The last visitation

Do not you think that God can put a distinction between his grace and our corruptions? Behold the Church sometimes helpless and hopeless, and Jonah in that his bed, God seeth you, though you see not him. But I feel horror. Where misery is, there is grace much more: Then especially appeareth the excellency of the Physician, when health is least hoped. The Devil doth abuse your mind and tongue against your self: but doubt not, ⟨p. 38⟩the Lord will cast down the strong holds of carnal reason. Only do not suppress that grace of God, which although it appeareth but small as big as a mans hand, ye• it shall be increased into a• mighty rain, by which your dry soul shall be moistened. Chris• rising again, did first appea• to Mary Magdalen that sinner• after commanded her to tel• it first to Peter, which ha• denied him. See thence hi• mercy. The godly in thei• afflictions do but forget thei• comforts; God helps thei• memory, helps all. Th• godly losing his sense o• Gods favour, is like to […] man that hath lost his purse• which if he could find, h• were rich enough. But th• wicked cannot be brought t• ⟨p. 39⟩remembrance, because they never knew it. Thus he suffered him to rest a while, afterwards returning with others, prayed. Then he was asked, how he did. Miserably. Do not you search into the secrets of God. It is too true and manifest. Sir, do not always be digging in at your sins. A wound continually rubbed cannot be cured. Suffer the plasters of the Word of God to rest upon it, that it may be holpen. Oh, if I had! Oh, if it would please God! I had rather then any thing in this or other three thousand worlds. Who now giveth this desire unto you? Of our selves we cannot think a good thought: God giveth both the will and the deed. A desire is a sure