First, we see, and let us stand amazed, and wonder at the admirable goodness, the riches of the kindness of the Lord, together with the ⟨p. 58⟩depth of the stubbornness, rebellion, and evil of the soul, how strong in wickedness to strive with the God of Heaven, nay, seemeth (as we say with reverence) to get the better. The Lord teacheth, and he will not hear; the Lord convinceth, and he will not yield; the Lord is good to him, and he despiseth him; the Lord is patient, and he abuseth it; God bears long and he contemns: were it not that God is just as well as patient, the sinner would overcome God, but God will not have his patience always wronged: But yet observe the baseness and depth of the wretchedness of mans heart, that nothing will do him good: foul is the Leper that all the water in the sea ⟨p. 59⟩will not wash: Great are the spots that nothing will cleanse or take off; what state is that body in, that no diet will nourish, no physic cure? Death must needs appear in his face, it is thy estate and mine. Let us go home and reason with our selves in secret: Good Lord, what a heart have I, Is there such an heart in hell? The Devil never had that patience to strive with them, that mercy to cure them, the good Spirit of God to strive with them, Oh! the Lord hath called and revealed himself to me; yea, found me when I sought him not, nay, caused me to see mine abominations, made me to see the wickedness of my ways: yet, oh the secret grudges of my heart that it ⟨p. 60⟩bore to Religion. How did I taunt the professors thereof, and loathed the profession thereof it self; ye are one of those holy ones, & what shall I be so precise? yet the Spirit of God did not leave me, but laid hold on me, surprised me in my bed, and followed me wheresoever I went, yet I opposed all, did wind away from the power of the truth, grieved the good Spirit of God; good Lord, what a heart have I, and good reason hast thou to be ashamed of such a base heart. A poor worm, sinful dust and ashes, a shadow, a miserable hellhound to grapple with the Almighty, thus to strive against mercy & patience, and not to be tumbled into the bottomless pit of hell. Tis admirable ⟨p. 61⟩unspeakable mercy. Let us see into the depth of our misery, and weep if we had a fountain of sorrow. See, there is a Drunkard, God hath opened his eyes, and he is become an holy gracious Christian:
First, we see, and let us stand amazed, and wonder at the admirable goodnesse, the riches of the kindnesse of the Lord, together with the ⟨p. 58⟩depth of the stubbornnesse, rebellion, and evill of the soule, how strong in wickednesse to strive with the God of Heaven, nay, seemeth (as we say with reverence) to get the better. The Lord teacheth, and he will not heare; the Lord convinceth, and he will not yeeld; the Lord is good to him, and he despiseth him; the Lord is patient, and he abuseth it; God beares long and he contemnes: were it not that God is just as well as patient, the sinner would overcome God, but God will not have his patience alwayes wronged: But yet observe the basenesse and depth of the wretchednesse of mans heart, that nothing will do him good: foule is the Leaper that all the water in the sea ⟨p. 59⟩will not wash: Great are the spots that nothing wil cleanse or take off; what state is that body in, that no diet will nourish, no phisicke cure? Death must needs appeare in his face, it is thy estate and mine. Let us goe home and reason with our selves in secret: Good Lord, what a heart have I, Is there such an heart in hell? The Divell never had that patience to strive with them, that mercy to cure them, the good Spirit of God to strive with them, Oh! the Lord hath called and revealed himselfe to me; yea, found me when I sought him not, nay, caused me to see mine abominations, made me to see the wickednesse of my waies: yet, oh the secret grudges of my heart that it ⟨p. 60⟩bore to Religion. How did I taunt the professours thereof, and loathed the profession therof it selfe; yee are one of those holy ones, & what shall I be so precise? yet the Spirit of God did not leave me, but laid hold on me, surprized me in my bed, and followed me wheresoever I went, yet I opposed all, did winde away from the power of the truth, grieved the good Spirit of God; good Lord, what a heart have I, and good reason hast thou to be ashamed of such a base heart. A poore worme, sinful dust and ashes, a shadow, a miserable hellhound to grapple with the Almightie, thus to strive against mercy & patience, and not to be tumbled into the bottomlesse pit of hell. Tis admirable ⟨p. 61⟩unspeakable mercie. Let us see into the depth of our misery, and weepe if we had a fountaine of sorrow. See, there is a Drunkard, God hath opened his eies, and he is become an holy gracious Christian:
