A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 325CHAP. X.The Fourth and Fifth Considerations which belong lo the Third Way ofCuring the tbrraer Malady. Also the Fifth Help for it by Advice.4th. Iv sound contrition and saving repentance, let us forthe present t,ake notice of,— First, a sensible smart and anguishof the heart. Secondly, a dislike, hatred, and aversionin the will. Thirdly, a change of the mind, enlightenedand now enabled to give stronger reasons out of God's book,love of Christ, &c. against any sin, than carnal reason, thedevil himself, or the drunken eloquence of his old goodfellowcompanions can suggest to the contrary. Fourthly,an universal opposition and constant endeavour against allmanner of iniquity. Fifthly, a hearty sorrownot more sorrowful.that we areheart thatstirring grief and violent rending for those many rebellionsNow, say I, if thou shouldst not feel in thineand horrible filth of thy naughty heart and former wickedlife which thou heartily desirest, their heinousness exactsat thine hands, and many lesser sinners than thyself haveendured ;yet if thou findest an unfeigned hatred and displeasednessin thy will, a settled resolution in thy mind,a watchful striving in all thy ways against all sin, truegrief because thou art not more grieved, thou art by nomeans to cast away thy confidence, or be discomfortedtherefore, as though thou wert not truly converted ; butonly be advised and take occasion thereupon to w^alk morehumbly before thy God, with sincerity and constancy tooppose all things which may hinder, and pursue all meansthat may further the more kindly melting of thine heart,sensible sorrow, and hearty mourning over him whom thoiihast so cruelly pierced with thy youthful lusts and abominations.5th. Lest any true hearted Christian, lying in no sinagainst conscience, and labouring sincerely to please Godin all things, should be unnecessarily troubled and dejectedwith slavish fears and jealousies lest he be not truly turnedunto God, because he feels not in himself that boisterousvehement conversion, that extremity of pangs and horror iiithe new birth, which sometimes are to be found in someothers, let him ponder upon these resemblances :—(1.) Thou mayest have thy bile or botch opened with thepoint of a needle, whereas another man endures the slashingof a surgeon's lancet ;yet, if the corruption and putrifiedmatter be let out by this easier means, and thyself2 F