The doubting believer, or, A treatiseThe doubting beleever, or, A treatise

But perhaps you will inquire, Ob. What if we our selves for our part be the cause of reviving of former guilt and sting of former sins?

I answer, If it be by way of Sol. humiliation, to seek the pardon, and to make confession to the God of mercy, and to get victory over them, this should no way discourage us; for this is no more hurt or prejudice to the soul, then the after laying open of the wound to the Chirurgeon to dress and cure it, is prejudicial to the safety and welfare of the body.

I answer, If it be by way of Sol. humiliation, to seek the pardon, and to make confession to the God of mercy, and to get victory over them, this should no way discourage us; for this is no more hurt or prejudice to the soule, then the after laying open of the wound to the Chirurgion to dresse and cure it, is prejudiciall to the safety and welfare of the body.

But if it be by way of commission, either by relapsing into the same sins, or multiplying of sin in another kind, (both which will dig up again our buried and fore-past guilts) then I know no way of peace and safety, no way to allay these renewed accusations ⟨p. 332⟩and stings, but by renewed sorrow and repentance. And verily what I delivered unto you heretofore about recovery from relapsing, that is the course presently to be taken here: O let us haste in before the Lord with hearts trickling down with tears of blood, for old and present wounds: the very abundance of sorrow, the bitterness of grief, the art of self-affliction, I cannot say that sorrow of sorrow, that hatred of hatred, that indignation of indignation, that revenge of revenge, that repentance of repentance, which are here necessarily required, and that too with longest continuance. Do what thou wilt, shuffle off, cut to thy self a peace, thou shalt never have it, thy sins shall ever and anon gall, and vex, and wound thee, until thou hast renewed thy bitterness of most humbled sorrow for