The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

And because the devil of some lusts will not be cast out without fasting and prayer, therefore he joineth fasting to supplication, and trieth to starve his corruptions: Before-hand he fitteth himself for that day of purging out his ill humours, by the preparatory potion of meditation. The consideration of his sins, how bloody and heinous in their nature, how crying and crimson in their circumstances, makes his physic work the better. He thinketh before, The day of mourning for (offending) my father is coming, and then I will slay my brother Jacob, my dearest and nearest sin. This man bringeth under his natural body (which he may lawfully cherish) that he may abate the strength of the body of death; as men sometimes in a ⟨p. 159⟩fever open a vain, and let out their blood, (though it be not bad) that they may weaken their enemy.

And because the devil of some lusts will not be cast out without fasting and prayer, therefore he joyneth fasting to supplication, and trieth to starve his corruptions: Before-hand he fitteth himself for that day of purging out his ill humors, by the preparatory potion of meditation. The consideration of his sins, how bloody and hainous in their nature, how crying and crimson in their circumstances, makes his physick work the better. He thinketh before, The day of mourning for (offending) my father is coming, and then I will slay my brother Jacob, my dearest and nearest sin. This man bringeth under his natural body (which he may lawfully cherish) that he may abate the strength of the body of death; as men sometimes in a ⟨p. 159⟩feaver open a vain, and let out their blood, (though it be not bad) that they may weaken their enemy.

In reading and hearing the Law of God, he setteth his lusts naked before that sword of the Spirit, that they may be hewn by the Prophets, and slain by the words of Gods mouth; He desires that it may pierce deep to the dividing of soul and spirit, of the joints and marrow, and to the discovering of the thoughts and intents of his heart: His voice to the Minister, is like the Prophets to his neighbour, Smite me I pray thee, and likes him best, that in smiting wounds his sin most: he approves of that Chirurgeon that searcheth his wounds throughly, though he put him to pain; he rejoiceth that the Preacher revealeth to him his errors, that he may follow them with Hue and cry till they are taken and punished, and so Gods pursuit of him may be prevented: If the Minister give him a bitter pill of reproof, he doth not, like a queasy stomach, favour his malady, and loath his medicine, but takes it down willingly, knowing, that though such things be not toothsome, yet they are wholesome, and that they must be bitter things that breaks the bag of worms in his stomach; sweet things will nourish and cherish them: He is glad that the word is fire, that thereby his dross may be consumed; that it is water, because his heart thereby may be washed and purified; He hideth the word in his heart, that he