COMFORT. Here is ground of incomparable 1Encouragement, and in truth, of inconceivable Refreshing to hold up the heads and hearts of the most wretched ⟨p. 310⟩sinners in the most forlorn condition, able to shore and prop up the soul with some possibility of good, that it sink not down, and be swallowed up with desperate discouragement. I am almost afraid to cast such 2Pearls before Swine: And when I do but think or suspect §6that any carnal wretch should abuse this kindness, and turn this Grace of God into wantonness; if it do3 not depend upon my doing, I will do nothing, let God do all. I am forced almost to bite in my words, and my heart almost misgives me, as loth to cast away such compassions of the Lord upon such hellish Varlets, who out of the venom of their Spirits would turn these choice Preservatives into Poison. Yet because it is like a piece of board left after the wrack when the Ship is broken as the last means of relief; as a cord of compassion let fall amongst a company of poor perishing Creatures, ready to be over-whelmed with the floods of iniquity, and who knows but some may catch it at the last cast, before they go hence, and be seen no more. Let me therefore bequeath this Encouragement to you as my last Will, even the words of a dying man, before you and I appear before the dreadful presence of the Lord. Know then, you are yet in the Land of the Living, and bless God you are so; and know, because it's the will and pleasure of God to do good to some of the worst of men as he sees […], therefore there is yet hope while there is life; some little peep-hole of hope, like a pins head, a possibility there is you may receive good. You see here how he prevails with the spirits of […] most perverse, they have their hearts […], though it be […] the hair […] heart and all, […] when they […] and wounded the godly […] […] […] poor Disciples. […] your hearts echo then from every corner of the Assembly, Pierce me, me […]; Pardon me, me also; Humble me, me also; […] thy abundant goodness and good pleasure. If the […] be […] so dangerous, and in appearance […]; […] the disease be […] so ⟨p. 311⟩deadly, and in the apprehensions of all, past help, If the Physician and […] be known to have cured and helped in such cases, and that he yet lives;
COMFORT. Here is ground of incomparable 1Encouragement, and in truth, of inconceivable Refreshing to hold up the heads and hearts of the most wretched ⟨p. 310⟩sinners in the most forlorn condition, able to shore and prop up the soul with some possibility of good, that it sink not down, and be swallowed up with desperate discouragement. I am almost afraid to cast such 2Pearls before Swine: And when I do but think or suspect §6that any carnal wretch should abuse this kindness, and turn this Grace of God into wantonness; if it do3 not depend upon my doing, I wil do nothing, let God do al. I am forced almost to bite in my words, and my heart almost misgives me, as loth to cast away such compassions of the Lord upon such hellish Varlets, who out of the venom of their Spirits would turn these choyce Preservatives into Poyson. Yet because it is like a piece of board left after the wrack when the Ship is broken as the last means of relief; as a cord of compassion let fall amongst a company of poor perishing Creatures, ready to be over-whelmed with the floods of iniquity, and who knows but some may catch it at the last cast, before they go hence, and be seen no more. Let me therefore bequeath this Encouragement to you as my last Will, even the words of a dying man, before you and I appear before the dreadful presence of the Lord. Know then, you are yet in the Land of the Living, and bless God you are so; and know, because it's the will and pleasure of God to do good to some of the worst of men as he sees 〈…〉, therefore there is yet hope while there is life; some little peep-hole of hope, like a pins head, a possibility there is you may receive good. You see here how he prevails with the spirits of 〈…〉 most perverse, they have their hearts 〈…〉, though it be 〈…〉 the hair 〈…〉 heart and all, 〈…〉 when they 〈…〉 and wounded the godly 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 poor Disciples. 〈…〉 your hearts eccho then from every corner of the Assembly, Pierce me, me ; Pardon me, me also; Humble me, me also; thy abundant goodness and good pleasure. If the be so dangerous, and in appearance ; the disease be so
- 1Use, 2.
- 2Mat. 7.
- 3Jude, 4.
