row *; and that day he was ſlain, Thus, while men' this to {pin out their filver thred, death curs it. Olays Magnus” ob- ſerves of the Birds of Norway, that they fly faſter than the. Birds ct any other Ceuntry 5 not tit their wings are lwit- rer than others, but by an initine of na- xure, they knowing the daies in that Eli- mate to be very thort, not above three hours long, do theretore make the mare haſte to their neſts : $0 we knowing the ſhortneſs of out lives, and how quickly. we may be called away by death, ſhoul! fly ſo much the faſter on the wing of Repentance to Heaven. But me-thinks I hear ſome ſay, the'
not fear a fudden i urprizal, they \ wil 5x90 pent upon their fick-bed. —_—
The Dotrine of Repentance.
[ do not ſo well like a fick-bed Repen- Anſw. -tance*: He runs a. deſperate hazard, *pg,;..,_
-- who will venture his ſalvation within cis ferata-
that putteſt off Repentance till ſickneſs, anſwer me to theſe four queries.
I. How doſt thou know thou ſhalt have a time of ſickneſs? Death dothnot alwaies ſhoot its warning-piece by a lingring conſumption; ſome it arreſts ſuddenly. What if God ſhould preſent- ly lend thee a ſummons to ſurrender thy life! -
2. Suppoſe thou ſhouldeſt have atime of ſicknels, how doſt thou know thou ſhalt have the uſe of thy ſenſes? Many are diſtracted on their {ick-bed.
3. Suppoſe thou ({houldeſt have thy ſenſes, yet how dolt thou know thy mind will bein trame tor fuch a work as Re- pentance ? Sickneſs doth {o diſcompoſe body and mind, that one 1s but in anill poſture at Fuch atime to take care for his ſoul. In ſickneſs a man is ſcarce fit to make his wil, much leſs to make his peace. The Apoſtle ſaith, Is any ſick among you, let him call for the Elders of the Church, Fam. 5.14. He doth not lay, 1s he fick, /et him pray; but kt him call for the
'the circle of a few ſhort minutes. Thou *'?
The DoFrine of Repentatice. the Elders that they may pray over him. A fick man is very unfit to pray, or repent; - he is like to make but flick work of it. When the body 1s out of tune, the ſoul muſt needs jar in Its devotion. Upona þ fick bed a perſon 1s more fit to exerciſe F impatience, than Repentance. We read, that at the pouring out of the fourth Vial, when God did ſmite the Inhabi- tants, and ſcorched them with fire 3 They blaſphemed the Name of God, and repented nt, Rev.16.g. So when the Lord pours out his Yial, and \corcheth the body with a Feaver,. the ſinner is fitter to blaſptieme than repent. 4. How doſt thou who puitteſt off all Y- to a lick bed, know, that God will give || thee 10 that very juncture of time grace || - torepent? The Lord uſually puniſheth neglect of Repentance in time of health, with hardneſs of heart in time
* Mulcos peorari Vere» ranxs ita confopivit, ut ad ſcriam in uitimo a- gone refipiſcentiam nun» quam peryen.unt. 2a'd- win de (af. Conſe.
and perh ſpring-ty
of {icknels *. Thou haſt in I thy life time repulſed the Spirit || | or God, and art thou ſure it | will come at thy call?: Thou | | haſt not taken the firſt ſeaſon, ape cou ſbalt never ſee another | | e of the Spirit more: All this ]
conſidered, may haſten our Repentance. |
Do
The DotFrine of Repentance. "__ Jo'inot lay too much weight upon aficke bed," 2 Tim. 4.21, Do thy diligence to come before winter. There is a winterof
& ſickneſs, and death a coming , therefore - make' haſte to: repent ; let thy work be 'F ready before winter. To day hear Gods
voice, Heb. 3 » 7.
> —_—
ww
CHAP. X. load The Traal of. our Repentance.
F any ſball ſay, they have repented, let me deſire them to try themſelves
ſertoully . by thoſe ſeven Adjundts
cr Efteds of | Repeurance
which, the Apoſtle.laies down, Co Tinea ue $ 2 fucarg
2 Cor. 7. i hg diftinguatur. De Rive r.Carefulneſs.TheGreek word 1 Effect, |
* ſignifies a ſolicitous diligence, * 9mwi-
* or careful ſhunning all tempta-
tionsto ſn. The true peniten- , Qui renirer fol
"ax . ur peniret fol'ci- tiary flies from ſin, as Foſes did ,* a peccat. Ano from the Serpent *. broſe.
2.Clearirg of our ſelves. TheGreek word 2 "fect.
is Apology”. Theſen'e is this, though we , 7 Rau
have never fo. much care, yet through tatio obje. {trength of ta > 5 5 Ri criminis, , p4 uNNNg$g, rengthof temptation, we'may (lip into 7,77 in,
- The Doftrine of Repentance. fin : riow 1h this caſe the repenting foul will not let fin lye feſtring .in his con- ſcience, but doth judge himſelf for his'