place and seeke for respect in the world No no this is the next way to bee overcome of corruption rather say Lord it is not in this sinfull heart of mine to bee humble it is not in my power to put up an injury but Lord there is an infinite power in thee Oh blessed Redeemer let that good Spirit that wought humility in thee worke the same in mee and give me a meeke and heavenly heart And if the promise come not suddenly yet looke up once againe and say Lord thou hast said thou wilt make thy servant to walk humbly before thee is it not a free constant and faithfull promise Hold here thy holy meditation and at last grace and ayde will come to make us humble You must not put on Christ as your holy day cloathes a man must put on Christ not onely in the morning in prayer time as he confesseth and bewaileth his sinnes and then leave Christ in his house or closet no no you have as much need of your garmēts abroad as in the house therefore weare Christ all the day long and goe clad with him continually and bee able to converse and trade in Christ Put on Christ in every thing in buying and in selling in eating and in drinking and in all things When you have any duty to bee done consider what grace is most needfull and repaire to him for the same Would you put on Christ in eating drinking then say thus O Lord it is not in my soule to be thankfull and sober therefore give me that Spirit of thine which wrought secretly upon others Oh blessed Redeemer let that good Spirit worke also in mee that I may take all from thy hand and receive strength from all and honour thee by all If this were once in us how comfortably should wee live As S. Paul saith It is the Lord Iesus that liveth in me so we should say It is the Lord Christ that doth all things in mee Little children 1 Ioh. 2.28 dwell in GOD as the Apostle saith Doe you desire any grace goe to the Lord Christ then and put him on hee will take measure of al your wants he will enable you to doe whatsoever is commanded He that thus walkes with Christ here shall live with him for ever hereafter Many a man in his death knowes what he hath in the world and knowes how to dispose them but he knowes not what shall become of himselfe when he is gone from hence oh what a comfort will this be that as he hath ever conversed with Christ here so he shall enjoy everlasting society with him in heaven he shall goe to his Saviour that hath beene in him and hath walked with him hee had communion with CHRIST here and shall have fulnesse of joy at his right hand for ever Thus much of the first meanes The second is this 2 we must not give any advantage to Sathan or our own flesh By flesh is meant originall corruption or that unframeablenesse of the body and soul which hath taken possession of the whole man By the lusts of the flesh is meant that inclination which it hath to any evill and that which with-draws a man from any good These are lustings of pride and malice and worldlinesse putting forward the soule to the commission of evill By fulfilling the lusts of the flesh is meant when wee bring these inward lustings of the heart forth into outward practice as when pride saith wee must doe this or that presently wee doe it and when covetousness saith Doe this and straight we doe it and so in other things Make no provision for the flesh From this later clause of the Verse wee may observe these foure points 1 The best of GODS children though they are spirituall and holy have flesh and corruptions in them 2 This corruption stirres up many inclinations to sinne it hath many provocations to draw us to commit evill and hinders us from much good These I shall passe over and pitch onely upon the two last 3. The third doctrine is this wee must not bee provident for our corruptions as a good husband will doe for his outward estate or thus wee must not give way to the practice of these sinnes which wee are prone to by reason of corrupt nature This is plainly laid downe by the Spirit of God in many places as Deuter. 12.28 and Prov. 23.27 Looke not thou upon the Wine when it is red when it giveth the colour in the cup. Hee doth not onely say Thou shalt not drink too much but thou must not looke upon the rednesse of the Wine thou must withdraw thy selfe from the inticements of any sinne God is so carefull this way when hee would fence thy soule against any sinne as that hee will not give way to the least enticement to it specially in the point of Idolatry You shall not marry with them nor live amongst them but breake downe their Images and burne downe their Groves Nay thou shalt not make mention of Idolatry in thy mouth Wee must not maintaine the monuments of Idolatry Nor name them giving them any honor But here the question will bee asked Quest What it is then to make provision for the flesh that wee may know whether wee doe make provision for it or no This implies three particulars especially Ans 1. When a man bestowes his meditation upon those sinfull corruptions that stirre within him and is alwayes poreing upon them by meditation wee warme our wicked hearts As the Adulterer thinkes of his dalliances and the occasions of them and even sucks out the sweetnesse of those sinnes by meditation so the wrathfull man blows up his impatience increaseth it by meditation Oh saith he he hath bin beholding to mee and yet hee hath wronged mee thus and thus so the heart is all in a light flame with anger When the heart settles its