Page 595
How the wounded Sinner is to be cured. [ 1738]
THere is a story (nothing worth but for the Morall) of a great King that married his daughter to a poor Gentleman that loved her:* 1.1 But his grant had a condi••ion annexed unto it; that whensoever the Gentlemans side looked black, or he lost his Wedding Ring, he should not onely lose his Wife but his life also: One day pursuing his sports, he fell into a quarrel; where at once he received a bruise on his left breast, and lost his Ring in the scuffle: The Tumult over, he perceived the danger, whereinto his own heedlesnesse had brought him, and in bitternesse of Soul shed many tears;* 1.2 In his sorrow he spied a book, which open∣ing, he found therein his Ring again, and the first words he read was a Medicine for a bruised side, it directed him to those hearbs, whereof a plaister ap∣plyed would not fail to heal him; He did so, was cured, was secured: Thus applied. The great King of Heaven marries to Man, poor Man, hi•• own daugh∣ter, Mercy or e••e••lasting kindness; but threatens him, that his side mus•• not look black, his heart must not be polluted with spiritual Idolatry, nor must he lose his wedding Ring, love to God and his Saints, least he forfeit both Gods mercy and his own salvation: Man in pursuit of Worldly affairs, quarrels with his Neigh∣bours, and scuffles with Contention; So his heart gets a bruise, looks black with hatred; And Charity his wedding Ring is lost in these willfull turbulencies and Vexations; What should we do but mourn? Lo, God in his goodnesse directs him to a book, the holy Gospell; then the spirit helps him to his Ring again, his former love; and to heal his bruise, prescribes him these speciall herbs of Grace, Repentance, Thankfulness, and Meekness, which being well applied, will keep his Ring of Faith sure from losing, and his Heart from the self-procured blows of Contention, and so hold for ever his dear espoused Wife, the beautifull daughter of the King, Gods everlasting goodness and mercy.