fruits and therefore we must look to these two 1. The root of Repentance and that 's humiliation now the deeper the root the stronger the tree the deeper our humiliation the stronger are we in grace and holiness what 's the reason that bulrushes bow and bend and turn backwards and forwards with every wind but because they have no good root 2. Col. 6 7. rooted and stablished both go together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now humiliation lay a deep sure foundation being well rooted makes him firm and strong this is twofold 1. In respect of what is past O he is much humbled and cast down for what is past though God will forget what he hath done yet he will never forget it though God will never cast it in his dish yet he will be always hitting himself in the teeth with it ever now and then Thus did Paul he was ever now and then telling what a Persecutor he was O that troubled him and vexed him that ever he should Persecute Christ O true humiliation will make us do so we shall never be well pleased with our corrupt nature as long as we live we shall be always speaking against our selves what we were heretofore 2. There is another branch of this root and that respects the time to come when we are throughly humbled for what is past we shall be very fearful for the future 2. Philip. 12. cum timore tremore O he is like a fearful man that dares not climb up any high steep place dares not walk aloft for fear of falling therefore he keeps the lowest ground so the Apostle directs 11. Rom. 20. 2. The fruits of Repentance what is a tree good for if it bears no fruit away with it so what is Repentance good for I mean that Repentance that hath no fruits 3. Mat. 8. do not saith John Baptist think your selves to be Saints because you come to hear me Preach or be Baptized no bring forth your fruits and such fruits as are meet for Repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy the name of Repentance Now there are two parts of Repentance 1. A turning from sin 2. A turning unto God or unto Godliness Now our fruits must be answerable to both these parts of Repentance 1. The first part turning from sin your loathing of sin must be as great as formerly your loving of it your hatred as great against it as formerly you delighted in it ea specialiter horreas quae specialiter appeteb as Bern let thy best beloved sins be most abhorred by thee let them be like the Israelites dainty Quailes O how did they long for them and afterwards they could not endure them they stunk in their Nostrils deal with thy beloved sin as Amnon with Tamar 2 Sam. 13. 15 16 17. 1. He hated her 2. He would not hearken to her motion 3. He put her out of doors 4. He bolted her out do so with sin 2. The second part turning to God and Godliness Do as much for God and Christ as ever you did for sin love Holiness as much as ever you loved Wickedness Nay take as much pains in the ways of God as ever in the paths of Unrighteousness so did Paul we have both his Example and Precept 1 Cor. 15. 9 10. 6. Rom. 19. we must not saith one bind our selves to a trade of sin and use Religion only as a recreation No but we must work as hard in Righteousness as formerly we have wrought in sin Nay further as we have been scandals to others to turn them out of the way by reason of our sins so now we must be good examples not only to keep in the way our selves but to bring others into the ways of Holiness also Now examin your Repentance by these signs and you need never trouble your selves you shall not fall so saith the Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 10. how so see the fruits of Repentance verses 5 6 c. be as fearful and as careful of falling as you will 't is the better but such Persons may be comforted that they shall never fall away i. e. totally and finally from Christ and Grace 6. Scruple O but say some if we are such as have cast out every sin even our most beloved sins how comes it to pass that we are so much afraid of Death and so loath and unwilling to dye O this is our great trouble that we are so afraid of death whereas a true convert one that is quite freed from sin which is the sting of death he rejoyeeth and triumpheth over it O death where is thy sting and O grave where is thy victory Answer briefly 4 ways 1. By concession in two particulars 1. That there is nothing in all this World so terrible as death is 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of all terrible things the most terrible saith the Philosopher the King of Terrors saith the Scripture 18. Job 14. It made that great Ahasuerus so afraid that he would suffer none to come into his Court in Mourning Apparel and another great King commanded all his Servants when he was sick that none should so much as speak of