PEACOCK. 05 P. Look to it; you would now shew your faculty in praying.-(After prayer was ended, he said, do not trouble yourselves in vain.) F. Let not the devil delude you, abusing your mind and tongue. I know you speak not these words. P. I wonder that intelligent scholars should speak thus. F. We are persuaded you are in as good a state as ourselves. P. Look how it is with yourselves, in truth. F. How can you discern this change by the absence of God, if you never enjoyed his presence? P. I thought I had it once ; but now I see it is far otherwise. Oh, me ! Wretch that I am ! F. Be of good comfort. P. I cannot. I have no moregrace than a back-stock.., F. Do you desire grace ? P. I cannot. I can as well leapover the church. F. Would you notbe in heaven ? P. I would not. F. The devil himself would if he could. You have the testimony of faith : you love the brethren. P. I do, not. F. Do you not love us ? P. No. F. What is it that most troubles you ? P. I took too much upon me foolishly. I had got a little logic and Greek ; and, measly instructed in the rules, I set myself to read to scholars; and afterwards undertook other business which drew my attention from them. I have destroyed a thousand souls. F. You may see the falsehood of him that suggesteth this unto you. You never had a thousand. The good effect of your pains appears in many of your scholars. P. They wereof themselves capable. F. Name one in whom they do not appear. P. There is one, (pointing at a master of arts.) F. I thank God, that I ever came to you. P. It is not so. I did foplishly. F. You confess you did foolishly; therefore, not of malice. Consider what would have become of them, ifyou bad not taken them. P. Better, far better. F. All the college knowthe contrary. P. But I feelit. F. It is false : believe not the devil.
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