Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II.…

Beside this 'tis to be observed, that there is a great deal of legal bondage cleaving (as dross to Gold) unto their sorrow, for as yet they mourn more for sin as against them and a burden to themselves, than as 'tis against and a burden to God: more as it stands in the way of their peace and Salvation, than the glory of God; though that also have a ⟨p. 84⟩little place. Woe unto us, we have rewarded evil to our own Souls, say they in the Old Testament: A grown Saint doth not leave out the consideration of the evil it hath done to himself, when he sorrows for sin, and God allows it should be so, yet this goes most to his heart, as it did to Davids, Psal. 51. That against thee, against thee I have sinned; he could better bear his broken bones, his own shame and pain, than the sense of this, that he hath grieved and dishonoured his God: But this is the weakness of poor Babes (to which yet God will be merciful) that whereas they fetch a sigh now and then for Gods sake, they fetch many for their own. They are best at that to which nature is assistant and helpful, as 'tis to sorrow for sin, because they have wronged themselves; but Faith and Hope are altogether supernatural and therefore are more faintly acted by them.

Beside this 'tis to be observed, that there is a great deal of legal bondage cleaving (as dross to Gold) unto their sorrow, for as yet they mourn more for sin as against them and a burden to themselves, than as 'tis against and a burden to God: more as it stands in the way of their peace and Salvation, than the glory of God; though that also have a ⟨p. 84⟩little place. Woe unto us, we have rewarded evil to our own Souls, say they in the Old Testament: A grown Saint doth not leave out the consideration of the evil it hath done to himself, when he sorrows for sin, and God allows it should be so, yet this goes most to his heart, as it did to Davids, Psal. 51. That against thee, against thee I have sinned; he could better bear his broken bones, his own shame and pain, than the sense of this, that he hath grieved and dishonoured his God: But this is the weakness of poor B•bes (to which yet God will be merciful) that whereas they fetch a sigh now and then for Gods sake, they fetch many for their own. They are best at that to which nature is assistant and helpful, as 'tis to sorrow for sin, because they have wrong'd themselves; but Faith and Hope are altogether supernatural and therefore are more faintly acted by them.