st our pontifical
writers. But because these men's works are not to all parties at hand, so
parable at all times, I will for the benefit and ease of such as are
afflicted, at the request of some [6756]friends, recollect out of their
voluminous treatises, some few such comfortable speeches, exhortations,
arguments, advice, tending to this subject, and out of God's word, knowing,
as Culmannus saith upon the like occasion, [6757]"how unavailable and vain
men's councils are to comfort an afflicted conscience, except God's word
concur and be annexed, from which comes life, ease, repentance," &c.
Presupposing first that which Beza, Greenham, Perkins, Bolton, give in
charge, the parties to whom counsel is given be sufficiently prepared,
humbled for their sins, fit for comfort, confessed, tried how they are more
or less afflicted, how they stand affected, or capable of good advice,
before any remedies be applied: to such therefore as are so thoroughly
searched and examined, I address this following discourse.

Two main antidotes, [6758]Hemmingius observes, opposite to despair, good
hope out of God's word, to be embraced; perverse security and presumption
from the devil's treachery, to be rejected; _Illa solus animae, haec
pestis_; one saves, the other kills, _occidit animam_, saith Austin, and
doth as much harm as despair itself, [6759]Navarrus the casuist reckons up
ten special cures out of Anton. _1. part. Tit. 3. cap. 10._ 1. God. 2.
Physic. 3. [6760]Avoiding such objects as have caused it. 4. Submission of
himself to other men's judgments. 5. Answer of all objections, &c. All
which Cajetan, Gerson, _lib. de vit. spirit._ Sayrus, _lib. 1. cons. cap.
14._ repeat and approve out of Emanuel Roderiques, _cap. 51 et 52._
Greenham prescribes six special rules, Culmannus seven. First, to
acknowledge all help come from God. 2. That the cause of their present
misery is sin. 3. To repent and be heartily sorry for their sins. 4. To
pray earnestly to God they may be eased. 5. To expect and implore the
prayers of the church, and good men's advice. 6. Physic. 7. To commend
themselves to God, and rely upon His mercy: others, otherwise, but all to
this effect. But forasmuch as most men in this malady are spiritually sick,
void of reason almost, overborne by their miseries, and too deep an
apprehension of their sins, they cannot apply themselves to good counsel,
pray, believe, repent, we must, as much as in us lies, occur and help their
pecul