DIRECTIONS. FOR GETTING, &C. 243 Of my directions, the first shall be only general, and the rest more particular. And all ofthem I must entreat you, 1. To ob- serve the order and method, as well as the matter and that you would practice. them in the same order as I.place them. 2. And to remember that it is not only comfórtable words, but it is direc- tions for your own practice, which here I prescribe you ; and there- fore that it is not the bare readingof them that will cure you ; but if you mean to have the benefit of them, you must bestow more time in practicing them, than I have done in penning them ; yea, youmust make it the work of your life. And let not that startle you, or seem tedious to you, for it will be no more grievous awork to a well-tempered soul, than eating, or drinking, or sleep, or rec- reation, is to an healthful body ; and than it is to anhonest woman to love and delight in her husband and her children, which is no grievous task. Direction I. ' Get as clear a discovery as you can of the true cause of your doubts and troubles; for if you should mistake in 'the cause, it would much frustrate the most excellent means for the cure.' The very same doubts and complaints may come from several causes in several persons, and theréfere admit not of the same way of cure. Sometimes the cause begins in the body, and thence proceedeth to the mind ; sometimes it begins in the mind, and thence distempereth the body. Sometimes in themind, it is most, or first, from worldly crosses, and thence proceedeth to spiritual things. And of spiritual matters, sometimes it begins upon scru- ples or differences in religion, or peints of doctrine ; sometimes, and most commonly, from the sense of our own infirmities ; sometimes it is only from ordinary infirmities; sometimes from some extra- ordinary decay of inward grace ; sometimes from the neglect of some weighty duty; and sometimes from the deep wounds of some heinous, secret, or scandaloussin ; and sometimes it is merely from the fresh discovery of that which before we never did discern ; and sometimes from the violent assault of extraordinary temptations. Which of these is your own case, you must be careful to fiad out, and to apply the means for cure accordingly. Even of true Christians, the same means will not fit all. The difference of na- tures,, as well as of actual cases, must be considered. One bath need of that tender handling, which would undo another; and he again hath need of that rousing which another cannot bear. And there- foreunderstand, that when I have given you all the directions that I can, I must, in the end hereof, advise you to take the counsel of a skillful minister, in applying and making use of them; for it is in this, as in the case of physic, when we have written the best books of receipts, or for methodical cures; yet we must advise
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