death in his hearing there is no Ague fit will make a man's face look paler and his whole body quake and tremble more than the very thoughts and apprehension of death But 2. That sin as it is the only thing that brought death into the World so 't is the only thing that makes it look so terribly As a man that hath the yellow jaundice every thing that he looks on seems yellow so he that hath sin in his Conscience O what a ghastly sight is death to that man take only the instance of Cain one that had a guilty Conscience 4. Gen. 13. why so see the latter end of verse the 14. so cryes out the sinner of death O wherever it find me it will slay me 't will spoil me of all my comforts and pleasures rob me of all my riches and treasures pull down my house my body about my ears drag my naked Soul to Judgment deliver me over to Devils to be tormented for ever and ever O sinners you that make a mock a sport of sin consider are not these terrible things you that will be rich right or wrong you that will domineer and have your minds you that laugh and scoff at holiness jeer at Sermons O for all this be sure you do not forget your selves but be sure you tremble at death O think how terrible it would be to you should a voice from Heaven say this very day or this very hour your Souls shall be required of you 2. By way of distinction there is a twofold fear of death one that is natural proceeding from meer nature as nature it self abhors her own destruction and dissolution the other sinful as proceeding from the guilt of sin when the Soul knows that to Hell it must go assoon as he is dead The natural fear of death is lawful and may be
is it peace Jehu But what said he What peace so long as there are so many Whoredoms so O poor Soul what peace canst thou expect so long as sin is in thee Sin hardens thy heart and makes it like the stony ground and what good can the Word or the Ordinances do on the stony ground You know what hindred Herod that he received no good at all by John Baptist Preaching O he had an Herodias in his heart the Text tells us that he heard John gladly and did many things O but Herodias spoiled all had it not been for that one sin which Herod would not part withal he might have been a sincere convert for ought we know This sin will drive the word out of our hearts as fast as it is set home upon our hearts it will keep the Soul lean and ill favoured without any comfort under the fattest Ordinances But this I speak only by way of concession I am to speak to true sincere hearted Nathaniels that keep no sin in their hearts or desire and endeavour to be rid of every sin name any sin to them they cannot say they have any love to it and these Persons they complain that they feel not the influences of the Ordinances upon their Souls they feel not the power and comfort of them to these 2. Two words of caution 1. Take heed that this be not false examin the case well perhaps you may speak without your books there be many complain of this who yet have no reason to complain they think they are never the better for the Ordinances when indeed they are much the better Now that you may state the Question aright consider these two things 1. What are the influences of the Ordinances for answer to this there is a four-fold influence that the Ordinances have c. 1. A pricking wounding influence 't is such an influence as makes a man sensible of his condition every man by nature hath a spiritual kind of lethargie such a Disease in his Soul as the num-palsie is to the Body he is quite sottish and sensless hath not so much as the understanding of a bruit to know whether it be well or ill with him knows not whether he belong to Christ or the Devil is not sensible that he is in danger of Hell. Now this is the first power and influence of the Ordinances to bring a man to his right senses to make him understand his condition 2. Acts 37. here the word reacht to the quick before they were not sensible of what they had done O Brethren there be many that never felt this pricking wounding power of the Ordinances never yet were made sensible of their conditions that think all is well with them and hope to be saved as well as the best O if once they were but pricked to the heart how would they roar and cry out how would they be started at it to see the misery they are in 2. An humbling influence when a man is sensible of his lost condition then he begins to be humble he will never be humble till now poverty will bring a man upon his knees O then what will such a conviction as this is do when a man sees that he is ready to drop into Hell that he must endure the wrath of God to all Eternity O this makes the Soul humble and pliable before God the man now is like melted wax God may work him how he pleaseth command what he will he is ready to obey 9. Acts 6. 