204 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. F. Put your trust in God. P. I cannot ; no more than a horse. F. Do you desire to believe ? P. No more than a post, or an horse-shoe. I have no more sense of grace than these curtains; than a goose ; than a block. F. Let the testimony of your life past comfort you, especially in the calling of a tutor. P. I did the business thereof negligently. When I handled hard authors, I came often unprepared, and read shamefully. F. Be of good courage, and the Lord will comfort your heart. P. It is ended: there is no such matter, F. Why do you think so ? You shall see the event. God will yet bring it to pass. P. Tush, tush, trifles. F. What do you think of your former doctrine ? P. Very good. F. Let it now comfort you. P. It cannot. F. You desire it could. There is nothing impossible with God, which stands with his decree. P. Oh! Oh! miserable and woeful. The burden of my sin lieth heavy upon me. I doubt it will break my heart. F. Behold your comforts. P. That is nothing to me. I pray you hold your peace. You vex me. Your words are as daggers in my heart. F. Remember, sir, thegood counsels you have given us. P. Those were ordinary. F. You may see many others in the like estate. See David. P. Not such as mine. Why do you speak to me of David ? F. Good sir, endeavour to settle your mind. P. Yes, to play with hell-hounds. F. Will you pray. P. I cannot. F. You were wont heretofore. P. Yes, by a custom and vain-glory. F. Suffer us to pray for you. P. Takenot the name of God in vain, by praying for a reprobate. F. Suffer us to pray for ourselves.
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