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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53700	Gospel grounds and evidences of the faith of God's elect shewing : I. The nature of true saving faith, in securing of the spiritual comfort of believers in this life, is of the highest importance, II. The way wherein true faith doth evidence it self in the soul and consciences of believers, unto their supportment and comfort, under all their conflicts with sin, in all their tryals and temptations, III. Faith will evidence it self, by a diligent, constant endeavour to keep it self and all grace in due exercise, in all ordinances of divine worship, private and publick, IV. A peculiar way whereby true faith will evidence it self, by bringing the soul into a state of repentance / by John Owen ...	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1695 (1695)	Wing O759; ESTC R9544	55,512	98

a strict Course of Mortification and Penitence and they always laid the Foundation of it in a Renunciation of the World but they fell most of them into a threefold Mistake which ruined the whole Undertaking For 1. THEY fell into a Neglect of such natural and moral Duties as were indispensibly required of them They forsook all Care of Duties belonging unto them in their Relations as Fathers Children Husbands Wives and the like betaking themselves into Solitudes and hereby also they lost all that Political and Christian Usefulness which the Principles of Humane Society and of our Religion do oblige us unto They took themselves unto a Course of Life rendring the most important Christian Duties such as respect other Men of all sorts in all fruits of Love utterly impossible unto them They could be no more useful nor helpful in the Places and Circumstances wherein they were set by Divine Providence which was a way wherein they could not expect any Blessing from God No such thing is required unto that Renunciation of the World which we design with nothing that should render Men useless unto all men doth Christian Duties interfere We are still to use the World whilst we are in it but not abuse it As we have Opportunity we must still do good unto all Yea none will be so ready to the Duties of Life as those who are most mortified to the World Thoughts of Retirement from Usefulness unless a great Decay of outward strength are but Temptations 2. THEY engaged themselves into a number of Observances no where required of them such were their outward Austerities Fastings Choice of Meats Times of Prayer whereunto at length Self-maceration and Disciplines were added In a Scrupulous Superstitious Obervance of these things their whole design at length issued giving rise and Occasion unto innumerable Evils Faith directs to no such thing it guides to no Duty but according to the Rule of the Word 3. AT length they began to engage themselves by Vow into such peculiar Orders and Rules of a pretended Religious Life as were by some of their Leaders presented unto them and this ruined the whole HOWEVER the Original Design was good namely such a Renuntiation of the World as might keep it and all the things of it from being an hindrance unto us in an humble Walk before God or any thing that belongs thereunto We are to be crucified unto the World and the World unto us by the Cross of Christ we are to be so in a peculiar manner if we are under the Conduct of Faith in a way of Humiliation and Repentance And the things ensuing are required hereunto 1. THE Mortification of our Affections unto the desirable things of this Life they are naturally keen and sharp set upon them and do tenaciously adhere vnto them Especially they are so when things have an Inlet into them by nearness of Relation as Husbands Wives Children and the like Persons are apt to think they can never love them enough never do enough for them and it is granted they are to be preferred above all other earthly things but where they fill and possess the Heart where they weaken and obtund the Affections unto things Spiritual Heavenly and Eternal unless we are mortified unto them the Heart will never be in a good Frame nor is capable of that degree in the Grace of Repentance which we seek It is so with the most as unto all other useful things in this World as Wealth Estates and Peace Whilst they are conversant about them as they suppose in a lawful manner they think they can never over-value them nor cleave too close unto them BUT here we must begin if we intend to take any one Step into this holy Retirement The Edge of our Affections and Desires must be taken off from these things And hereunto three things are necessary 1. A constant clear View and Judgment of their Uncertainty Emptiness and Disability to give any Rest or Satisfaction Uncertain Riches uncertain Enjoyments perishing Things passing away yea Snares Burthens Hindrances the Scripture represents them to be and so they are If