Examine therefore, whether thy trouble be through ignorance, or through melancholy; or whether some sin do not lie at the bottom. If it be through ignorance, knowledge will scatter it; If through melancholy, the Physician must answer that case of conscience. But the greatest danger is when sin lies at the bottom: and that Christians should passionately abhor. I remember Athenagoras, in his Apology for Christians, thus bespeaks the Heathen Emperors: There is an infamous rumour spread abroad of us, as if we were guilty of several wickednesses; if there be any truth in it, spare neither Sex nor Age, but destroy us, our wives and children. It seems Christians then, thought that Christian unworthy to live, that did any thing scandalous. And Augustine in his directions to Paulina, enquiring how God is to be seen; tells her in this search, plus valere vivendi, quam loquendi modum; she might better learn it by her own holy living, than by his best counsel. Cyprian saith, We live, not speak great things. In short, that Christian that would get and maintain Communion with God, must be very curious in his conversation. We must look upon sin as God looks upon it, and then we cannot think any sin to be small. If thou be drowned, what matters it whether thou liest twenty fathoms, or but an inch under water? If thou be killed, what matters it whether thou be choked with a hair, or shot with a Cannon bullet? The least sin indulged, hinders Communion with God. And let this be minded: There's no sort of sins, sins of infirmity; that is, thou canst not say all sins of such a kind, are sins of infirmity. e. g. Vain thoughts are not all of them sins of infirmity, for some speak the heart to be wicked, Jerem. 4.14. All rovings in prayer are not sins of infirmity; for where the heart is not tended, rovings are abominable. All sinful dreams are not sins of infirmity, for where the heart burns with lust, it steams forth sleeping ⟨p. 37⟩and waking. In a word, Psa. 5.4. Thou art not a God hast pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee. Remove obstructions if you would have Communion with God.
Examine therefore, whether thy trouble be through ignorance, or through melancholy; or whether some sin do not lie at the bottom. If it be through ignorance, knowledge will scatter it; If through melancholy, the Physitian must answer that case of conscience. But the greatest danger is when sin lies at the bottom: and that Christians should passionatly abhor. I remember Athenagoras, in his Apology for Christians, thus bespeaks the Heathen Emperours: There is an infamous rumour spread abroad of us, as if we were guilty of several wickednesses; if there be any truth in it, spare neither Sex nor Age, but destroy us, our wives and children. It seems Christians then, thought that Christian unworthy to live, that did any thing scandalous. And Augustine in his directions to Paulina, enquiring how God is to be seen; tels her in this search, plus valere vivendi, quam loquendi modum; she might better learn it by her own holy living, than by his best counsel. Cyprian saith, We live, not speak great things. In short, that Christian that would get and maintain Communion with God, must be very curious in his conversation. We must look upon sin as God looks upon it, and then we cannot think any sin to be small. If thou be drowned, what matters it whether thou liest twenty fathoms, or but an inch under water? If thou be killed, what matters it whether thou be chok't with a hair, or shot with a Cannon bullet? The least sin indulged, hinders Communion with God. And let this be minded: There's no sort of sins, sins of infirmity; that is, thou canst not say all sins of such a kind, are sins of infirmity. e. g. Vain thoughts are not all of them sins of infirmity, for some speak the heart to be wicked, Ierem. 4.14. All roavings in prayer are not sins of infirmity; for where the heart is not tended, roavings are abominable. All sinful dreams are not sins of infirmity, for where the heart burns with lust, it steams forth sleeping ⟨p. 37⟩and waking. In a word, Psa. 5.4. Thou art not a God hast pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee. Remove obstructions if you would have Communion with God.
