The application of redemption

COMFORT. This is ground of great support, ¹and in Truth of strong consolation, to shore up the hearts of forlorn and scandalous Creatures, when they lie under the most direful strokes of Gods heaviest displeasure. When the loath somness of their lives, and hellish abominations of their hearts are presented to their view, their Consciences now accuse, and the Lord from Heaven by his infinite indignation encamps against them with Armies of terrors, so that to their sight and sense there is nothing appearing but present ruin and confusion: Yet out of the strong, comes sweet; greatest safety² issues out of the heaviest searchings and breakings of heart. Here is now ground of strong support to bear thy […] above all these devouring horrors, which like so many waves would overwhelm thy soul. The more miserable thou findest thy condition, […] more comfortable it is. It seems a riddle, carries the appearance of contrariety and impossibility, and yet upon proof and trial, will prove an infallible Truth. The heavier the blows be, which come from Gods hand for those gross ⟨p. 348⟩evils of thine, there is more probability of […] serious intendment of good unto thy soul: The greater thy strokes are at present, the greater thy hopes are of some spiritual relief and refreshing in future times. And there is no greater plague upon earth, hardly such another in hell, […] a wretch should prosper in his wickedness and go suddenly down to the bottomless pit before he see where he is. It was the carriage of a great Commander in his time, yet marvellous sharp in the execution of military discipline, when a Soldier had deserved death by martial law, if he seemed to smile upon him it was a messenger of death, and therefore his old Soldiers that saw […] manner of his proceeding, when ever he appeared to laugh they looked then for a doom, insomuch that an ancient follower of his coming before him for some miscarriage, his General carrying himself in a silent manner; he breaks forth in this manner. Good my Lord do not smile on me, for he then knew the […] execution would be the next he should hear of. It is here most certain and so judg of it. If thy carriage and thy Conscience likewise give in testimony of the loathsomeness and vileness of thy corrupt conversation, that thy behaviour is detestable to any who have any spiritual discerning, yea to moral persons;