§. Sect. 3 Of Com∣plaint.
Alas (my soule) how farre hath thy carnall security preuailed with thee? How hath it rocked thee in such a deepe slumber, that thou hast little or no sense of thy sloth, but when thou art asleepe, dreamest that thou art waking? How is thine heart hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne, that it is scarce sensible of its owne hardnesse? yea when thou dost discerne it, how art thou hampred and fettered with the g••ues of thy corruption, that thou hast neither power nor will to bet∣ter thine estate? Repentance is the meanes of curing thine infirmities and sicknesses of sinnes. But thou fearest the medicine, more then the disease, and neglectest, or formally vsest all good meanes whereby it might be ob∣tained and applyed. Thou thinkest no care or cost too much for the com∣passing of worldly vanities, and thou canst in pursuing them, keepe thy de∣sires within no bounds, but the more thou drinkest, the more thou thirst∣est. But how soone art thou tyred in working thy heart to sorrow for thy sinnes; and how little of this doest thou thinke enough? In bodily smart and worldly griefe for the losse of things little to be esteemed, how many arguments of comforts (as it were) bridles, needest thou to curbe in, and moderate thy sensuall sorrowes? and yet how often doe they get head, and (as it wer••) catching the bridle betweene the teeth, carry thee away in a full carreer? But how many strong motiues and forcible reasons (as it were) sharpe spurres in thy sides, doest thou need, to make thee sorrow for thy sinnes? and how soone, like a dull hackney, art thou tyred in this vnusuall way, so that no spurres nor stripes will make thee mend thy pace? How cold and quiet is thy hatred against thy sinnes? and vpon what easie tearmes and small submission art thou content to let them liue, when the Lord hath giuen them into thy power, and put the sword of the Spirit into thy hands wherewith thou mightest slay them? How little hast thou profited in the amendment of thy life? how small and insensible are thy proceedings in the wayes of godlines? and after long time spent, and ma∣ny means vsed, how small is thy progresse, and how neere art thou still to the place from whence thou diddest sit out? How faint are thy desires (O slothfull soule) after good things? How farre from earnest longings which breake the heart, and from hungring and thirsting, which are im∣patient of delay, and neuer at quiet till they be satisfied? How often doest thou faile in thy good resolutions, and how seldome dost thou bring them to any good effect? How easily art thou discouraged in thy best inde∣uours, desisting, or at least often intermitting them, before thou bringest them to any perfection? And yet this is all thou canst doe towards that perfect obedience which the Law requireth; and all that thy God in the Gospell doth require of thee. Vngratefull soule, if thou dost not answere his demands; when hauing done so much for thee, hee desireth, in lieu of all, to haue so little returned vnto him.