thoughts upon a mans lusts he hath never done as a poore man poares upon this and that misery and of the dangerous hazard he and his may come to So meditations fastens upon some sinne and this breeds consent delight and desire and at last hee resolves he will have it as in a family if the master doe provide for it hee sets his meditation upon what hee will have so much of this and so much of that this is one part of provision for his house his meditation 2 The second worke of provision lies in Consultation as when the soule hath resolved to have his lusts as to doe an injury and to vent his malice it sits as it were at Counsell Table how to contrive that which the soule longs after Hee consults of the time when the place where and the meanes by which his lusts may bee attained as may appeare in some passages that way 1 Kings 21.9 Ahab was sick for Naboths Vineyard and Iezabel would provide it for him Ahab had the first part of provision his heart was set upon it and he
that hee put up to the Lord in the dayes of his humiliation If any sins were stirring or any iniquity abounding hee laboured by fasting and prayer to oppose the same I knew him sometimes in Cambridge in his younger dayes at which time the Lord had wonderfully inriched him with spirituall gifts In the exercise whereof he was so industrious that hee did weary himselfe and even consume his spirits by reason of his constancy in holy duties Hee was so taken with love of the Lord Jesus and his blessed truths that hee was faine to bee checked and by many good friends to bee hindered in his pious service and indeavours How oft hath hee stood in the gap and laboured by fervent prayers to avert Gods wrath and remove his heavy judgements Witnes his strong cries and intercessions to the Almighty in the time of common calamitie when the pestilence raged so violently amongst us Witnesse also those painefull imployments that hee tooke up in season and out of season exhorting rebuking with all long-suffring and patience Some times alluring the heart with sweet promises otherwhile denouncing vengeance threatning judgement against obstinate sinners Preaching ordinarily every Lords day and extraordinarily upon the weeke as occasion was offered for the good of his people Witnesse also and I pray brethren thinke of that the many sweet comforts and heavenly consolations wherewith hee refreshed and supported many a fainting soule Thus this blessed Saint weakned his body and wasted his spirits out of love to Christs little flock which now he enjoyes the fruit and comfort of For though our griefe cannot bee expressed having sustained so great a losse yet it cheereth my heart me thinks how now he resteth from all his labours Oh the sweet repose that hee enjoyes Now his eyes that were full of teares and his tongue that did almost cleave to the roofe of his mouth for the good of the Church doe all cease and lie still We leave his pretious soule in the hands of his Maker and his body to bee laid in the dust there to sleep in a bed of downe untill the Trump shall awake both him and us all at the great day of appearing Againe Vse 2. Are faithfull Ministers the helpe and fortresse of a Nation then the losse of an able true hearted Minister is to bee greatly mourned for O my Father my Father saith good Elisha So though we must leave this our deare brother yet let us look after him as hee did Hee looked wishly on him had his eye fixed constantly towards him and when he could see him no more hee cryeth out O my father my father Why should not wee bewaile this great losse of ours in like manner Me thinks every one of us should take up this sorrowfull complaint mee thinks your spirits should relent and mourne at such an object Yea I am perswaded many here present doe so Mee thinks I heare one say O my father by whom I was converted and another O my father by whom I was directed a third O my father by whom my soule was comforted and the little children that are left fatherlesse they cry O my father by whom I was begotten maintained and nourished in spirituall things Brethren let us looke after him though wee must now part with him yet let us call to minde all his prayers and humiliation and fasting and supplications to the throne of Grace All his teares are now dried up all his complaints are now finished all his paines and labours are now accomplished and hee to receive a plentifull reward of them Let us mourne for our neglect of the means of salvation whiles he lived amongst us O his labour and teares and painfull studying are now all gone they are now in heaven whither he himself is gone before us The Lord give us to follow his steps that we finishing our course as he did our latter end may be like unto his To conclude briefly Vse 3 Is one of the Horsemen of Israel gone Are the Charrets of Israel taken away What must wee then do Certainly we should double our forces now and make a new presse because a Generall is slain The Lord hath brought us hither at this time O let us lay this dolefull spectacle to heart and be affected therewith as we ought I should speak as if I were never to speake more You should heare as if you were never to heare more Men Fathers and Brethren what hath befallen this Saint before you may be any of our portions ere long wee know not how soone Death may knock at our doores Our times are in Gods hand who can take us to himselfe when hee pleaseth Happily this day