as unnecessary giving him leave to publish and make known after her death so much of her Case as might in some such misery be usefull unto others After this Mr Dod at his appointed time returned having seriously pondered all her business digested the same and was joyfully welcomed of her friends though by her in a muddy strange way former tentations by that time having againe growne somewhat strong upon her when yet hee in his usuall mercifull way cheared her up encouraging her what possibly he could And so in some few dayes after fell flatly upon the businesse how to beat down and convince her erroneous opinions wherein shee was so setled and wherein shee thought her selfe most secure in her owne judgement unremoveably setled The sinne against the Holy Ghost discussed and stated The maine grand matter troubling her and quite unhooking her off from all manner of duties as hath been said was That she had sinned that unpardonable sin against the holy Ghost which shee firmly believed Whereunto Master Dod thus replyed directly crossing all her thoughts herein in the negative affirming that she neither had sinned this sinne nor was ever hitherto so qualified as to be guilty thereof which seemed unto her very strange to prove but was easily done For he shewed unto her our of Heb. 6.4 That those who commit that sin fight against their convinced enlighting having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come having also tasted of the heavenly gift being made partakers of the holy Ghost who in their practise crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame and trample upon the blood of the Covenant maliciously opposing the known truth in a constant course remorselesse unto the end having lived thriven under powerfull means which yet they slight maliciously and purposly oppose and persecute But that shee being still in her natural estate A strong assumption by her own confession being farre from this enlightning never having tasted of this heavenly gift nor of the powers of the world to come was never thus qualified and so had never neither could have committed this sinne so that her temptations and feares in this kinde were but meer delusions onely And for that other sort who committed this sinne without the former inward illumination and taste such as were the Scribes and Pharisees Julian the Apostate and the like who maliciously persecuted and blasphemed Christ notwithstanding that by his Doctrine and Miracles they were convinced of his Diety of this he shewed her shee could not be guilty of All she could alleadge against her selfe consisting only in a matter of thoughts which could not without action and former qualification bee that sinne or within the compasse thereof Which were only things wrapt up in that we call tentatio Foeda strange injected thoughts of God as Rom. 1.23 representing him to the fancy in abominable similitudes likening him unto the vilest and basest things which were only Satans wild fire tentations for which seeing shee even then and since abominated them being sorry for them Satan must answer for they being hers no further then as shee entertained and allowed of them And also that these thoughts being thought of and injected betwixt the top and bottome of the hill whereupon her Fathers house stood never breaking forth into any speech or action which shee was sorry for could not be any such sinne as shee imagined and therfore prayed her to content her selfe and to rest satisfied and not suffer the Devill to delude and torment her any more in this kinde All this discourse shee heard willingly without replication untill he had finished what he would say when shee being very rationall and convinced of the truth of what hee had delivered acknowledged her error and Satans delusion promising no more to entertaine any such like thoughts of that sinne A further complaint But withall shee told him that it was no matter for this though shee were free thereof yet she had other sinnes enough to damne her and was assuredly a Reprobate and cast away being shee could not love God nor any other creature being devoid of all naturall affection and given over to a Reprobate sense so as shee was most certaine that the Decree of God against her was past being that shee had no heart or power to performe any holy duty but was like a creature starke dead yea twice dead good for nothing but for hell fire wherewith shee sometimes would laugh and smile but wee must conceive that even in the midst of this laughter the heart was sad for in private not long after shee would have sore fits of weeping In vaine it was now to dispute with her Knowledge of Gods Decree denyed unto any one or perswade her in any thing untill her judgement was convinced rectified in that matter of the Decree of God For shee flung off all with seeming assurance of her knowledge being sure that the Decree of her reprobation was past of her rejection whereof she was sure and certaine Therefore this being the next strong hold to be battered down he bent in the next place all his strength this way Denying unto her that it was possible either for the Devill or any other creature to know the Decree of God either for salvation or reprobation but that this revelation came in the use of meanes God blessing the same for which cause all must use the meanes who would bee saved not medling with the Decree of God nor prying into his secrets for which then was alledged that excellent Scripture Deut. 30.12 That what they were to performe and know Was not in heaven