2. And when you have found out your sin, give it vent by confession
Now for the ways whereby we must labour to comfort our hearts (amongst many that I might speak of), I will name a few.
First of all, there must be a due search into the heart, of the grounds of our trouble; for oftentimes Christians are troubled, they cannot tell wherefore; as children that will complain they know not why. I speak not of hypocrites, that will complain of that which is not a true grief to them; like some birds that make greatest noise, when they be furthest from their nests. But of some poor Christians that are troubled, but distinctly know not the ground of it. But search the heart ingenuously and truly to the bottom of it, and see if there be not some Achan in the camp; some sin in the heart (for sin is like wind; when it gets into the veins, it will have vent, and a troublesome one; and so will sin, if it get into the soul). It is that indeed which causeth all trouble. And therefore search your hearts thoroughly; what sin lieth there unrepented of, and for which you have not been humbled.
2. And when you have found out your sin, give it vent by confession of it to God, and in some cases to others.
3. And when we have done so, consider what promises, and comforts, in that word of God are fitted to that condition. For we can be in no condition but there are comforts for it, and promises fitted to yield comforts for every malady. And it will be the wisdom of a Christian to accommodate the remedy to the sore of his heart. And therefore we ought to be skilful and well seen in the word of God, that we may store up comforts beforehand. Our Saviour Christ tells them beforehand of the scandal of the cross, and of Peter's denial, that they might lay up strength and spiritual armour against the day of trial. Those comforts do not, for the most part, hold out in the day of adversity, which were not procured in the day of prosperity. Non