may be thy last day and this very season the last opportunity that ever thou maiest have to meet GOD in his Ordinances Oh therefore bee encouraged to adde one prayer more Goe home I beseech you and consider with the departure of this our deare Friend how many prayers and teares are departed with him How did hee importune the Lord for the good of the whole Land in generall and for the Country and place wherein he lived in particular Thinke you all his earnest striving with God was in vaine Or seemeth it a small thing in your eyes to lose so many fervent effectuall supplications I beseech you lay it to heart and every man in his place put to his helping hand for repairing of so great a losse Now make a presse of prayers raise up armies of petitions Goe your wayes home bee humbled pray one praier more that the Army may be increased still You that were of his Parish and enjoyed the worke of his Ministery Oh you have lost a good Pastor a faithfull Labourer in Gods harvest one that had a longing desire after your salvation But know this how ever your provocations are increased yet the Lord who for your sins hath made this breach among you hath further blessings in store if you seeke to him He can supply your place againe with a faithfull able Minister and with a couragious Generall Therefore brethren if ever you pray pray now if ever you fast now fast if ever you humble your selves now bee humbled in dust and ashes before the Lord never more need never greater want By this meanes the Land will be strengthened and our peace and safety continued What though our enemies are many and our sinnes great fervent prayer hath to doe with a God stronger and mightier then they all This will undermine the most subtill underminers of Gods truth and children therefore set your selves seriously upon the work however the flesh is awkward yet stirre up and provoke your spirits hereunto It will never repent you upon your death beds of your prayers and teares put up unto God It will bee a great refreshment to your drooping soule at that day if you can say in truth as Hezekiah did Good Lord remember how I have walked uprightly before thee This is that which will continue a mans comfort and support his soule in the greatest extremity An unpraying heart is a dismall thing Therefore be incouraged to the duty Pray pray pray FINIS
THE SOVLES POSSESSION OF CHRIST Shewing how a Christian should put on Christ and bee able to doe all things through his strength Whereunto is annexed A SERMON Preached at the Funerall of that worthy Divine Mr. Wilmott late Minister of Clare in Suffolke By T. H. LONDON Printed by M. F. for Francis Eglesfield at the sign of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard 1638. Imprimatur THO WYKES Novemb. 11. 1637. THE SOULES POSSESSION OF CHRIST Rom. 13.4 The Text. Put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought or make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it THE intendment of these words is to suggest into the hearts of the Romanes The intent of the words a saving meanes whereby they might bee cheared up to the performance of such duties as were required at their hands and this the Apostle doth from the eleventh Verse to the end of the Chapter He had told them before that they ought to put off the old man and that they should no longer walke in rioting and wantonnesse but that they should put on the armour and walke as Children of the light Now because the matter was difficult either to get more grace or to performe the duties required of them oh might some say we know we should labour to subdue this sin and it becomes Christians to walke comely holily agreeable to Gods will but it is a hard matter to get grace to doe the same For answer hereunto the holy Apostle in this Verse suggests a double means saying 1. A double meanes to subdue sin Put on Christ 2. Put off all base occasions and provide not for pride and lust and malice by these you shall bee strengthened to performe whasoever duty the Lord requires at your hands and to overcome any corruption In the first means there is 1. The description of the party that must be put on The Lord Iesus Christ 2. The application of this party Now if any man aske what is meant by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ What is meant by putting on Christ I answere to put on Christ is to be conceived in a double sense 1. Wee must put on Christ by faith 1 in justification when we beleeve in Christ that our debts are laid upon his score and his merits are applyed to us but this is not meant here The Reason is because this had beene spoken of long before and it is presumed that these Romanes to whom hee wrote had beleeved in Christ already 2. To put on Christ is spoken in regard of sanctification 2 as when we finde both many weaknesses and much want of grace in us and unfitnesse for duties then wee put on Christ to overcome our corruptions and to quicken up our hearts for the performance of such services as God requires of us This is plaine for St. Paul having enjoyned them to lay aside all sin as pride malice riotous living and all the workes of the old mā he exhorts them to put on the Lord Jesus Christ that they may the better overcome these sinnes and corruptions and be quickened up to every needfull duty Hence I observe this Doctrine They that have received Christ and are neare to salvation and that have good proofe from Gods word that