3. A strengthning influence after the word hath weakened the power of sin in a man then it strengthens the Soul with grace as Physicians when they have throughly purged their Sick man and so made him weak then they give him strengthning meats so the word conveys Faith and Hope and other strengthning graces into the Soul so 't is said of Paul after his Humiliation 9. Acts 22. and so he prays for the Ephesians in the 3. Eph. 16. Now this strength the word conveys to the Soul from the spirit of Christ to inable him against sin and all other oppositions whatever to an holy life 1. Colos 10 11. 4. A comforting influence this is the highest of all when a Soul is comforted under the Ordinances and is filled with joy and delight and abundance of satisfaction 2. Cant. 3 4. now is the Soul as it were in Christ's Banqueting House or House of Wine i. e. the Soul rejoyceth and is glad of the presence of Christ like John Baptist in Elizabeths Womb leaps and skips for joy Thus it is with many a Soul under the power and influences of the Ordinances as those converts 2. Acts 37. there 's pricking but what follows read the 46. verse and you will see 2. Consider and examine your selves whether you have felt none of these influences under the Ordinances perhaps you have not felt the comforting influence O do not say therefore that there is no influence perhaps you find little or no strength yet say not 't is in vain the means of grace are in vain to my Soul have the word humbled you have it pricked your hearts and made you sick of sin and sensible in what a lost condition you are in by nature bless God for that and wait still on him in the ways of his Ordinances you shall find comfort at last you must not expect to come to the highest pitch presently as our Quakers do assoon as any turns Quaker presently he is full of joy and comfort as his heart can wish suspect such a thing as not the work of God God will have us throughly humbled before comfort comes in Naaman was bid go into Jordan seven times and wash now if Naaman had after the first or second washing come out of Jordan and finding himself not cleansed left the waters and said there was no vertue in them would you not say the fault was his own Our Saviour Christ will teach us the true way to comfort i. e. true comfort indeed 5. Mat. 4. be content to mourn and be humbled a while and wait still on God to perfect his work in you 2. Take heed that this be not true O 't is a sad thing to be under the Ordinances and never the better for them and therefore labour for these influences when you are sensible of the want of them means 1. Go not out in your own strength think not that you of your selves are able to pray or read or hear with profit O you must go out of your selves get Christ along with you 21. John 3 4 5 6. take Christ along with you go forth in his strength and not in your own strength the want of this may be a means of your miscarriage 2. Look out beyond all Duties and Ordinances do not rest satisfyed when you have Prayed or heard a Sermon or received a Sacrament let not that be all your Religion only to do these things but look further the Ordinances are but means
to the attaining of a further end and the main end is to bring us in to Christ O look to the end whether you are brought nearer and nearer to Christ by any Ordinance whether you love Christ more and live to Christ more than ever take heed of making the Ordinances your end this will hinder you of your blessing 3. To name no more be much in Prayer to God for an influence upon your Souls sin that dams and stops up these Waters of the Sanctuary Prayer opens the sluces again sin poysons these fountains Prayer that must heal them Prayer that brings down the influences of the clouds upon the Earth and Prayer that brings down the influences of the Ordinances upon the Soul the Spirit is obtained by Prayer and where the Spirit moves in the Ordinance there be sure is an influence be much in Prayer to God to bless all his Ordinances and Means of Grace to you and you will quickly find the benefit of it 4. Scruple Many a poor Soul complains O I am afraid that I have this mine own Iniquity still in me that I have not yet subdued it for I discern and see more sin in me now than ever before I find sin more busie and stronger and more prevailing in me than ever before Answ 1. Consider what is the work of conversion 26. Acts 18. you see that the state of conversion is a state of light when a man lies in a dark dungeon he sees not the dirt and the spots and filth about his cloathes nor the vermine and nastiness about him but bring this man into the light and then he will see every spot and all vermine crawling about him A man before conversion he is quite in the dark nay darkness it self 5. Eph. 7 8. now what can darkness see hence it is that 't is so hard a matter to persuade a wicked man that he is a sinner he will not believe it though he be drunk every day and swear every minute yet this man will not be persuaded but he is a good man as good a Saint as any alas poor creature he is in darkness and sees not his filthiness and cannot be persuaded 't is so ill with him as 't is but let this man be converted i. e. brought into the light O then he will complain of himself as the vilest creature living now he sees more sin in him than ever he did Paul before his conversion what he thought of himself he tells us 3. Philip. 