the Mind were continually charged home with this consideration of them it would daily abate its Delight and Satisfaction in them 2. A constant Endeavour for Conformity unto Christ crucified it is the Cross of Christ whereby we are crucified unto the World and all things in it When the Mind is much taken up with Thoughts of Christ as dying how and for what he dyed if it hath any Spark of saving Faith in it it will turn away the Eyes from looking on the desirable things of this World with any delightful friendly Aspect Things will appear unto it as dead and discoloured 3. THE fixing of them steadily on things spiritual and eternal whereof I have discoursed at large elsewhere The whole of this Advice is given us by the Apostle Col. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. HEREIN Faith begins its Work this is the first Lesson it takes out of the Gospel namely that of Self-denial whereof this Mortification is a principal part Herein it labours to cast off every Burthen and the Sin that doth so easily beset us Unless some good Degree be attained here all further Attempts in this great Duty will be fruitless Do you then any of you judge your selves under any of those Qualifications before mentioned which render this Duty and Work of Faith necessary unto you sit down here at the Threshold and reckon with your selves that unless you can take your Hearts more off from the World unless your Affections and Desires be mortified and crucified and dead in you in a sensible degree and measure unless you endeavour every day to promote the same frame in your Minds you will live and dye Strangers to this Duty 2. THIS Mortification of our Affections towards these things our Love Desire and Delight will produce a Moderation of Passions about them as Fear Anger Sorrow and the like such will Men be stirred up unto in those Changes Losses Crosses which these things are subject unto They are apt to be tender and soft in those things they take every thing to Heart every Affliction and Disappointment is aggravated as if none almost had such things befall them as themselves Every thing puts them into a Commotion Hence are they often surprized with Anger about Trifles influenced by Fear in all Changes with other turbulent Passions hence are Men morose peevish froward apt to be displeased and take offence on all Occasions the subduing of this Frame the casting out of these Dispositions and perverse Inclinations is part of the Work of Faith When the Mind is weaned from the World and the things of it it will be sedate quiet composed not easily moved with the Occurences and Occasions of Life It is dead unto them and in a great measure inconcerned in them this is that Moderation of Mind wherein the Apostle would have us excel Phil. 4. 5. For he would have it so

by the Tergiversation of the Flesh unto Duties that are cross unto its Inclinations and Interests sometimes the World threatens the utmost Dangers unto the Performance of some Duties of Religion but none of these are able to provoke the Soul that is under the Conduct of Faith to dislike to think hard of any of those ways and Duties whence these difficulties arise And 2. AS it will not dislike any thing in this way of Holiness so it will not desire on any Occasion that there should be any Alteration in it or any Abatement of it or of any thing required in it Naaman the Syrian liked well of the Worship of the true God in general but he would have an Abatement of Duty as to one Instance in compliance with his earthly Interest which discovered his Hypocrisie Such Imaginations may befall the Minds of Men that if they might be excused in this or that Instance unto Duties that are dangerous and troublesome like Profession in the Times of Persecution or might be indulged in this or that sin which either their Inclinations are very prone unto or their secular Interest do call for they should do well enough with all other things Accordingly the Practice of many doth answer their Inclination and Desire they will profess Religion and Obedience unto God but will keep back part of the Price will hide a Wedge in their Tents through Indulgence unto some Corruption or Dislike of some Duties in their Circumstancees They would give unto themselves the measure of their Obedience and according as Mens Practice is so do they desire that things indeed should be that that Practice should please God which pleaseth them This Faith abhorrs the Soul that is under the Conduct of it is not capable of any one Desire that any thing were otherwise than it is in the will of God concerning our Holiness and Obedience no more than it can desire that God should not be what he is No though any Imagination should arise in it that by some Change and Abatement in some instances it might be saved which now is uncertain whether that be so or no it will admit of no such Composition but will choose to stand or fall