that we should say Who shall goe up for us to heaven and bring it unto us that we may heare it and doe it Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldest say Who shall goe over the sea for us c. But the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest doe it Further hee urged that if thus much were certainly know by her he shewed her Argu ∣ ment 1 it must be by a Spirit of revelation demanding of her what spirit had revealed thus much unto her If the spirit of the Devill as it could bee no other then he was a liar and the father of lies as Christ Ioh. 8.44 speaks hee speaking of his own and not from God therefore not to believed And as the for the Spirit of God he shewed who only searches knowes and reveales unto us the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 none but hee knowing the things of God not any creature This holy Spirit he shewed her had no such office assigned him of Christ in the word to be a spirit of discouragement to revealed reprobation being the Comforter appointed to lead the Saints in all Truth to reveale and tell things to come and teach us all things Ioh. 14.26 Argu ∣
unjustly against her selfe setting her affections on fire by his injected wild-fire temptations That he made no doubt of her recovery but that now being acquainted with her Case and minde hee would goe home and consult with God what were fittest answers for the same returning ere long againe if God were so pleased then to endeavor to satisfie and heal all her doubtings In the meane time untill then enjoyning her chearefulnesse patience moderation in all things before her Husband and Parents and to attempt no more violence against her selfe all which shee faithfully promised and kept Still shee holds the maine conclusion Hee being gone in his absence shee carried her selfe discreetly and modestly not refusing to speak with any of those Divines who in the interim came to visit her and would sit and dispute with them a long time together but still in the old bias holding her strong maine conclusions the fabrick whereof appeared to be so strongly rooted in her that they seemed unremoveable all who as appeared did no good unto her save so much as they could to perswade her from such stiffe peremptory conclusions against her selfe and from prying into Gods secrets presuming to know those things which God in this life reveales not unto any but reserves as his own high prerogative only to know what his decree is touching the everlasting state of the Creature to come affirming that this knowledge which she pretended to have thereof was false and that this revelation was only known in the sanctified use of meanes which shee so farre refused as she could not be perswaded to goe to Church by any though they much urged her unto it Only now she would kneele and joyn in prayer with them but by no meanes in singing of any Psalme which shee affirmed not to belong unto any in her Case being now very sad and retired and now and then in weeping fits and sometimes in shewes of jollity and mirth so by turnes it pleased her to out-face her present misery Patience moderation and milde dealing much prevails with such But this as a Catholicon we observe in dealing with her that the more patient we were to suffer her to complaine and bemoane her selfe repeat one thing over a hundred times as shee used over and over again giving her good words using much meeknesse affability and service unto her even in her most untoward crosse carriages this got much ground upon her spirit and brought her to doe many things which no harsh crossenesse could possibly effect with her And therefore this couse was now taken not to vex her any more or urge her with perswasions to goe to Church or to doe any thing so displeasing unto her but to goe along with her spirit with patience abounding with love mercy good words and the like untill shee were convinced in judgement when they needed not to hale or pull her Duties would then come off freely For indeed this is the undoing of many poore souls in the like or any distempers to chide rate and urge them to much which is a crosse way displeasing and unprosperous yea disproportionable unto that course Christ takes whom wee should imitate not to break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax and a crosse way To make judgement return unto victory In which Case Iacobs pace with his flocks with such is the best and safest way to drive them gently especially those who are with young in whom Christ is now but abreeding and forming that so he may as the Prophet speaks Isa 53 see of the travell of his soule and be satisfied And indeed such harsh spirits who are too quick with such poor souls being too nimble with them before they know their disease are but like rude Surgions or unskilfull Physitians who venter to give physick before they know the ground of the disease who many times in place of curing doe either kill or so much the more ulcer their wounds Hitherto we have seen Satan malicious A change in her occasions violent subtile various in his temptations changing shapes by all meanes striving to have overthrown this good soule abuse her judgement affections fancy and best reason to fight against her selfe notwithstanding all which the Lord miraculously preserved her was with her in and brought her through this fiery affliction to wonder and admiration Wherefore if the Reader will have a little more patience he shall see how the Lord overthrew all those strong holds which the enemy had by his wild-fire