Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety

1. Because they were Captives to the Devil so long, and served sin and lust so long, that they lay in chains and fetters so long, when a Redeemer was so often offered to them, and they had not Hearts to close with him sooner than they did; that they served the Devil, an hard cruel master so long, and came into Christ, so good and so gracious a Lord, as by experience now they find him to be, and his work and wages to be so sweet, that they came to him so late; if this be the true reason, is their sorrow then any real reason of your prejudice against godliness? no verily it doth commend it so much the more.

2. What if the reason of their sorrow be because they have made no more progress in holiness since they came into the ways of holiness? that they have attained no more likeness unto God, to no more faith and love, to no more humility and heavenly mindedness; they are weeping and mourning as you see. Not because they are come into the ways of God, as you do think, but because they have gone yet no further in them; not because they have left their Sin, but because they did sin so much, and now can leave their sin no more; they are so sorrowful because they are no more fruitful, because they are no better; ask them if this be not the reason? and if so, is there any reason their sorrow should prejudice your hearts against godliness? no verily, it doth commend it so much the more, when they that have a true and real taste of the Sweetness of it, sorrow so much because they have attained to no more degrees thereof.

3. What if the reason of their Sorrow be because they can do no more for God and Christ, by way of thankfulness to him, who hath done so much for them as of bond-slaves to make them free? that God should give his own only Son, and Christ should give himself, his life, his soul, his blood for a random to bring them out of ⟨p. 54⟩