unto the entire Will of God WE shall therefore in the next place proceed to enquire on what Grounds it is that Faith doth thus approve of the whole Will of God as unto our Holiness and Obedience as also how it evidenceth it self so to do And these Grounds are two tho one respecting God the other our own Souls 1. FAITH looks on the Holiness required of us as that which is suited unto the Holiness of God himself as that which it is meet for him to require on the Account of his own Nature and the infinite Perfections thereof the Rule is Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy I require that of you which becometh and answereth my own Holiness because I am holy it is necessary that you should be so if you are mine in a peculiar manner your Holiness is that which becometh my Holiness to require WE have before declared what this Gospel Holiness is wherein it doth consist and what is required thereunto and they may be all considered either as they are in us inherent in us and performed by us or as they are in themselves in their own Nature and in the Will of God In the first way I acknowledge that by reason of our Weaknesses Imperfections and partial Renovation only as to degrees in this Life with our manifold Defects and Sins they make not a clear Representation of the Holiness of God However they are the best Image of it even as in the meanest of Believers that this World can afford but in themselves and their own Nature as it lies in the Will of God they make up the most glorious Representation of himself that God ever did or will grant in this World especially if we comprize therein the Exemplification of it in the humane Nature of Christ himself for the Holiness that is in Believers is of the same Nature and Kind with that which was and is in Jesus Christ though his exceed theirs inconceivably in Degrees of Perfection WHEREFORE we are required to be holy as the Lord our God is holy and perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect which we could not be but that in our Holiness and Perfection there is a Resemblance and Answerableness unto the Holiness and Perfection of God And if a due Sense hereof were continually upon our Hearts it would influence us into greater Care and Diligence in all Instances of Duty and Sin than for the most part we do attain unto and preserve If we did on all Occasions sincerely and severely call our selves to an Account whether our Frames Ways and Actions bear a due Resemblance unto the Holiness and Perfections of God it would be a spiritual Preservative on all Occasions FAITH I say then discerneth the Likeness of God in this Holiness and every Part of it sees it as that which becomes him to require and thereon approves of it reverencing God in it all and it doth so in all the parts of it in all that belongs unto it 1. IT doth so principally in the inward form of it which we before described in the new Creature the new Nature the Reparation of the Image of God that is in it In the Beauty hereof it continually beholds the Likeness and Glory of God For it is created 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according unto God after him or in his Image in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4. 24. The new Man is renewed after the Image of him that created him Col. 3. 10. WHEN God first created all things the Heavens and the Earth with all that is contained in them he left such Foot-steps and Impressions of his infinite Wisdom Goodness and Power on them that they might signifie and declare his Perfection his Eternal Power and Godhead yet did he not he is not said to have created them in his own Image And this was because they were only a passive Representation of him in the Light of others and not in themselves nor did they represent at all that wherein God will be principally glorified among his Creatures namely the universal Rectitude of his Nature in Righteousness and Holiness But of Man it is said peculiarly and only that he was made in the Image and Likeness of God and this was because in the Rectitude of his Nature he represented the Holiness and Righteousness of God which is the only use of an Image This was lost by Sin Man in his fallen Condition doth no more represent God there is nothing in him that hath any thing of the Likeness or Image of God in it all is dead dark perverse and confused this new Nature whereof we speak is created of God for this very end that it may a blessed Image and Representation of the Holiness and Righteousness of God Hence it is