unresisted temptions and fiery darts injected in this good creature which being not presently cast forth againe as wild-fire should be thus enflamed her affections and endeavours against her selfe as in part hath been and God willing shall be related Tempta ∣ tion 1 For first he fastned this temptation upon her as his great maine Bulwork That she had sinned that great unpardonable sinne against the holy Ghost and therefore that it was in vaine for her either to use any meanes for salvation or hope for it and therefore that it were fruitlesse and in vaine for her to heare the word read pray and the like which hee wonderfull fastly had radicated in her Tempta ∣ tion 2 Hereupon hee inferred that by Gods Decree shee was a Reprobate a cast away appointed for damnation being shee was such a hard-hearted impenitent sinner not being able to repent and therefore was a treasurer up in all shee did of wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of Gods just Judgements againsts her and therefore seeing that shee must eternally perish living for heaping up sin only for aggravation of her punishments therefore to make her selfe away the sooner the better which temptation a long time stuck fast seeming unremovable Tempta ∣ tion 3 From whence Satan made this third deduction like a Sophisticall Logitian begging the Question that therefore now it was in vaine to use any meanes at all but seeing her portion was now only in this life therefore to deny her selfe no manner of pleasures or jollity and mirth but to cast off all these sad and soure things of holy duties performing which were to no purpose now that the irrevocable Decree was past which was unchangeable And therefore if shee should bee saved shee should bee saved howsoever and that God would soften her heart and give her grace to use the meanes But that the fearefulnesse of her estate did shew hee suggested the contrary that all her endeavors would prove in vaine this stuck hard a long time Now against any of these nothing could bee fastned upon her against them which was not presently shook off again But especially in that first mentioned of the Sin against the Holy Ghost herein shee kept close the Devils counsell revealing the same at first unto none but unto Mr Dod though afterwards of her selfe three years after being in a good humor shee acquainted the Relator herewith and more also then he hath thought fit to vent abroad
ment 2 This were directly against his nature mission and office and the Decree of God Thus to beat men off the use of meanes discouraging them in the good way who must wait and lie at the doore of mercy still untill the Lords good time and pleasure were revealed and known in the use of meanes And this also was press'd unto her further Argu ∣ ment 3 what a horrible blasphemy and impiety it were either to honour the Devill so farre or assume unto her selfe by his meanes the knowledge of things to come this being that which was only proper unto Iehovah himselfe by his spirit to shew and reveale advising her to beware in this kinde not to encrease the wrath of God against her seeing God Isa 44.7 46.10 differencing himselfe from Idols and all their discoveries is to know things that are come and a comming declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that were not yet done From all which issued this deduction that shee was infinitly abused in this strange conception and that the Devill or shee from him were not certaine of any things to come unlesse revealed by the Spirit of God shee having from thence no such revelation that therefore she was by Satan utterly cozened and abused in the matter of Gods Decree and so was bound to use the meanes trust and wait upon God therein shee being his creature to let him do what he pleased with her either in life or death This strong fiery dart thus repulsed quenched shee became also convinced in this point that only God not the Devill could reveale his owne Counsels and Decrees and therefore that perhaps shee might bee deceived in this her strong confidence in that kinde But still retaining the third That her indisposition unto all manner of goodnesse Satan holds hard having once got ground pronenesse unto all manner of evill her naturall temper and composition of minde not able to use any meanes or take any paines for heaven too evidently demonstrated that shee had no part or portion there and therefore that she had better leave off all then labor in vaine Answ 1 Hereunto answer was made That God though he had Decreed to save mankinde by the meanes of a Mediator yet in his good wise Providence had so ordered the conveyance of our salvation as Austin speaks that he who made us without us The use of meanes is strongly pressed upon her to bee saved will not save us without us therefore that all our life time we must be humble sutors labourers after endeavourers and strivers after that salvation which he hath appointed for us using all those meanes constantly and not to lie still in a ditch without endeavouring to rise and to cry Lord help us such a one hee told her did worthily perish It was further now also press'd unto her that God now after that miracle of all miracles in the sending his Sonne to assume our flesh and save us now ordinarily wrought not the same miraculously but by ordinary concurring meanes and endeavours revealed in the word that as those who in the Wildernesse were stung by the fiery Serpents were not healed unlesse they looked up unto the Brazen Serpent no more any now could obtaine salvation unlesse