Qkeffion.c,andCafe' ofConfcience Chap. 3q.I Anfw. Firfl, trial mutt bemade whether the party hath in him any of the afore namedgrounds ofgrace, or no. For which end , ask him whether he be- lieve and repent ? If he fay he cannot, then ask him whether he cloth not delire todo it ? and fo ofthe other grounds. Secondly, after this tryal, then comes the right applying of the promife of life to the diflretfed perfon, and it mull be done by this or fuch arguments. He that unfeign_dlydelresto repent , and believe, hath remillionoffins, and life everlalling: Bet fo doell thou , therefore thefe belong to thee; and this is fitteft to be done by a Minifler . who bath miniflerial authority to pronounce pardon. ue1i. That the promafe thus applied may havegoodfucceffe, what rules are to be ob erved ? Anfw. Firft, that the comfort adminillredbe allayed with Come mixture of the Law , left the woundbe too Toone healed : For fuch ufually become wordof all , therefore bring them on by little and little to comfort , the fweet- neffe whereof will be greater , if it be qualified with fome tartneffe of the La,v. Secondly, ifthe diPreffed party be much oppreffed with grief, he muff not be left alone, left Satanget advantage again!± him : as he did againli Eve, when Ilse was alone : Hence, Ecc1.4.r o.Woeto him that is alone : then Satanufually tempts him to defpair,and felf-murther. Thirdly, You muff teach him not to tea upon his own judgement but fubmit himfelfe to fuch as have more judgement, and experience then himfelf. Fourthly, never tell fuch ofany fearful accident , or ofany that havebeene in the like, orworfe cafe thenhimfelf : For hereby the ditlreffed confcience will fatten the accident upon it (elfe, and be drawne to deeper griefe or de- fpaire. Fifthly,the comforter mullbear with the infirmitiesof thediftreffed:as froward- neffe,peevithneffe, rafhneffe, difordered affee&ions, or actions. Yea, he mull (as it were put upon him their perfons ; grieve, weep , lament with them that he may thew a fympathy. Sixthly, he mull not be difcouraged, though after long paines he fee but little fruit upon the diflretfed.party. Thus for the general : Now for the particular difireffes themfelves. uefl. What is the fpeciall difIreffe arifing from the Divine Ten- tation ? Anfw. Its a combat with God himfelf immediately : when the confcience fpeaks fome fearfulthings ofGod ; and withal the party diflrefl'ed feels. forne.e- vident tokens of Cods wrath. As we fee in the example of Job , ch. 6. 4. and t 3 a6. and 56.9. fo in David, Pfal.6.i, &c. and77. Quell. what may be the eccafonofthis bindoftentation ? Anfw. Ufually itfollows upon the committing of fome notorious fin, which wounds the confcience, as it did in Caine, Saul, and Tud.u. Sometimesit comes when there is no fuch finne committed ; as in Job, and then there can no rea- fon be rendred for it but the divine will andpleafure ofGod. Quell. what arethe ofeEts of this tentation ? 11nfw. They are many, andorange : For fometimes it works a ftrange change in the body : inflames the blood, drinks up the fpirits, dries the bones, &c. So Tfal.3z.4. fob 30.30. Queft. what remedies mull be ufedfor the comfortingoffuch ? ..9nfw. Firfl, the party troubled mull be brought to a perfonal exercife ofFaith, and Repentance in, andby himfelf : For which endhe mull narrowly.examine his heart , CO finde out his finne : and then he mutt humbly confeffe all his known
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