at all herein for Grace may be very high where where Gifts are very low and that frequently AND it may be others will complain of the meaness of their Gifts on whom they attend in Prayer which is such as they cannot accompany them in the Exercise of any Grace I answer 1. There is no doubt but that there is a great Difference in the spiritual Gifts of Men in this matter some being much more effectual unto Edification than others 2. Take care that you are called in Providence and Duty to join with them whom you intend that you do not first voluntarily choose that which is unto your Disadvantage and then complain of it 3. Be their Gifts never so mean if Grace in their own Hearts be exercised by it so it may be in ours where there is no Evidence thereof I confess the Case is hard 4. Let the mind be still fixed on the matter or things uttered in Prayer so as to close with and act Faith about what is a real Object of it and it will find its proper work in that duty The Fourth Evidence of the Faith of God's Elect. I Come in the next place to instance in a peculiar way whereby true Faith will evidence it self not always but on some Occasions and this is by bringing the Soul into a state of Repentance And three things must be spoken unto 1. In general what I intend by this state of Repentance 2. What are the Times and Occasions or who are the Persons wherein Faith will act it self unto this End 3. What are the Duties required unto such a state 1. BY this state of Repentance I do not understand meerly the Grace and Duty of Evangelical Repentance For this is absolutely inseparable from true Faith and no less necessary unto Salvation than it self He that doth not truly and really repent of sin whatever he profess himself to believe he is no true Believer But I intend now somewhat that is peculiar that is not common unto all whereby on some Occasions Faith doth evidence its Power and Sincerity NEITHER yet do I mean a Grace Duty or State that is of another kind or nature from that of Gospel-Repentance which is common to all Believers There are not two kinds of true Repentance nor two different states of them that are truly penitent All that I intend is an eminent Degree of Gospel-Repentance in the Habit or Root and in all the Fruits and Effects of it There are various Degrees in the Power and Exercise of Gospel-Graces and some may be more eminent in one and some in another as Abraham and Peter in Faith David and John in Love And there may be Causes and Occasions for the greater and higher Exercise of some Graces and Duties at one time than at another for we are to attend unto Duties according unto our Circumstances so as we may glorifie God in them and Advantage our own Souls So the Apostle James directs us Chap. 5. 13. Is any afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalms Several States and various Circumstances in them call for the peculiar Exercise of several Graces and the diligent Performance of several Duties And this is that which is here intended namely a peculiar constant prevalent Exercise of the Grace and Duties of Repentance in a singular manner What is required hereunto shall be afterwards declared 2. As unto the Persons in whom this is required and in whom Faith will evidence it self by it they are of various sorts 1. SUCH as have been by the power of their Corruptions and Temptations surprized into great sins That some true Believers may be so we have Presidents both in the Old Testament and in the New Such I mean as Uncleanness Drunkenness Gluttony Theft Premeditated Lying Oppression in Dealing and sailing in Profession in the time of Persecution This latter in the Primitive Church was never thought recoverable but by Faith acting it self in a state of Repentance Such Sins will have great Sorrows as we see in Peter and the incestuous Corinthian who was in danger to be swallowed up of overmuch Sorrow 2 Cor. 2. 1. Where it hath been thus with any true Faith will immediately work for a Recovery by a through Humiliation and Repentance as it did in Peter And in case that any of them shall lye longer under the power of sin through want of effectual Convictions it will cost them dear in the Issue as it did David but in this Case for the most part Faith will not rest in the meer joynting again the Bone that was broken or with such a Recovery as gives them Peace with God and their own Consciences but by a just and due Remembrance of the Nature of their Sin its Circumstances and Aggravations the shameful Unkindness towards God that was in it the Grief of the Holy Spirit and Dishonour of Christ by it it will decline and dispose the Soul to a humble contrite Frame to a mournful Walking and the universal Exercise of Repentance all its Days AND indeed where it doth not so Mens Recovery from great Sins are justly to be questioned as unto their Sincerity For want hereof it is that we have so many palliated Cures of great sins followed with fearful and dangerous Relapses if a man subject to great Corruptions and Temptations hath by them been surprised into great actual sin and been seemingly recovered through Humiliation and Repentance if he again break the yoke of this stated Repentance whereof we speak he will quickly again be ovorcome and perhaps irrecoverably Herein he alone that walketh softly walketh safely 2. IT is necessary for such as have given Scandal and Offence by their Miscarriages this will stick very close unto any who hath the least spark of saving Faith It is that which God is in a peculiar manner provoked with in the sins of his People as in the Case of David 2 Sam. 12. 