the night is past and the day hath dawned in their hearts even these I say have daily need to fetch succour from Christ and grace for the performāce of every spirituall service which God requires at their hands Our Saviour Christ must be put on Doct. hee is to be conceived of as of a garment and that in two respects as when a man puts on a garment 1. he must have it fitted for him and 2. put it on and apply it to his body so it is in this place Note The Lord Jesus Christ takes measure of all the infirmities of his children and applyes sutable grace according to every mans severall necessities as in Psa 21.5 Psa 21.5 our Translation hath it Glory and comely honour hast thou laid upon him or as it is in the Originall Glory and honour thou hast fitted for him And againe Christ not onely takes measure of our infirmities but also he gives sutable grace fitting for our conditions as in time of injury hee gives patience in time of persecution he gives courage to stand for his truth and wisedome to carry themselves aright yea he shapes out mercy and seasonable helpe for every estate The Lord gives not only a fit grace to his children but also he gives a present aide strength to apply that grace as a man not onely makes his garment fit but hee puts it on close to his body and then he is ready for any employment So it is here when the grace is applyed then a Christian is fit to walke with God in a holy course as Luke 24.40 Luke 24.40 Acts 2.3 4. verses compared with the second of the Acts 3 4. we shall see that the Lord gives a supply of seasonable grace according to our necessities In Luke the Text saith Stay you in Ierusalem till you be clad with the Spirit from above and in the Acts the Evangelist gives the meaning of the former place and saith The Spirit sate upon each of them that is GOD gave them abundance of grace to fit them for their workes the Spirit spake in them and they spake as the Spirit gave them utterance The Apostles had need of much wisedome and courage and therefore GOD gave them abundance of spirituall assistance as in that place is plaine The issue of the point is this Those that are in the Lord Jesus Christ have need every day to receive grace and quickening power from him to enable them to discharge such duties as the Lord requires of them 1. God is the Author of all grace Reas 1. and we have it not of our selves 2. None of us can maintaine that grace which we have Reas 2. further than God will enable us 3. Neither can any man put forth his grace further than GOD will stand by him Reas 3. So then if the grace bee Gods gift and if none can maintain and keep his grace when he hath it further than God enables him nor can exercise or put forth and use his grace aright without divine assistance then it is needfull that wee depend upon God for what we have or doe And if grace and aide to performe any duty comes onely from the Lord Jesus then it is very necessary that wee have daily recourses to him for the same The Vse is Vse to shew us how humble wee ought to be in our owne eyes and with what feare and dread we should walke before God Can we doe nothing without Christ then walke tremblingly before him lest hee take away his Spirit from thee and withdraw the comfort of his grace from thy soule for the Lord hath scourges enough for thee The Apostle saith Phil. 2.12 13.
meanes whereby Christ may bee put on 2 is this when the soul is once made naked then Faith takes the Robe this glorious Robe of Gods grace and brings it home to the heart for faith is not onely a hand that layes hold on Christ for justification but it is a shield also that receives vertue from Christ for our farther sanctification Christ is the fountaine of all grace and faith is the Conduit which conveyes grace from Christ to the soule How faith puts on Christ Now faith helpes us in these three particular actions First 1 it is Faith that closes with the spirit of grace in every promise of God there is the spirit of grace truly and constantly accompanying the same My Word and my Spirit both goe together as our Saviour said The words that I speak are spirit and life Now when the soule of a Christian can close with the promise it closeth also with the grace in the promise They that are in Christ are one spirit with him Rom. 8.10 If the Spirit of Christ bee in you the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is life for righteousnesse sake saith the Apostle Wee have most great and precious promises given to us that by them wee should be partakers of the Divine nature Where we see that the Spirit of Christ accompanies the promises therefore laying hold upon the promises we close with the Spirit and hereby come to bee partakers of the Divine nature I compare the Spirit of grace to the Seale and the soule to the Waxe and Faith is the hand which sets on this Seale By faith we cause the spirit to worke and fit its particular aide and reliefe for the leaving of any impression of grace upon the soule The next worke of Faith is this 2 it not onely closeth with Gods Spirit in the promise but it looks at that particular grace in Christ which we stand in need of that it may bee wrought in our hearts as if a man want patience or love wisdome humilitie or the like Faith closeth with the promise and brings the same stampe into the soule which is in the promise as in those two places Iohn 1.16 Of his fulnesse have wee all received grace for grace Ioh. 