they believed in christ its antitype Argu ∣ ment or motive 1 And that therefore if she used not the meanes but rejected and wilfully withstood the same as there was no hope any way of salvation so if she used the meanes there being hope and many promises annexed to the same there was good hope of her salvation Argu ∣ ment or motive 2 And put the case which hee denyed that she must needs perish yet much better it were to perish in a way of obedience and duty full of hope all the way and usually successefull whereunto were annexed many promises wherein the truth of god who cannot lie but is faithfull in all his promises is engaged then in a wilfull way of disobedience Argu ∣ ment or motive 3 That all experiences since the beginning of the world have shewed that it never yet was in vaine or unsuccessefull but alwayes advantageous and prosperous to use the meanes waite and depend upon God yea though it were as long and longer then the impotent man Ioh. 5. lay at the poole of Bethesda ere hee had help And therefore seeing her case was now just like those foure Leapers who sate at the Gate of Samaria 2 Kin. 4. Motive 4 pressed home Who being like to perish in that great famine resolved if and since they must needs perish if they sate still there but if they adventured into the Campe of the Aramites they might peradventure be saved at the worst but die at their approach thither finding the Amarites fled they had choyce of the spoyle So if shee used not the meanes but despised them shee must of necessity perish but if used shee might no question be saved And so to this effect were urged those places Micah 2.7 O thou that art called by the name of the house of Jacob is the Spirit of the Lord straigthned and those his doings doe not my words doe good to them that walk uprightly and this Seek yee the Lord all yee meek of the earth which have wrought his judgement seek Righteousnesse and seek meeknesse It may bee yee shall bee hid in the day of the Lords anger Zeph. 2.3 And so that of Amos 4.12 Therefore this will I doe unto thee O Israel and because I will doe these things unto thee prepare thy selfe to meet thy God O Israel even that God who is said Amos 5.8 to turn the shadow of death into the morning all which put her on strongly unto the matter of endevour seeing as it is Micah 4.12 None know the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his counsell so that their being a possibility for ought shee could know to use the meanes as she was able there was an absolute necessity for her to submit her selfe unto the meanes These and the like things thus deliverd did much amaze her spirit to have beene thus farre deluded and mistaken in her own Case and wherein shee was so setled resolute and confident unto all which shee at length made this Reply Her convinced answer That now she was convinced and did certainly believe that none but God knew things that were to come that shee had erred in judgement in so thinking of her selfe That the desperate Case and estate shee was in had caused her to make such conclusions against her selfe That now shee believed the Devill had no knowledge of Gods Decrees concerning the everlasting estate of the creature no more then pleased God to reveale unto him That she was contented to do what shee could in using of the meanes if shee might bee assured to reape any benefit thereby But that the accidentall indisposition both of her body and minde were such as shee in this Case
verse 30. corrects the same thus For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep c. Which shewes the meaning onely is that such endure sometimes temporall punishments who yet may bee saved and goe to Heaven So that still the generall holds in equity as in and under the Law that Gods Ordinance in the Sacrament is not to bee neglected of us for our unsufficiency and unfitnesse for the same no more then under the Law during the Passeover because it may be a meanes to fit Let the scrupulous note this well heale cure strengthen revive quicken and enable us to be worthy Receivers For we come not to bring vertue unto the Sacrament but to receive vertue life strength and quickning from thence And that howsoever in this case we be qualified it were best to be obedient and use the meanes all which with much more the Relator remembers not was set on with more excellent illustrations exhortations and pithy remonstrances which discourse being finished she became in this also convinced in judgement that shee promised him thus farre to submit herselfe yet further unto the meanes that shee would now also goe unto the Sacrament Onely in this Case she begg'd exemption not to be urged because shee could not neither was able by her selfe to performe any private duties of prayer or reading of the Word constantly whereunto because they would not over drive her put her beyond her strength or molest her spirit they spared to urge her contented with what they could with gentlenesse and entreaty perswade her unto A very strange experience and wonderfull Yet it is most strange to heare how the Lord dealt with her in one thing wherein she delighted and was hardly broken off viz. Shee had a custome in tumbling over of the Bible to put her finger suddenly upon some one verse as it hit saying now whatsoever my finger is upon is just my Case whatsoever it bee and my doome But so the Lord directed all her fingers so put that looking upon the verse still it was found encouraging and comfortable not discouraging whereupon being much prayed and entreated