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Of the second or assistant causes of a trou∣bled Conscience.
BEsides the aforesaid principall and inherent causes, there are also some outward and assistant motiues, to the furtherance of these extremities, as po∣uertie, miserie, bodily sicknesse, enemies, losse of friends, euill successe in matters
and affaires pertaining to the world and such like. For as he that hath a grieuous sore or swelling, is pained with euery touch and externall handling, yet the principall cause of both are the corrupted humours that are within: Euen so these outward accidents in the world, that come vnto them, may make this inward griefe of conference to throb and byte the more, and yet the former causes are, as it were, the rcot and fountaine from whence it chiefely commeth. For let the sight and horrour of their sinnes be remooued from them, let them haue a liuely faith to worke within them, and let them see and feele the worke of true repentance, and fruits of regeneration to haue settled & taken root within them, and then bee their pouertie neuer so great, their miseries neuer so many, their extremities neuer so insinite: yet they can brooke them all with patience, and passe them ouer in peace of conscience, sleeping euen in quietnesse and safety, as it were with Ionas in the sides of the ship, in the middest of most turbulent and raging tempests. But if these bee
wanting, then euery one of the afore∣named accidents, is as a Riuer continu∣ally streaming in, to the increase & fúr∣therance of their griefe and miseries: And that after a double sort. For eyther they are precedent and going before the sight of sinne: or else subsequent and fol∣lowing after it.
[ 1] In the first manner, that is, as they be forerunners and precedent, they be as mo∣tiue meanes to the breeding and bring∣ing forth of the former extremities. For as when we feele any part about vs, in our bodies, to be sicke and out of order, we straightway haue recourse and run to the help of physicke, that thereby we may see and know, what the state and constitution of our body is: so likewise, if at any time wee finde our selues af∣flicted and crossed with any sinister e∣uents, that is, either infirmitie of body, losse of friends, losse of goods, or any such like; it maketh vs to looke and pry into our selues, and presenteth our sinnes, and mustereth them, as it were in our sight and memory, which while the weakeling in faith doth too intentiue∣ly
weigh and thinke vpon, he is pressed downe, being vtterly broken and ama∣zed vnder the heauy and intolerable burden of his transgressions. Exam∣ple hereof we haue in Manasses, who by afflictions and miseries was brought to the sight and knowledgement of his sinnes and wickednesses. In like man∣ner Dauid also, sometimes by bodily sicknesse and infirmitie; sometimes by molestation of his Aduersaries, and som∣time by the treachery of his dissembling Friends, was brought to the considera∣tion and inward mourning vnder the horrour of his sinnes, as may bee easily gathered out of the sixt, the thirty one, and the thirty eight Psalmes at large.
[ 2] Secondly, these externall accidents attend vpon the troubled conscience, as sequents following vpon the same. And in this sort they concurre and come as helpes and furtherances to to the increase and setting forwards of the inward griefe already begunne and hatched in the brest of the broken-hear∣ted Christian. For as the Spyder, out of what flower so cuer he sucketh nourish∣ment,
be it neuer so sweet and precious, conuerteth all to poyson: So hee which thus despaireth vnder sinne, vvhat things soeuer come vnto him, although in themselues neuer so great Argu∣ments of the loue of God, if they were rightly construed; yet hee turneth all another way, and applyeth them to the worst that may be.
And herevpon it is, that they can read or heare of no place of Scripture, wherein the flourishing estate of Gods children is described, but straightway they beginne to gather vpon it. Lo, say they, thus and thus the Lord hath pro∣mised, that it shalbe with the righteous, thus they shall prosper and flourish which are his seruants and beloued of him: and therefore I see and know that I am none of his. If contrariwise they heare of any of the vngodly, that haue beene punished and afflicted for their sinnes, or of any threatnings denoun∣ced against the wicked, they are readie straightway to thrust themselues into the number of such vngodly ones, and bold to affirme those denounced
plagues to bee due vnto them. Thus (alas) these poore soules are dim-sigh∣ted, as was Father Isaac; and therefore they thinke, if Iacob be but onely clad with Esau's garment, that surely & out of all question he must be Esau. And because that God maketh them, in some measure, to taste of his correcting hand, and that sometimes euen in those things, which hee threateneth and denounceth against the wicked, that therefore out of question, they are in the number of those that are repro∣bated and reiected of him. A slender reason (doubtlesse) to perswade (as by God his grace shall after appeare) but a farre more subtill Satan, that by such wyly practices seeketh to subuert and ouerthrow the simple.
Other meanes whereby the extre∣mities of a troubled Consci∣ence are increased.
Precedent accidents causing griefe.
2. Chron. 33.12.
Subse∣quent ac∣cidents in∣creasing griefe.
They turn all to the worst a∣gainst thē∣selues.