1.16 that is whatsoever grace is in Christ we doe receive the same from him As hee was patient he makes us so as he was wise and meeke and holy he makes us so as in a Seale looke how many letters be upon the Seale so many stampes will be left upon the waxe Faith lookes at all the particular graces that are in Christ As the same power that is in the head is also in the eare and eye and hand So the same Holy GHOST which wrought grace in the humanity of Christ workes patience in adversity and courage to beare persecution and in ignorance it enlightens a mans eyes and makes him looke to Heaven That is a notable place 2 Cor. 3. where the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3.18 We all behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with open face and are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. The glory of the Lord is nothing else but the glorious grace of God and beholding it is when we see the glorious grace given to Christ and againe the same Spirit that made Christ meeke and wise and holy the same Spirit makes us poore in spirit and meeke-hearted like to him Therefore looke not onely on Christ for grace in generall but for particular strength and assistance in every performance 3. The last act of Faith is 3 it not onely closeth with the promise and the Spirit in the same it not onely lookes at that particular grace which is in Christ but faith drawes vertue from the Lord Jesus that so grace may be imprinted in and conveyed into the soule therefore saith the Prophet With joy shall yee draw water from the Well of salvation Esay 12.3 He doth not onely say there is water therein but we may draw water from thence and faith doth it thus when a sinner with full perswasion settles himself with what God hath promised it shall be done to the soule for the good therof as in Ezech. 36. A new heart will I give you Ezech. 36.26 27. and I will put my Spirit into your hearts and cause you to walk in my wayes He doth not onely give grace but quickens that grace and causes men to walke holily and sweetly Nay further if Faith findes the heart dejected and unfit to pray see how it gripes and layes hold on the promises saying Lord I finde my soule dead in the performance of duty and marvellous untoward and awke to a holy life Lord thou hast said thou wilt cause thy people to walke boldly in thy way oh give mee courage and life and quickening As that poore woman by touching the Hemme of Christs garment drew vertue from him so faith layes hold upon the hemme of Christs garment and gaines refreshment 3. The third and last meanes to put on Christ 3 is this having thus denyed our selves our owne lusts and sufficiency and having closed with the promise and the spirit of grace in the same the last meanes is meditation that is when the soule turned it selfe wholly to that grace which is in Christ it pores not altogether upon sinne and corruption for then you goe of from Christ This meditation keepes the soule upon the streame as faith casts it upon the streame As the branch cannot bring forth any fruit Ioh. 15.4 except it abide in the Vine no more can yee except yee abide in me Now wee abide in Christ when the eye is set upon Christ when the tongue talkes of Christ and the minde museth of him and the affections are setled towards him but when the minde is taken off the promise and the comforts that are therein and wholy puzzels it selfe by thinking of temptations or inward corruptions then men are soone prevailed against and overcome If the Devill can pluck your mindes from the promise and cast your thoughts wholy upon your corruptions hee hath enough Suppose there be two fountaines the one full of puddle water and the other full of cleare water and there are two cocks for these fountaines if a man bee alwayes turning the cocke that comes from the puddle fountaine can hee looke for any other than foule water So there is a fountaine of grace in Christ and in the promise and there is a fountaine of corruption in our selves and meditations is as the cockes comming from these Now if we be ever meditating what wee are and what we have and what we doe and what we deserve there is nothing but feare and horror and discouragement and the puddle water comes amaine The nature of meditation is excellent in this kinde and it shewes it selfe in these three particulars First hereby we bring Christ and
easily submits to every good word of God Thirdly 3 addresse thy selfe to reforme what ever is amisse doe thy uttermost endeavour to amend the evill committed and performe this good duties thou hast formerly omitted doe what thou canst in the particular and labour for ability from Christ to doe that which of thy selfe thou art not able It was a hard taske which God enjoyned Abraham to sacrifice his beloved and darling Isaack yet when the thing appeared plaine to be Gods command though it were never so hard there is no resisting it Abraham therefore rose betimes in the morning and hee and the child went immediately to discharge his duty he prevents all occasions that might hinder him his wife was not acquainted with it and his servants knew nothing of the matter So if a man be the son of faithfull Abraham whatsoever the Lord enjoynes though it be the killing of a darling secret beloved lust if the Lord say it must bee done this sin must be avoided this course must be amended bee it never so profitable and full of content the soule