seeing hitherto shee had found all places to speak for her that shee would desist and not any more thus tempt God who prayd that shee might doe but once more so it being in the presence of many promising faithfully that after that one time she would never do so any more to attempt any such tryall Whereupon at length all adventured to suffer her once more to see what Gods providence would prove in so strange a Case But withall if some crosse place came they prayed her not to bee discouraged whereupon shee suddenly opened the Book about the middle thereof in the Prophesie of Isaiah and without looking or reading a word or knowing what shee did she put her finger upon that excellent vers Isa 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my way is hid from the Lord hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding hee giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles and they shall walk and not faint Which place being considered of and read so crossing her hopes and expectation made her being much abashed to blush For therein shee was reproved for her crosse conceits of God touching her as neglected of the Almighty and for all her weaknesse and imperfections was shewed that God could help all who with a word made heaven and earth enabling her to doe all duties at his good pleasure being therewith encouraged to wait and depend upon God in the use of meanes by such an excellent promise And so was therewith shewed how good God was unto her every way shewing love notwithstanding her untowardnesse and tempting of him by such signes At which not knowing what to say shee flung off poorely saying Object this was promised to Iacob and Israel It was nothing unto her and her Case Answ Whereunto answer was made out of that place Rom. 15. Whatsoever was written before hand was written for our learning that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope and so was thereby vanquished in judgement that she promised now to be satisfied and never any more to make any such tryall but to offer her selfe unto the use of meanes and to wait the Lords leisure what hee pleased to doe with her Yet still alleadging the impotency in her that she was able to doe nothing herein towards this great work but that God must doe all when being enabled shee would doe that whereunto she should be strengthned Shee is perswaded to joyne in singing of some sort of Psalms Yet wanted there one thing more to gether to joyn in singing of Psalmes which with much adoe shee was brought unto alleadging that her Case admitted of no such melody neither had shee cause to sing but to mourn all her life time Yet being told that it was a duty to sing prayses unto God for all his mervellous mercies power and goodnesse as well as to joyn in hearing of the Word and that thanksgiving being the everlasting work of Heaven in continuall praysing of God was a work could not be too soone begun upon earth and that the Psalmes being of divers compositions and postures of thanksgiving petition gratulation complaint and deprecation shee might joyne in some many of which might fit her Case shee was contented to joyn in Psalmes of complaint petition mourning and deprecation but in no other of any acknowledgement of any mercy received For said she If I be onely reserved as a stalled Oxe unto the slaughter what cause have I to give thanks and if I be not to goe to Heaven what have I to doe with the work of Heaven before the time or having some work wrought in me whereby I may be assured of my interest therein Why shee would have lived under a powerful Ministry About this time willingly shee would have live under some powerful Ministry hoping that thereby some such work might be wrought upon her as might enable her to performe duties and for this cause secretly made the Relator goe into Essex to try whether or not that worthy powerfull late thundering Preacher Mr Rogers of Dedham would have entertained her at his house who willingly granted the same But when the businesse was moved unto her Father and Mother neither they nor her Husband would consent unto the same though Mr Dod and Mr Culvervell both affected to have gone with her so too indulgent were they over her which refusall much unhookt her spirit and had almost put her in her former Case
posture of strength shee was now in In a strange objecting disputing way followed by Satans temptations and prompted with strong objections against her selfe So that now her great want was of an able man to be continually with her to dispute constantly with all her temptations and objections able to answer and crush all This and such a Helper did God in his infinite mercy in the next place provide for her Another fit help succeeds to Mâ—ster Dad. For it pleased God in his wise providence so to order the matter that her Husbands Cure at Esher being a Donative and not a Presentative endownment was voyde and to bee disposed of In which interim notice was given unto him of one Mr Hooker then at Cambridge now in New-England A great Schollar an acute Disputant a strong learned a wise modest man every way rarely qualified who being a Non-conformitan in judgement not willing to trouble himselfe with Presentative Livings was contented and perswaded by Mr Dod to accept of that poore Living of 40 l. per annum Mr Drake her Husband being a worthy welbeloved Gentleman and able to procure his liberty and retaine him still in the same This worthy man accepted of the Place having withall his dyet and lodging at Esher Mr Drakes house and so by this