The dejected souls cure tending to support poor drooping sinners. With rules, comforts, and…The dejected soules cure tending to support poor drooping sinners. With rules, comforts, and…

First, When thou art excessively troubled under the guilt ¹of sin take this Rule, what troubled thoughts thou hast about the guilt of sin, spend them upon the power of sin within thee; this is a holy diversion, to be always conversant about the power of sin; it is an evangelical and a gracious temper; if Christians were more troubled about the power of sin, they would be less troubled about the guilt of sin; the Devil doth not care if Professors of Religion be terrified Christians, so they be not mortified Christians.

First, When thou art excessively troubled under the guilt ¹of sin take this Rule, what troubled thoughts thou hast about the guilt of sin, spend them upon the power of sin within thee; this is a holy diversion, to be always conversant about the power of sin; it is an evangelical and a gracious temper; if Christians were more troubled about the power of sin, they would be lesse troubled about the guil of sin; the Divel doth not care if Professors of Religion be terrified Christians, so they be not mortified Christians.

1. 11. Rule. Rules to prevent and cure inordinate sorrow for sin.

Secondly, Keep conscience clear, that thou do not add ⟨p. 203⟩guilt to guilt; adding guilt to guilt, is the way to add horror to horror, and terror to terror upon the conscience; guilt in the conscience doth contract dismal fear, amazement and consternation of soul; if conscience doth not shut sin out of doors, why sin will shut peace of conscience out of doors: It is a rule that Bernard gives, Conscience is to be comforted, but first it is to be purified and made clean; this rule is laid down by Eliphaz, if I mistake not,