of a gracious man will rise early in the morning that is he wil forthwith set upon the means to accomplish the same As for instance Let this be the case that comes to the scanning of a poore ignorant Christian Imagine the Lord informes him and his conscience perswades him that hee must pray in his Family Now happily a poore soule at the first is not able to pray his understanding is weake and his abilities meane hee cannot of himself frame a prayer to God yet hee will set upon the duty he will take the booke and reade a prayer though hee cannot conceive a prayer being a novice and a young Christian yet hee will use the stilts till he get his legs follow him home to his closet and you shall finde him bemoane his basenesse and hee prayes that hee may pray he beseecheth the Lord hee may know what to aske that he may see his sins and confesse them he will begge for the Spirit that hee may bee able to cry Abba Father I beseech you remember this one thing it is a marvellous distemper in many people that say I confesse such courses ought to be avoyded the Word forbids it and my conscience goeth against it but what shall I doe I cannot set to the worke I shall never overcome it why then lay all religion aside for how can it stand with sincerity of heart that I should bee informed and convinced that the Lord requires a service at my hands and I yet never set upon the performance thereof I deny not but a good Christian may be unable to doe as hee ought but he will strive to doe what God requires Alas Object saith the Gallant I confesse the fashions are fooleries and it is a madnesse to follow every vanity but what should I doe a man had as good bee out of the world as out of the fashion Fashion not your selves after the world Ans saith the Text. But I know not how to get out of it saith the gallant The custome is so usuall that I cannot leave it Doest thou know a duty and is thy heart perswaded of it and yet wilt thou not submit to it Where is grace now in thy soule Certainly thou art still in the gall of bitternesse even reason and common civility wil make a man reforme some things me thinkes grace should prevaile much more If a man will not part with a lock with a feather a fashion a foolery for Christ how will hee lose his credit liberty and life for him how can hee leave all sinne that will not part with the shadow and appearance the haire and nayle of sinne Fourthly a gracious heart is content to take up the hardest means the sharpest medicines that God hath appointed for the killing and slaying of his corruptions If there bee any weapon in the world more keene than other for wounding of his lusts the soule gladly imbraces the same that reformation may bee made Take an arme or a legge that hath the Gangrene the nature of which disease is to infect spread over the whole man when the Chirurgeon comes and tels the patient Either you must lose your legge or your life you must have your arme cut off or else bee cut off your selfe one of the two must speedily bee done If the patient say I will rather abide the worst than part with a limbe every man will conclude he cannot live long If hee did purpose to maintaine life sure hee he would part with that which takes away life So is it here with some kinde of baser sinnes I meane grosse and notorious crimes which are scandalously vile there is no way to bee ridd of these without some corrosive bee applyed the soule will never be separated from them unlesse some bitter Pill be taken which if a man refuse to use it is an evident signe hee hath no purpose to part with his sinne Suppose a man hath got an estate by theevery and cozenage and the like when the Word of God comes home to his conscience and tels him he must make satisfaction or bee damned This man may bee dejected in spirit and bemoan himselfe with teares but that will not serve the turne nothing will cure but satisfaction peace will not be attained without restitution this is the Gangrene that must bee cut off Happily hee will say most of his estate hath come in this way and if I should restore all that I have unjustly gained I should die a beggar Let me ask thee but this question What will it profit a man to get the whole world and lose his owne soule Is it not better to die in a poore estate than in a sinfull estate To depart a good man than a rich man Againe suppose a man lives in the bosome of the Church and be a great Professor and yet hath beene seen openly drunk or is knowne to have cōmitted adultery there is no cure for this man now but he must satisfie the congregation the Church of God which hath beene dishonoured and discredited by his sinne let him fast and pray and weepe in secret never so much I cannot see how this mans conscience can be quieted unlesse he make publike satisfaction as his offence was publike But to proceed 5. A sincere Christian wisheth and welcomes those truths that are most powerfull to prevaile with his sinnes 5 and most likely for the subduing of his corruptions when he cannot doe what hee would and master his sinnes as hee desires hee wisheth Oh that the Lord would send some truth that might plucke these corruptions out of my heart and that word is most pleasing to him that is most effectuall this way The soule makes its moane to God and complains as David did Yee are too hard for mee yee sonnes of Zerviah O Lord these corruptions sticke so close they are too mighty for mee I am not able