The sound believer, or, A treatise of evangelical conversion discovering the work of Christs…The sound beleever, or, A treatise of evangelicall conversion discovering the work of Christs…

3. Christ cannot be effectually sweet, unless sin be first made bitter; there may be some general notice of Christs excellency, and some thirty pieces given for him; some esteem of his grace, and hope of his mercy, which may occasion sorrow; but I dare not say that this is any sound or through work, till after sorrow. Isaiah 50.4. Christ hath the tongue of the learned given him to speak a word in season; Unto whom? It is added, unto the weary. They are the men that will prize mercy, and they only to purpose; they that have felt the bitterness of sin and wrath, find it exceeding hard to prize Christ, and to taste his sweetness; how shall they do it indeed that find none at all? Sweetness before sense of sin, is like Cordials before purging of a foul stomach, which usually strengthen the humour, but recover not the man.

3. Christ cannot be effectually sweet, unlesse sinne be first made bitter; there may be some generall notice of Christs excellency, and some thirty pieces given for him; some esteeme of his grace, and hope of his mercy, which may occasion sorrow; but I dare not say that this is any sound or thorow work, till after sorrow. Esay 50.4. Christ hath the tongue of the learned given him to speak a word in season; Unto whom? It is added, unto the weary. They are the men that will prize mercy, and they onely to purpose; they that have felt the bitternesse of sinne and wrath, find it exceeding hard to prize Christ, and to taste his sweetnesse; how shall they doe it indeed that find none at all? Sweetnesse before sense of sinne, is like Cordials before purging of a foule stomach, which usually strengthen the humour, but recover not the man.

¹Because without this, no man will either care for Christ, or feel a need of Christ; a man may see a want of Christ by the power of conviction, but he will never feel a need of Christ, but by the spirit of compunction. ⟨p. 61⟩The whole need not the Physician, ²