14. So also Ezek. 36. 20. Rom. 2. 24. This keeps alive the Remembrance of sin and sets it before Men continually and is a spring in a gracious Soul of all Acts and Duties of Repentance it was so in David all his days and probably in Mary Magdalen also Where it hath been thus with any Faith will keep the Soul in an humble and contrite frame watchful against Pride Elation of Mind Carelesness and Sloath it will recover godly Sorrow and Shame with Revenge or Self-reflection in great Abasement of Mind all which things belong to the state of Repentance intended They that can easily shake of a Sense of Scandal given by them have very little of Christian Ingenuity in their Minds 3. IT is so unto such as have perplexing Lusts and Corruptions which they cannot so subdue but that they will be perplexing and desiling of them For where there are such they will in Conjunction with Temptations frequently disquiet wound and desile the Soul This brings upon it weariness and Outeries for Deliverance Rom. 7. 24. In this State

Faith will put the Soul on Prayer Watchfulness Diligence in Opposition unto the Deceit and Violence of sin But this is not all it will not rest here but it will give the Mind such a Sense of its distressed dangerous Condition as shall fill it constantly with godly Sorrow Self-abasement and all Duties of Repentance No man can hold out in such a Conflict nor maintain his Peace on right Grounds who doth not live in the constant Exercise of Repentance indeed who doth not endeavour in some measure to come up unto that State of it which we shall afterwards describe For Men who have untameable Corruptions working continually in their Minds by Imaginations Thoughts and Affections to think to carry it in a general way of Duties and Profession they will be mistaken if they look either for Victory or Peace This sort of men are of all others most peculiarly called unto this State and Duty 4. SUCH as would be found Mourners for the sins of the Age Place and Time wherein they live with the Consequents of them in the Dishonour of God and the Judgments which will ensue thereon There are times wherein this is an especial and eminent Duty which God doth highly approve of Such are they wherein the visible Church is greatly corrupted and open Abominations are found amongst Men of all sorts even as it is at this day then doth the Lord declare how much he values the Performance of this Duty as he testifies Ezek. 9. 4. They alone shall be under his especial Care in a day of publick Distress and Calamity A Duty wherein it is to be feared that we are most of us very defective Now the frame of Heart required hereunto cannot be attained nor the Duty rightly performed without that state of Repentance and Humiliation which we enquire into without it we may have transcient Thoughts of these things but such as will very little affect our Minds But where the Soul is kept in a constant spiritual Frame it will be ready for this Duty on all Occasions 5. IT becomes them who having passed through the greatest part of their Lives do find all outward things to issue in Vanity and Vexation of Spirit as it was with Solomon when he wrote his Ecclesiastes When a Man recounts the various Scenes and Appearances of things which he hath passed through in his Life and the various Conditions he hath been in he may possibly find that there is nothing steady but Sorrow and Trouble It may be so with some I say with some good Men with some of the best Men as it was with Jacob Others may have received more satisfaction in their Course but if they also will look back they shall find how little there hath been in the best of their transcient Comforts they will see enough to make them say there is nothing in these things it is high Time to take off all Expectations from them Such persons seem to be called unto this especial Exercise of Repentance and Mourning for the Remainder of their Lives 6. SUCH as whose Hearts are really wounded and deeply affected with the Love of Christ so as that they can hardly bear any longer absence from him nor delight in the things wherein they are detained and kept out of his presence This frame the Apostle describes 2 Cor. 5. 