6. after conversion he thought otherwise 1. Tim. 1. 15. But you say you find sin stronger now than before therefore 2. Consider that after conversion there is a new principle of grace put into the Soul and that resists the corruption that is in us 't is with every converted Person as with Rebecca 25. Gen. 21 22 23. before conversion the Devil hath the full possession of the whole man and then what follows see 11. Luke 21. there is no disturbance or disquietness in that man's Soul the Devil he rules there and he 's content and sin that hath a warm nest there and that 's content and the sinner he is at his liberty of sinning and he is content too and so all is well no disturbance at all all is peace but now after conversion there is a quite contrary principle of grace and that fights with sin and sin that begins to muster up all its forces hence comes the Soul to complain of the power and strength of sin As a man that is quite under water feels not the weight of all the Tuns of water on his back but let him come out and take but a ferkin of water on his shoulders and he will feel the burden sin is like a Bee let it alone suffer it to crawl about your hands or face and you cannot tell whether it hath a sting or no but anger it or beat it off and it will sting you presently A man is sick and while he feeds the distemper he feels not much pain but let him take Physick to drive out the distemper then he grows sicker and sicker because the Physick is contending with the distemper doth that man think he is worse than he was before so here c. 3. Consider further that the Devil will trouble you more now than ever because you are got out of his chain the Devil he roars and raves when he is like to loose one of his Prisoners he will endeavour all that he can to bring such Souls back again to himself 4. Lastly from all that hath been said we may conclude that certainly 't is a sign of a state of grace for any man to be in this condition we never read in Scripture nor never heard of unregenerate Persons complaining after this sort Paul before his conversion never complained thus but afterwards Rom. 7. 24. O comfort your selves poor Souls that thus groan under the Burden of sin you are the Persons that shall be welcome to Christ 11. Mat. 28. comfort your selves the Alarum is sounded and war is proclaimed between you and your sins nay the Battel is begun and for your further comfort it shall assuredly end in victory 7. Rom. 25. 5. Scruple O but some poor Soul may say though for the present I abstain from this sin mine own Iniquity and can now say I love no sin yet am I afraid of falling back again because I have not I fear throughly repented of this sin my Repentance is only a slight formal Repentance I have not been humbled nor grieved to the purpose Oh this is my fear and this is that which troubles me very much Answ 1. 'T is a good sign that Person hath truly repented who is troubled that he hath repented no better this very thing is part of thy Repentance again 't is a good sign that man hath repented and that truly of sin that is afraid of committing that sin again there is none more afraid of sin than a truly converted penitent Person this fear of falling again and carefulness against sin for the future sure are the marks and tokens the Apostle gives of true Godly sorrow for sin 2 Corinth 7. 10 11. I add that man is furthest of from falling that is most fearful of falling But 2. By way of direction Repentance being a work of such great concernment and a thing that may be and is so often counterfeited it behoves every one of us for our better satisfaction and surety to try our Repentance Now you shall know whether you have truly repented or no by these two signs 1. By its root 2. by its fruit Repentance in Scripture is compared to a tree the tree hath roots but they lye under ground every body cannot see them but when we see a tree stand against many great winds and strong blasts and when we see it green and flourishing we may know it hath good roots 't is well rooted again our Saviour tells us a tree is known by its