meanes as to free Mr Dod from his toile and trouble so to be at all assayes ready to mannage and work her spirit encounter all her objections espie all Satans windings and turnings and catch her at all non-plus advantages being acute quick nimble-witted well skild in knowing and opening of the Scriptures withall a good Logitian a strong Disputant as he could well doe And so the good old man as occasion served sending and writing unto her after divers sad and serious discourses with her wherein shee covenanted to observe all promises past retaining her former resolutions in those things wherin in judgement she was convinced he was for that time lovingly dismissed and rewarded largely by her Parents This man Mr Hooker being a good acute smart Preacher when he listed besides that information Mr Dod had given him was so wise first to trie her spirit to finde her disposition using her with much mildnesse love ere he would adventure to meddle with her spirit chusing rather that way made from her might usher the way unto his discourse then that at first hee should enforce any thing upon her Which was not long in suspence for now having a fit person to rough hew her as it were whom shee could neither weary out nor over-come in Argument but was able to discerne and catch Satan in all his Sophismes there every way fell out strong disputes betwixt them But all within the compasse of those former things wherein Mr Dod before had convinced her Satan delighting still to rase new uprores in her and as his custome is not to suffer us to be at peace though we be out of danger Such now were his practises anew to winde up his old bottomes and to renew disputes even in those things she was convinced of For Mr Hooker being newly come from the University had a new answering methode though the same things wherewith shee was mervellously delighted and being very covetous of knowledge was pleased with new disputes and objections to fasten further upon her selfe those forementioned things still further and further sifting into the same old Truths whereof shee was well perswaded and as is said convinced Yet could not he so evenly hold the ballance in mannaging of her spirit but that now and then shee would flie out By degrees she is sometimes off hooks still in many distempers wishing to leave off all for shee now saw that there was no remedy the meanes did not work nor prove effectuall unto her To what purpose should shee any more labour in vaine But especially towards the Sacrament then usuaally shee would be off hooks either not comming or unwillingly if shee did Upon whom this place for her waiting and depending upon God was strongly urged Hab. 3. ult That the vision of Gods deliverances was for an appointed time therefore to wait for though it tarried yet it should come and not tarry and that also of Isai 8. I will wait upon the Lord who hath hid his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him affirming unto her that these and the like hard travels were incident unto Gods best beloved people to have many hard and long trialls and yet at length glorious deliverances as was alledged from that place Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Nations of the earth therefore I will punish you for your iniquities which God may doe forgiving the sinne though bee take vengeance of their inventions And that Heb. 12. what sonne is there whom the Father chasteneth not If therefore yee bee without correction whereof all are partakers then are yee bastards and not sonnes Which with the like insinuations from the word closely urged brought down her spirit to mildnesse and meeknesse For though her indisposition and temptations made her many times contrary unto her naturall disposition harsh and untoward with the habite shee had accrewed in time to be crosse and try those soundly shee conversed with yet this happy endowment shee had to be very rationall according unto her conception and would be set down and satisfied with pregnant places of Scripture being seasonably press'd and lovingly opened unto her But the matter of repentance much troubled her Quest of repentance discussed that she could not repent demanding Whether it were possible for her to goe to Heaven without Repentance Hereunto was answered First Sol. I. That God did not tie salvation unto any measure of repentance but might at his pleasure save especially where there were no grosse sinnes to dam up mercies gates whereof praised bee God shee was free Secondly That God exacted no more of his creatures then he gave unto them as the Apostle to the the Corinths writes If there be first a willing minde accepting of us not according unto those things we have not but according unto those things we have And therefore that her weak desires and measure whatsoever given might be accepted of God For shee could not deny but her wishes were that she might repent and she was in some sort sorry for her indisposition and hardnesse of heart which being a burthen and a kinde of griefe unto her was so a kinde and sore of repentance Therefore was shee exhorted to be patient and not to limite the Holy One of Israel nor prescribe the fountaine and depth of all wisedome which were the best way to bring her unto Heaven but to submit her selfe unto the good pleasure of God trust hope with the best and use the meanes Thirdly Further alleadging unto her That it was not the greatnesse number or continuance of our sinnes that could stop mercy from us but finall impenitency and obduration Fourthly Repentance being the