and which, tho' a due effect of his Sins, and an evidence of the fad ftate they bring him to,and fo may be of great use to be duly confidered on this account, yet is a kind of Excefs of Repentance, and fometimes too great an extream that way, and what ought to have the nicest Resolutions, and best DireЄtions given about it to cure and remove it; I mean, Trouble of Mind, or a Wounded Confcience, which many a Sinner lyes under, and which I fhall briefly Represent and Difcourfe of, by confidering how great a Mifery it is above all others in this World, and what Cure and Remedy there may be for it, or for those who are fallen under it.

SECT.

SECT.

IV.

Of Trouble of Mind, or a Wounded

TH

Spirit.

HE greatest part of our Happinefs or Mifery lyes in our Minds and Spirits, in thofe inward Faculties and Senfories which are diftinct from our Body and outward Senfes. We feel very often more pleafure or pain in those distinct from the Body than the Body it felf is capable of; for these are quicker and more fenfible than Matter and Body can be, and are the proper fubject of perception of any Pleasure and Pain, and of all Rational Happiness or Mifery. A Mans inward Thoughts do often give him more torment and uneafinefs, anguish and difquietude of Soul, and more real pain and mifery than any Bodily torment, or even Death it felf; and therefore fome have chosen Death, and have willingly endured any Bodily pain rather than lye under the greater pain, agonies and horrours of their own Minds, and many that have been under those, yet have felt an inward

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ward joy comfort and fatisfaction of Mind that has fupported them under the worst pains and fufferings of Body and the greateft outward evils that could ever fall upon them, and their Minds and Spirits have been chearful and erect and defpifed the threatnings of Tyrants, and born the greatest tortures of Body, and the hardeft calamities of this World. Thus did all the Martyrs, and thus do many good Men and good Chriftians enjoy an inward happiness of Mind, a peace, and comfort, and delight of Confcience under a painful and fickly Body, a poor and neceffìtous Condition, and under a great many outward Evils which they are here fubject to; but there are fome clofer and more inward Evils felt by others,a guilty and uneafieMind,a troubled and difquiet Confcience, a fcaring dread of a Divine Vengeance hanging over their heads, and a fearful expectation and looking for of Judgment, which fhall devour them in a little time. thefe are fuch dreadful Evils as fink down a Mans Mind, and opprefs it with an infupportable burden greater than it can bear, and fwallow it up in a gulph

of

of unfpeakable and intolerable Mifery. This is the greatest and the worst of Miferies, to which no other Mifery nor no other Evils here that we are fubject to are comparable: As the Wife Man obferves, Prov. II. 14. The Spirit of a man may sustain his infirmities, but a wounded Spirit who can bear? I fhall confider three things relating to fuch a Wounded Spirit or Troubled Mind.

I. How little all other Evils are in respect of this.

II. How dreadful and insupport-
able that is.

III. What is the proper Cure or
Remedy for it.

I. All Worldly Evil, or all that we can call outward Mifery to a Chriftian, is in refpect of that but like a small Wound to a found Body,a little fcratch upon the Skin, which though it may pain a Man a little, and be fomething uneafie, yet may be well enough born, and will heal of it felf, or by the help of proper Remedies, fo long as it touches not the Vitals, nor comes near the great Veffels of Life; but inward

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Mifery,

Mifery the pain and anguish of a Mans own Mind caufed by his Sins and an evil Confcience, is like a dart ftruck through his Liver, like a fword piercing into his Bowels or his very Heart, like a prick upon a Nerve or the most tender and vital part of us, which puts us into Convulfions and Agonies, and scatters all the force and power of our Animal Spirits. When any outward Affliction falls upon a good Man, he has fomething to fupport himself, His heart ftandeth firm, or is fixed trufting in the Lord, Pfal. 112. 7. He has inward fprings of Comfort rifing up in his Mind that fupply it with fresh vigour, and overflow and refresh it with conftant recruits. Under the greatest loffes and disappointments here, he is fure he cannot lofe Heaven if he take care to live well, nor be disappointed of his expectations hereafter; and that at prefent he has a good Providence that will not leave him deftitute or unprovided, but do what is beft for him. Under the greatest Calumny and Slander that others may load him withal, which is as uneafie as any thing to an ingenuous Mind, yet when a Mans

Con