the Devil was thy Father now thou mayst call God thy Father will not this make a man merry the Saints are described in Scripture with harps in their hands and singing 14. Rev. 2 3 4 5. to note the joy and comfort of that Soul that is freed from sin that day that Haman was hanged proved a joyfull day and a day of gladness to all the Jews O that day that any of us hath killed this sin will prove the most joyfull day that ever we had in our lives the upright are commanded to rejoyce 32. Psal 11. 2. Now is the match fully concluded between Christ and thy Soul now are the writings signed and sealed now O poor Soul art thou made the Spouse of Christ an Heir of Heaven and all that thou hast to be troubled for is only this as Austin said of himself Nimis serò te amavi Domine that thou hast stood out so long before thou wouldst yield to Christ know this that Christ is thine and Heaven shall be thine thou hast parted with a sin and thou hast found a Saviour formerly sin and you were all one now Christ and you are all one 17. John 20 21. Brethren this is both an unspeakable Mystery and also an unspeakable Mercy for a poor Soul to be united to Christ O if sinners knew this they would never keep a sin more in their hearts 3. Now can the Devil do you no more mischief the Devil may roar and tear and fret and fume but he can do that Soul no harm that is united to Christ O what an happiness is this to be freed from the power of the Devil when a man hath cast out his own Iniquity then is the Devils Castle demolisht and his main engine broken to pieces 10. Luk. 17 18. Obedience to the Gospel that curbs the power of the Devil obey Christ and the Devil can never hurt you After Paul had commended the Romans obedience to the Gospel 16. Rom. 19. he adds verse 20. the God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly cast out this sin and you cast out the Devil trample upon this sin and you trample upon the very neck of the Devil 4. Now you may trample upon all the miseries and afflictions and troubles and crosses of this life such Nightingals may sing with thorns at their Breasts Upright Noah is safe and secure when all the World is in a deluge the Mariners found a calm Sea assoon as they cast Jonah over board the Army of Israel quickly routed the men of Ai after they had stoned Achan to death A pure Conscience like the Town Clerk of Ephesus quickly appeaseth a multitude of distractions and discontents in the Soul in the midst of outward dangers and calamities Assoon as Judas was gone out of their Company Christ and his Disciples sung an Hymn O poor Soul whoever thou art that hast bid thy sin farewell thou mayest then also bid all sorrow farewell 5. Job 19 20 21 22 23 24. as a Father takes out the sting out of a Snake or Adder and then gives it to his little Child to play with it so when sin is purged out then all the afflictions our Heavenly Father sends us are like Adders without sting or poyson he knows they will not nor cannot hurt us we may then play with them 9. Gen. 12 13 14. Observe it God makes a Bow the sign of his Covenant O but that is rather a sign of anger no 't is a Bow without an Arrow so are all the miseries of the People of God in this World like the Rain-bow 't is a Bow without an Arrow there is no anger nor wrath in God against them 5. Now are you fit for death and now may you triumph over death cast out this sin and then cry O Death where is thy sting This is the work and business that will chear up your spirits upon your Death-beds this will make you look merrily upon your Friends that come to you merrily upon the World you are leaving merrily upon Death with whom you are to wrestle and merrily upon Christ to whom you are going O will a Soul say then I would not have this sin in me now for a thousand Worlds though once I was loath to part with it and could be hardly persuaded to it When a man hath paid all his debts if the Serjeant or Officer come and knock at his door he will bid him come in and bid him welcome so a Saint whose bonds are all cancelled by the merits of Christ and whose sins are all purged out by the blood of Christ when Death comes and knocks at the door of his earthly Tabernacle come in Death saith he thou art welcome thou art very wellcome to me I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Now put these things together would you have Christ to embrace you the Devil to be afraid of you all afflictions to work good for you would you live merrily dye comfortably then cast out this your own Iniquity 8. Another Motive is this Consider how many loud calls you have to leave this sin I will be brief 1. The voice of the word 18. Jer. 31. 1 Cor. 5. 7. 