The Godly Man's Picture

Answ. Did God ever bring thee upon thy knees? hath thy proud heart been humbled? didst thou ever see thy self a sinner, and nothing but a sinner? didst thou ever with a weeping eye,¹ look upon Christ? and did those tears drop from the eye of faith?² This is a Gospel-bruising: canst thou say, Lord, though I do not see thee, yet I love thee, though I am in the dark, yet I cast Anchor? this is to be a bruised reed.

1. 1Zac. 12. 10.
2. 2Mar. 9. 24.

Object. 1 But I fear I am not bruised enough?

Answ. 'Tis hard to prescribe a just measure of humiliation; it is in the new birth, as in the natural, some bring forth with more pangs, some with fewer; but would you know when you are bruised enough? when your spirit is so troubled, that you are willing to let go those lusts, which did bring in the greatest income of pleasure and delight; when sin is not only discarded, but disgusted, then you have been bruised enough; then the Physic is strong enough, when it hath purged out the disease, then the soul is bruised enough, when the love of sin is purged out.

Answ. 'Tis hard to prescribe a just measure of humiliation; it is in the new birth, as in the natural, some bring forth with more pangs, some with fewer; but would you know when you are bruised enough? when your spirit is so troubled, that you are willing to let go those lusts, which did bring in the greatest income of pleasure and delight; when sin is not only discarded, but disgusted, then you have been bruised enough; then the Physick is strong enough, when it hath purged out the disease, then the soul is bruised enough, when the love of sin is purged out.