Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

As the word healeth those that be sick, so it nourisheth and strengtheneth babes, and those that are bruised reeds, who complain with Paul that they cannot do as they would, they are unable to pray and perform good duties as they would, they find themselves still weak, they are able to grapple with an easy lust but a strong one is too hard for them, they are able to creep but not to run the way of Gods commandments. Go to the word, be conversant there, and it will strengthen thee though insensibly, as daily sucking makes a child battle, though they see it not, so if one be conversant in the word he will grow stronger by it, and will make himself as a grey-hound comely to run, and run apace, not only in plain ways, and like a child that cannot get up a pair of stairs, but it will make him climb the craggiest rocks, and will make him a victorious King, able to overcome strong temptations, as St. Paul said to the people when they asked him how they should do when he was gone, he said I will commit you to God and his word of grace, intimating that if they had that, it were no matter whether they had him or no. Therefore if one have lost his first love, his first beauty and colour, let him go to the word and it will bring it again, because it takes away the sickness that takes away the colour, only some cautions must be observed.

As the word healeth those that be sick, so it nourisheth and strengtheneth bab•s, and those that are bruised reeds, who complain with Paul that they cannot do as they would, they are unable to pray and perform good duties as they would, they find themselves still weak, they are able to grapple with an easy lust but a strong one is too hard for them, they are able to creep but not to run the way of Gods commandments. Go to the word, be conversant there, and it will strengthen thee though insensibly, as daily sucking makes a child battle, though they see it not, so if one be conversant in the word he will grow stronger by it, and will make himself as a grey-hound comely to run, and run apace, not onely in plain wayes, and like a child that cannot get up a pair of stairs, but it will make him climb the craggiest rocks, and will make him a victorious King, able to overcome strong temptations, as St. Paul said to the people when they asked him how they should do when he was gone, he said I will commit you to God and his word of grace, intimating that if they had that, it were no matter whether they had him or no. Therefore if one have lost his first love, his first beauty and colour, let him go to the word and it will bring it again, because it takes away the sickness that takes away the colour, onely some cautions must be observed.