12. Heb. 1. what should I add more 't is the voice of the whole Bible calling upon us to out with sin This is the whole design of God in the whole Bible it consists of four parts First precepts commanding us to leave sin Secondly presidents or examples to teach us to abhor sin Thirdly threatnings to affright us from sin Fourthly promises to allure us and persuade us from our sins if you leave not this sin you cross the whole design of God in the Scriptures so that Brethren either part with your sins or fling away your Bibles 2. The voice of the rod Mic. 6. 9. and what doth the rod say see verse 13. O Brethren remember all the judgments of God upon your Persons Families Relations Goods Names Estates remember this I say that every rod calls for Repentance cast out your Iniquities 36. Job 8 9 10. 3. The voice of the blood of Christ Christ's blood hath a voice 't is a speaking blood 12. Heb. 24. Abels blood that cryed for vengeance Christ's blood that calls for Repentance Methinks sinners you may hear the blood of Christ speaking thus to you O do not trample me under your feet O do not make me as water spilt upon the ground good for nothing O do not leave me as a witness against you at the last day if you sin against me you must needs perish if you reject me there is nothing else can help you Brethren this is the very Speech and Language of the blood of Christ to you 10. Heb. 26 29. Now put these things together and remember that God hath spoken to you you have been often enough called upon O do not sin against the word of God that 's a saving word O do not sin against the rod of God that
he practised himself he did not â—enelopes telam texere do and undo build â—ith one hand and pull down with the other â—ut his life was sweetly consonant to the tenor â—f his teaching in a word he was one to â—hom if ever to any God had given the Art â—f winning Souls the first Text that ever he â—reached to that Flock over the which the Holy Ghost had made him so long an Overseer â—as that in the 11. Prov. 30. he that winâ—eth Souls is wise and this was his design all â—long his Ministry for this he Preached for â—his he Prayed for this he Studied yea with â—esires that many Souls might be brought inâ—… Christ he dyed What entertainment the â—ollowing Sermons of this Blessed Saint will â—eet withal in the World I can easily foresee â—o such poor Souls as are burthened with sin â—nd would fain be rid of it they cannot I â—hink be unacceptable If others censure â—hem 't is no more than what I looked for in â—he publication of them it will be no wonder â—f those condemn them that are guilty of the â—…ns they condemn it would be a greater wonâ—er if they did not for Men love not to hear â—heir sins spoken against such Treatises as â—his the purport of which is to persuade Men to part with what they so dearly love viz. their beloved sin their own iniquity and to shew them the inevitable unavoidable danger that their poor Souls are in of perishing eternally if they do not must needâ— be ungrateful and unpleasant to such as havâ— taken up a resolution not to depart from Iniquity If any curious Reader shall find anâ— Errata's either in word or phrase or anâ— thing that seems imperfect I desire him nâ—… to impute it to the Reverend and Learned Aâ—thor but to the Transcriber or Printer thâ—… so he may not be condemned for our faults â— must indeed confess I took what care anâ— pains I could in the transcribing of theâ—… from the Authors own Notes that there migâ—… be no mistakes yet his Notes being writteâ— no otherways than for his own use in the Puâ—pit I may have made some especially in tâ—… beginning where some things I suppose 〈◊〉 they occurred were in his Notes set beforâ— which should have followed after and I hâ—… no way to reduce them to their proper place but as the sense led me the pages not beiâ—… figured therefore if there be not in the eâ—plication of the Text that coherence and dâ—pendence of one thing upon another 〈◊〉 theâ—… ought to be or that you might expect froâ— so able a Divine you see the reason witâ— out doubt if he had lived to have transcribed them himself they had come out in a better Method than now they do and more polite One thing more I think fit to acquaint the Reader with namely that these Sermons were the Fruit of his younger years in the Ministry he being not long called to that great Work before the time of the last great Plague which occasioned his Preaching of them upon certain Fast days set apart to seek the Lord upon that account without doubt he much improved himself by Preaching and therefore the Sermons of his latter years would better discover to the World the singular gift of Preaching that God had blest him with above others yet I chose rather to publish these and that upon a double account first because he designed these