

How we come to grapple with the heart by Meditation, we heard before; and because this Work is wearisome in it self, and tedious to our corrupt Nature, to be ever raking in the Wound, set a mans heart upon the rack, and keep it in restless disquiet, that the venom of a mans guilt and plagues should ever be before his eyes, and the Summons to Judgment ever sounding in his Ears; the soul is not able to bear the unsupportable weight thereof, and therefore it cannot get to Christ to be cured and healed; it winds and turns every way that yet it may be eased, therefore the sinner tries all conclusions that possible may be, that he may drive away the dismal thoughts of his sinful condition, and cast aside those stabbing considerations that makes his heart die within him. Therefore he turns every stone, if he can drink it out, or game it out, or work it out, or pray it out, or any ways, or by any means wear out the thoughts that weary him of his life.

How we come to grapple with the heart by Meditation, we heard before; and because this Work is wearisom in it self, and tedious to our corrupt Nature, to be ever raking in the Wound, set a mans heart upon the rack, and keep it in restless disquiet, that the venom of a mans guilt and plagues should ever be before his eyes, and the Summons to Judgment ever sounding in his Ears; the soul is not able to bear the unsupportable weight thereof, and therefore it cannot get to Christ to be cured and healed; it winds and turns every way that yet it may be eased, therefore the sinner tries al conclusions that possible may be, that he may drive away the dismal thoughts of his sinful condition, and cast aside those stabbing considerations that makes his heart die within him. Therefore he turns every stone, if he can drink it out, or game it out, or work it out, or pray it out, or any waies, or by any means wear out the thoughts that weary him of his life.

Thus he strives if he cannot get good by his Meditation, yet to get rid of it; because he cannot be bettered by it, he would not be troubled with it. As the Patient when he is not able to bear the extremity of the Corrosive, that would eat out the proud flesh, takes it off and lays it aside, rather keep his sore though it hazard his life than suffer the smart of it, and may be his perverseness costs him his life. A serious consideration set on, and kept on upon the soul, is like this extreme Corrosive,