2 4 6 8. They live in a groaning Condition throughly sensible of all the Evils that accompany them in this absence of the Bridegroom and they cannot but continually reflect upon the Sins and Follies which their Lives have been and are filled withall in this their Distance from Christ Whereas therefore their Hearts are filled with inflamed Affections towards him they cannot but walk humbly and mournfully until they come unto him It may be said that those who have Experience of such Affection unto the Lord Jesus cannot but have continual matter of Joy in themselves and so of all Men have least need of such a state of constant Humiliation and Repentance I say it is so indeed they have such matter of Joy and therewith Christ will be formed in them more and more every day But I say also there is no Inconsistency between spiritual Joy in Christ and godly Sorrow for Sin Yea no man in this Life shall ever be able to maintain solid Joy in his Heart without the continual working of godly Sorrow also Yea there is a secret Joy and Refreshment in godly Sorrow equal unto the chiefest of our Joys and a great spiritual Satisfaction THESE several Sorts of Persons I say are peculiarly called unto that Exercise of Faith in Repentance which we enquire after BEFORE I proceed to shew wherein this state I intend doth consist and what is required thereunto which is the last thing proposed I shall premise some Rules for the right judging of our selves with respect unto them As 1. FAITH will evidence its Truth which is that we enquire after in its sincere endeavour after the things intended though its Attainments as unto some of them be but mean and low Yea a sense of its coming short in a full answering of them or Compliance with them is a great Ingredient in that state called unto If therefore Faith keep up this design in the Soul with a sincere pursuit of it though it fail in many things and is not sensible of any great Progress it makes it will therein evidence its Sincerity 2. WHEREAS there are sundry things as we shall see required hereunto it is not necessary that they should be found all equally in all who design this State and Frame Some may be more eminent in one of them some in another some may have great Helps and Furtherances unto some of them in a peculiar manner and some great Obstructions in the Exercise of some of them But it is required that they be all radically in the Heart and be put forth in Exercise sometimes on their proper Occasions 3. THIS state in the Description of it will sufficiently distinguish it self from that Discontent of Mind whereon some withdraw themselves from the Occasions of Life rather condemning others than themselves on meer Weariness of the Disappointments of the World which hath cast some into crooked Paths THE first thing required hereunto is Weanedness from the World The Rule of most men is that all things are well enough with them with respect unto the World whilst they keep themselves from known particular sins in the use of the things of it whilst they do so in their own Apprehensions they care not how much they cleave unto it are even swalowed up in the Businesses and Occasions of it Yea some will pretend unto and make an Appearance of a Course of Life more than ordinarily strict whilst their Hearts and Affections cleave visibly to this world and the things of it But the Foundation of the Work of Faith we enquire into must be laid in Mortification and Weanedness from the World IN Antient Times sundry Persons designed

eminent as that it might appear unto all Men that is who are concerned in us as Relations Families and other Societies this is that which principally renders us useful and exemplary in this World and for the want whereof many Professors fill themselves and others with Disquietments and give Offence unto the World it self This is required of all Believers but they will be eminent in it in whom Faith works this Weanedness from the World in order unto a peculiar Exercise of Repentance 3. THERE is required hereunto an Unsollicitousness about present Affairs and future Events There is nothing given us in more strict Charge in the Scripture than that we should be careful in nothing sollicitous about nothing take no thought for to morrow but to commit all things unto the sovereign Disposal of our God and Father who hath taken all these things into his own Care But so it is come to pass through the Vanity of the minds of Men that what should be nothing unto them is almost their all Care about things present and Sollicitousness about things to come in private and publick Concerns take up most of their Thoughts and Contrivances But this also will Faith subdue on this Occasion where it tends unto the Promotion of Repentance by weanedness from the World It will bring the Soul into a constant steady universal Resignation of it self unto the Pleasure of God and Satisfaction in his Will Hereon it will use the World as if it used it not with an absolute Inconcernment in it as unto what shall fall out This is that which our Saviour presseth so at large and with so many divine Reasonings Mat. 6. 25 to the 34. 