The distressed sinner now comes […] to feel, and so §2to know the danger of sin, as undoubtedly hazarding a mans everlasting happiness and welfare, and to find also by woeful proof his own weakness, and inability either to prevent it or bear it, or remove it and help himself against that eternal ruin and confusion which God hath threatened, and he must expect, and shall endure by reason of the same. He thought indeed in the time of his folly, That Preachers in point of policy, presenting sin in a more dreadful visage and appearance, than there was just cause, or Reason would in truth conclude; at least he imagined (if the worst befell) that either he would remove the guilt, or avoid the plague, or subdue the strength of such distempers that did threaten Gods displeasure, and his destruction: but now he finds it otherwise, ⟨p. 644⟩yea his own Conscience, nay his own sense and experience doth abundantly confute his folly and mistakes, that notwithstanding all the ways he can take, and means he can use, guilt still continues, he cannot remove it, plagues he cannot avoid, violence and venom of his corruption he cannot master, nor help himself against the […] Command and Authority, they yet live, and are mighty: And therefore he is forced to send up to Heaven daily, yea to seek out unto the faithful Servants of the Lord, that they may lend a helping hand for his relief that may help him by their prayers when he sees his own prevail not, guide him by their Counsel, when through his own ignorance he is at a loss in his thoughts, and cannot direct himself, that they may tent and heal his sore, when out of unskilfulness he cannot […] how to dress the wounds of his own diseased and distressed spirit: Thus Nature doth not only teach men, but necessity compels all when they find themselves helpless to call, yea, cry for help, yea, to send far and near for succour unto such in whose power it is to support; when men have used all Kitchen Physic, and taken some Ancient Receipts they have by them, and yet the disease grows desperate, and the cure more difficult, they presently speed out to those who are able and learned Physicians for Counsel and Cure. He that fears an on-set, he would have a Second in the field with him: So here. God hath given the tongue of the Learned to some to speak a word in season to a weary Conscience, Isai. 50. 4.
The distressed sinner now comes 〈…〉 to feel, and so §2to know the danger of sin, as undoubtedly hazarding a mans everlasting happiness and welfare, and to find also by woful proof his own weakness, and inability either to prevent it or bear it, or remove it and help himself against that eternal ruin and confusion which God hath threatened, and he must expect, and shal endure by reason of the same. He thought indeed in the time of his folly, That Preachers in point of policy, presenting sin in a more dreadful visage and appearance, than there was just cause, or Reason would in truth conclude; at least he imagined (if the worst befel) that either he would remove the guilt, or avoid the plague, or subdue the strength of such distempers that did threaten Gods displeasure, and his destruction: but now he finds it otherwise, ⟨p. 644⟩yea his own Conscience, nay his own sence and experience doth abundantly confute his folly and mistakes, that notwithstanding al the waies he can take, and means he can use, guilt stil continues, he cannot remove it, plagues he cannot avoid, violence and venom of his corruption he cannot master, nor help himself against the 〈…〉 Command and Authority, they yet live, and are mighty: And therefore he is forced to send up to Heaven dayly, yea to seek out unto the faithful Servants of the Lord, that they may lend a helping hand for his relief that may help him by their prayers when he sees his own prevail not, guide him by their Counsel, when through his own ignorance he is at a loss in his thoughts, and cannot direct himself, that they may tent and heal his sore, when out of unskilfulness he cannot 〈…〉 how to dress the wounds of his own diseased and distressed spirit: Thus Nature doth not only teach men, but necessity compels al when they find themselves helpless to call, yea, cry for help, yea, to send far and neer for succor unto such in whose power it is to support; when men have used al Kitchin Physick, and taken some Ancient Receipts they have by them, and yet the disease grows desperate, and the cure more difficult, they presently speed out to those who are able and learned Physitians for Counsel and Cure. He that fears an on-set, he would have a Second in the field with him: So here. God hath given the tongue of the Learned to some to speak a word in season to a weary Conscience, Isai. 50. 4.