for the Press as appears by the Preface and the Contents which he drew up with his own hand and the Title page which he had writ over very fair tho he had not proceeded so far as to transcribe the Sermons 2. Because Treatises on such a Subject as this can never be more seasonable than in these days wherein iniquity so abound I pray 〈◊〉 it may be for the suppressing thereof if thou would'st profit by these Sermons then 1. read them with attention 2. take thy Bible 〈◊〉 as thou readest turn to those Proofs which for brevity sake are only noted the words not recited and 3. be sure thou forget not to beg of God both before and after thy reading to set home the truths thou readest upon thy heart I assure the Reader I have no other end in publishing these Sermons than what I dare say was the Authors in Preaching them viz. Gods glory and the good of Souls which that they may be serviceable to this end shall be my dayly Prayers to him who while Paul plants and Apollos waters alone give the increase Vale. THE CONTENTS Obs in two parts 1. Doctrinal where three things 1. what is our own sin 1. In respect of constitution 2. In resp of habitation 3. In resp of provision 4. In resp of protection 5. In resp of love 6. In resp of delight 7. In resp of trade and calling 8. In resp of unwillingness to part with it 2 what we must do to keep our selves from this sin 1. Labour to see the evil of it 1. This is very hard 1. bec we love it 2. be we love the evils in it 3. b. unwilling to hear an evil report of it 4. be angry with those that repr it 2. This must be done in the 1st pla 2. Give it no entertainment 3. Choose another love 4. Dispute not the case with flesh blood 5. Deny our selves 6. Search in the Scripture what we shall gain by parting with it 7. Be much in Gospel duties 8. Labor as much as we can to thwart it 9. Beg of God to do it for us 3. Why we should do this 1. Because we love it 2. Because of its great power over us 3. This is the way to keep out other sins 4. This stands most in competition with Christ for the heart 5. Because it continually besets us 6. This sin will damn us as well as 10000 7. This will be our great comfort in all afflictions 8. This is the surest sign of our sincerity Application 4 fold 1a Information in 6 things 1. Discovers the reason why so many go to Hell because their beloved sins carry them thither 2. Discovers the reason why so few are converted to the Gospel because it bids them part with their own sins 3. Discovers the folly of sinners who for a beloved sin will venture on damnation 4. Discovers the reason why People are so in love with sin because their own 5. Discovers the chief work and duty of Ministers to persuade People against their own sins 6. Discovers the righteousness of Gods judgments against us bec we own sin 2a Reproof to 4 sorts 1. Those who instead of keeping themselves from their iniquities keep close and hide their iniquities 2. Those who instead of keeping themselves from their iniquities boast of them and glory in them 3. Those who instead of forsaking their own sins partake of others sins 4. Those who instead of keeping themselves from their own sins draw others into them 3a Consolation in 2 parts 1. The grounds of
their comfort in 5 things 1. There is nothing to hinder their Union and Marriage with Christ 2. No sin shall be laid to their charge 3. All things shall work together for their good 4. They have this priviledge to have their Prayers heard and answered 5. These persons are only fit to dye 2. Characters of such persons in 8 things 1. He is one that hath felt the smart and burden of sin 2. He hath duly considered the danger of sin 3. He will endeavour to keep others from their sins also 4. He will be much in aggravating and speaking against his sin 5. He will live ever after in a quite opposite course to that sin 6. He will be less in censuring others for their sins 7. He will part with every sin 8. He will never return to that sin more 4ta Exhortation it consist of these 3 branches 1. The great Mystery of this iniquity laid down where 3 things 1. The Mystery of it 2. fold 1. working into the heart in 12. particulars 1. It works altogether with our natures 2. It comes with fair words at the first 3. It bribes the senses to get into the heart 4. It pretends a reformation 5. It endeavours to work God out of the heart 6. It outbids God in his promises 7. It urges the common practice of most Men. 8. It hath a small beginning blusheth at first at great sins 9. It urgeth moderation in holiness 10. 'T is importunate will take no denial 11. It gets in sometimes insensibly 12. It tells us of Gods mercy and the power of Repentance Answ to this last particular in 4 things 1. 'T is folly to sin that you may repent 2. True Repen no easie nor pleasant work 3. 