4. A constant Preferrence of the Duties of Religion before and above the Duties and Occasions of Life These things will continually interfere if a diligent Watch be not kept over them and they will contend for preferrence and their Success is acording to the Interest and Estimation which the things themselves have in our Minds If the Interest of the World be there prevalent the Occasions of it will be preferred before Religious Duties and they shall for the most part be put off unto such Seasons wherein we have nothing else to do and it may be sit for little else But where the Interest of spiritual Things prevails it will be otherwise according to the Rule given us by our Blessed Saviour Seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof c. Mat. 6. 33. I confess this Rule is not absolute as unto all Seasons and Occasions there may be a Time wherein the Observation of the Sabbath must give place to the pulling an Ox or an Ass out of a Pit and on all such Occasions the Rule is that Mercy is to be preferred before Sacrifice But in the ordinary Course of our Walking before God Faith will take Care that a due Attendance unto all Duties of Religion be preferred to all the Occasions of this Life they shall not be shuffled off on trifling Pretences nor cast into such unseasonable seasons as otherwise they will be There also belongs unto that Weanedness from this World which is necessary unto an Eminency in degrees of Humiliation and Repentance Watching unto Prayer 5. WILLINGNESS and Readiness to part with all for Christ and the Gospel this is the animating Principle of the great Duty of taking up the Cross and Self-denial therein Without some measure of it in Sincerity we cannot be Christ's Disciples But in the present Case there is an Eminent Degree which Christ calls the hating of all things in comparison of him that is required such a Readiness as rejects with Contempt all arguing against it such as renders the World no Burthen unto it in any part of our Race such as establisheth a determinate Resolution in the Mind that as God calls the World and all the Concernments of it should be forsaken for Christ and the Gospel Our Countenances and Discourses on Difficulties do not argue that this Resolution is prevalent in us but so it is required in that work of Faith which we are in the Consideration of 2. A second thing that belongs hereunto is a peculiar Remembrance of Sin and Converse about it in our Minds with Self-displicency and Abhorrency God hath promised in his Covenant that he will remember our Sins no more that is to punish them but it doth not thence follow that we should no more remember them to be humbled for them Repentance respects Sin always wherever therefore that is there will be a continual calling Sin to remembrance saith the Psalmist My Sin is ever before me THERE is a threefold Calling our past Sins unto remembrance 1. WITH Delight and Contentment thus is it with proffligate Sinners whose Bodies are grown unserviceable unto their youthful Lusts they call over their former Sins roll them over in their Minds express their Delight in them by their Words and have no greater Trouble but that for the want of Strength or Opportunity they cannot still live in the Practise of them this is to be old in Wickedness and to have their Bones filled with the Sins of their Youth So do many in this Age delight in filthy Communication unclean Society and all Incentives of Lust A fearful Sign of being given over unto a Reprobate Mind an Heart that cannot repent 2. THERE is a remembrance of Sin unto Disquietment Terror and Despair Where Mens Consciences are not seared with an hot Iron Sin will visit their Minds ever and anon with a troublesome remembrance of it self with its Aggravating Circumstances For the most part Men hide themselves from this Visitor they are not at home not at leisure to converse with it but shift it off like insolvent Debtors from day to day with a few transient Thoughts and Words But sometimes it will not be so put off it will come with an Arrest or a Warrant from the Law of God that shall make them stand and give an Account of themselves Hereon they are filled with Disquietments and some with Horror and Despair which they seek to pacify and divert themselves from by farther emerging themselves in the Pursuit of their Lusts the Case of Cain Gen. 4. 13 16 17. 3. THERE is a calling former Sins to remembrance as a Furtherance of Repentance and so they are a threefold Glass unto the Soul wherein it hath a trebble Object 1. IT sees in them the depravation of its Nature the evil Quality of that Root which hath brought forth such Fruit And they see in it their own Folly how they were cheated by Sin and Sathan they see the Unthankfulness and Unkindness towards God wherewith they were accompanied This fills them with holy Shame Rom. 6. 21. This is useful and necessary unto Repentance Perhaps if Men did more call over their former Sins and Miscarriages than they do they would walk more humbly and warily than they do for the most part So David in his Age prays for