§. Sect. 1 How our harts are to be af∣fected with feruent desires to practice this duty of re∣pentance.
ANd now (my soule) that thou hast in thy vnderstanding dis∣coursed of the chiefe poynts obseruable in this excellent grace of repentance, labour to worke what thou knowest, into thine heart and affections, and to bring it all to some holy vse, that thou maist prepare these spirituall meates, not onely to looke vpon, for so thou maist in this great plenty depart an hungred, and be neuer the better in thy health, strength and good liking; but indeuour to apply them, to taste their sweetnesse, to feed vpon and digest them for thy nourishment. Thou hast discouered (my soule) ex∣cellent waters, which though they be bitter in their owne nature, yet the wood of thy Sauiours Crosse being cast into them by the hand of faith, will make them to become sweet: Drinke deepely of them (O my soule) that thou maist neuer againe thirst after the pleasures of sinne, which may well glut thee, but will neuer satisfie thee, but the more thou drinkest, the more thou thirstest; whereas these waters (my soule) will cure this drop∣sie, and make thee thirst onely after spirituall things, in which there is great delight, seeing thou maist heere drinke thy fill without impeach∣ment, yea with much improuement of thy health; or rather, because thou canst neuer be filled in this life, thou maist euer thirst, and euer drinke; thirst without distemper, without griefe; and drinke with all spirituall de∣light, seeing these waters satisfie without satiety. And as they are good for thine inward thirst, so also for thy both outward and inward defile∣ments of sinne. Wash thy selfe therefore, yea bathe and diue thy selfe in them, whereby as thou shalt bee certainly assured that thou art wash∣ed and purged from the guilt and punishment of all thy sinnes, in the precious Lauer and Fountaine of thy Sauiours blood; so shalt thou find these waters of repentance, notable helpes and meanes to cleanse thee from the corruption and filth of sinne. Drench but thy selfe in them (O my soule) and thou shalt drowne them; for though to thee they are li∣uing waters, and helpe to preserue thee, yet they will stifle and choke thy sinfull corruptions, though (like the waters appoynted for the triall of iealousie) they will make thee fruitfull, yet they will cause thy sinnes to rot and perish, working diuersly vpon diuers subiects. Worldly sorrow indeed causeth death, because it doth not conioyne, but seuer thee from Christ thy life. It is a fruit of the flesh, the ioy whereof is mortall, and therefore much more must its griefe needs be mortall. It looketh not to heauen, but to the earth, not drawing to God, but driuing thee from him. It respecteth punishment, and not sinnes, and lamenteth more the losse of earthly trifles, then of Gods loue and heauenly excellencies. And there∣fore when this bitternesse is thrust vpon thee by thy corrupt flesh; thou hast iust cause to cry out with the children of the Prophets, that there is death in the pot, and sinne in such sorrow, for which griefe thou hast iust cause of further grieuing. Mistake not this worldly sorrow (O my soule)