A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

and;AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 389time to afflict me in this uncouth manner with this hellempoisoneddart something extraordinarily. I have notbeen so sensible of thy other temptations, far more ensnaringin sin, though not so terrifying ; and therefore my graciousLord may suffer thee at this time thus to thrust outthy horns, as I may say, in this most horrible and outrageousencounter, that I may be thoroughly advertised vvhatanadversary I have ; and so more mind and m.ark him, forfear of much secret and sudden mischief by my securityand neglect, and be more quickened to an universal watchfulnessagainst all his methods, devices, and depths ;aswell his subtle and sly insinuations in the glory of an angel,as his impetuous and furious assaults in the shape of afoul fiend. Some trouble, cross, heavy accident, disgrace,discontentment ; some great and weighty affair on foot, unseasonableentertainments, sad news from abroad, or somethingor other, hath too often stolen my heart from thatfull and fruitful attention to holy duties v/hich was due,and that even upon the Lord's day. And I can now remember,and my conscience tells me upon this occasion,that I have not watched over the many idle, impertinentwanderings and vagaries of my imagination, as I oughtbut given so far a way unto them, that they have justlybrought upon me an uncomfortable deadness of affection,barrenness and indisposition in the use of the ordinances,and conversing with God by meditation, prayer, hearing ofthe word, singing of psalms, examination of the conscience,and other religious exercises, and I know not into what furtherspiritual misery they may lead me -, therefore ingreat mercy the most wise God goes now graciously aboutto correct and mortify the vanity, worldliness, distractions,and misemployraent of my thoughts, even by the terrors ofthese thy most horrible and hellish injections. And l^y thehelp of God I will follow the meaning and conduct of hisholy hand for a right use of them, and attaining that happyend which he doth so mercifully intend." 8. To gather skill, experience, and dexterity, for theraising and reviving of others hereafter, hanging down thehead, heavy-hearted, and maliciously haunted in the samekind, by discovering unto them thy bootless malice, the sovereignmedicines I have met with in the ministry of the word,and the good I gained to my soul hereby, by the help of thatAlmighty hand which can turn the darkest midnight intothe brightest morning, and produce a medicinable potion outof the rankest poison." Methinks this heaven, which by Divine blessing Iextract out of thy hell, this healing virtue which I draw