The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…

1. Rule. In this Work of Compunction, do not think that the Lord hath not wrought any true sense of sin, because you find it not in such a Measure as you imagine you should desire to have, and that others feel; sense of sin admits Degrees. I doubt not but Joseph's Brethren were humbled, yet Joseph must be more, he must be cast into the Ditch, and into the Prison, and the Iron must enter not only into his Legs, but into his Soul, Psal. 105.18. He must be more afflicted in Spirit, because he was to do greater Work for God, and was to be raised up higher than the rest, and therefore did need the more Ballast: some are educated more civilly than others, and thereby have contracted less guilt and stoutness of Heart against God and his Ways, and therefore these have not such Cause of Trouble; and being less rugged, have less need of Axes to hew them: some Men's sorrow breaks in upon them more suddenly, like storms and breaches of the Sea, and the Lord is resolved to hasten and finish his Work in them more speedily, and it may be more exemplarily; (for every Christian is not a fair Copy) as in those, Acts 2.37. In others their sorrows soak in by Degrees, Gutta cavat lapidem, the Lord empties them by continual Droppings, and hence feel not that Measure of sorrow that others do: Every Christian is not a Heman, Psal. 88. who suffers distracting Fears and Terrors from his Youth up, verse 15. who is afflicted with all God's Ways, verse 7. for he was a Man of exceeding high Parts and Gifts, as you may see, 1 Kings 4.31. and therefore the Lord had need of hanging some special Plummets on his Heart to keep it ever low, lest it should be lifted up above Measure. Some sense of sin the Lord will work in all he saves, but not the same Measure; the Lord gives not alway unto his, that which is good in it self, ⟨p. 38⟩(its good I confess to be deeply affected and humbled) but that which is fit, and therefore best for thee.

1. Rule. In this Work of Compunction, do not think that the Lord hath not wro't any true sense of sin, because you find it not in such a Measure as you imagine you should desire to have, and that others feel; sense of sin admits Degrees. I doubt not but Joseph's Brethren were humbled, yet Joseph must be more, he must be cast into the Ditch, and into the Prison, and the Iron must enter not only into his Legs, but into his Soul,