'T is abominable to sin on this account 4. God never promised Rep. to willful sinners â—Working in the heart in 2 particulars 1. It will endeavour to win upon the heart what it can 2. It will build strong Castles there lay in ammunition 1. The castles or forts 3 1. a blind mind this fort is raised 3 ways 1. Sin keeps the soul ignorant of Christ and his ways 2. Keeps the soul ignorant of the nature and danger of sin 3. Keeps the soul ignorant of its estate and condition 2. An hard heart 3. A seared Conscience 2. Ammunition in 4 thin 1. Carnal desires and affections 2. Wicked arguments to plead for sin 3. Prejudices against the People and ways of God. 4. Curious and pleasant fancies of the pleasures and happiness in sin 3. It bolts all doors and stops all passages whence it may be thrust out 4. It is always very pleasing and observant to the heart 5. When 't is in it keeps the heart abroad as much as it can 6. It keeps as close as it can that others may not take notice of it 7. It perswades a Man of the necessity of keeping one sin or other about him 8. It objects the Saints examples that each of them had their sins Answer in 5 things 1. Though they did commit them yet they did not love them 2. A vain Argument for me to sin because of others sins 3. We should follow their Repentance not their sins 4. This spoils all our hopes for mercy at death 5. They got their pardon with great difficulty 9. It keeps the soul formal in duties 10. It tells us all our happiness is gone if we part with it answ in 3 th 1. If you do not cast it out God will hate you 2. 'T is to reject God to do as others do 3. You would not willingly partake with the wicked in their torments why then in their sins 11. Sin will promise to be gone of its own accord here 3 considerations 1. You may think your sin is gone when 't is not 3 instances 1. Some think so because they have not been tempted to it as formerly 2. Others because they have not committed it a great while 3. Others because turned professors 2. Some Mens sins do really leave them yet they do not leave their sins 3. If you leave it to sin to be gon when it will you will never get rid of it 2. The deceitfulness of the heart in joyning with this sin in 8 particulars 1. Our hearts perswade us that we have done enough already this answer'd in 4 things 1. One sin may damn the soul as one wound kill the body 2. Christ dyed for every sin therefore we must kill every sin 3. If ever you out-live this sin you must repent of it at last 4. When ever you do repent this will be your burden as long as you live 2. They tell us they are against this sin and abhor it yet endeavour not to rid it 3. They will set us to duties and yet keep this sin close 4. When the heart only loves the sin but doth not commit the outward Act. 5. When we do commit it and yet pretend that our hearts dislike it 6. Our hearts will perswade us from the commission of sin to the continuance in it 7. Our hearts will plead Election that the sins of the Elect shall not be laid to their charge 8. Our hearts will tell us that others think well enough of such and such sins Here are 3 Corollaries 1. How little we are beholding to our own hearts 2. How little we ought to trust our own hearts 3. How needful 't is to have our hearts renewed 3. Our great danger we are in from the two foregoing particulars viz. the Mystery of sin and the deceits of our hearts in 8 particulars 1. Here is odds two against one A subtle sin and a deceitfull heart 2. We must subdue both together else not out of danger 3. These two Enemies will revive again after they are slain there must be a continued War. 4. The danger the greater because naturally we greatly love these two Enemies 5. Our corrupt hearts will be always drawing us into occasions of this sin 6. Our best weapon viz. our hearts is in our Enemies hand 7. While our hearts and sin are agreed we can never repent 8. The danger great in respect of temptations desertions and afflictions our hearts against us which should bear us up 2. Several Cases concerning this Sin Answered these are of two sorts 1. Scruples and objections of the godly against themselves that this sin is not out when 't is these are 6 1. Scruple because they are sensible of their hypocrisie answered in 4 things 1. We are all Hypocrites by nature yet not all in a state of Hypocrisie 2. 'T is a good sign of sincerity for a Man to complain of his Hypocrisie 3. The best rule to judge of our Hypocrisie is by our love to sin 4. This is a Temptation of the Devil who envies the joy and peace of a good Conscience 2. Scruple bec they have fallen again again into the same sin answ 2 ways 1. Some propositions laid down 1. Even the saints themselves are subject to this falling