1s, immoderate love of the world. No wonderEzekzels hearers were hardned in- to rebellion , when their heart went after caveteuſueſs, Exo%. 33.31. The world doth ſo engroſs mens time, and bewitch their affections, that they cannot repent 3 they bad rather put gold in their bag, than tears in Gods bottle, I hayeread of the Turks, that they mind neither Churches, ncr Altars, but are diligent in looking at- ter their tillage. So many ſcarce ever mind Repentance 3 they are more for the Plerngh, and breaking of the clods, than breaking up the fallow ground of their hearts. The Thorns choke the word. We rcad of them who were invited to Chrilts Supper, who put him off with worldly excufes, Luk. 14.18. One ſaid, T have bought a piece of ground, and muſt needs go fee it, 1 pray thee have me excuſed ; and ano» ther, 1have bought five yoke of Oxen, &c&, ' The farmand the thop fo take up peoples time, that they have no leiſure for their
ſouls * : Their golden weights hinder * wiv e- their filver tears. There is an Herb in 3%
the Country of Sardinia, like Baulm, which if they eat much of, will make them die laughing : Such an herb (or ra- ther weed) is the world, if men eat
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The DoBrine of Repent anice, too immoderately of it, inſtead of dyin repenting,/they will die laughing. "Theſe are the: obſtructions -of Repentance which muſt be removed, that the current: may be clearer. :
- CHAP. XV. Preſeribing ſome Means for Repentance. Shall in the laſtplace preſcribe ſome
Rules or Means conducible to Repen- tance,
I. The firſt is ſerious confideration, .
P/al. 119. 59. Tthought on my waies, and turned my feet unto thy teſtimonies. The Prodigal, when he came to himſelf, and did {crioufly confider his rictous luxu- riances,-then he repented. Peter, when
he thought of Chriſt; words, wept. There
are four things, which iF.they were well con{tdered of, would be a means to make us break off a courſe of finning.
I. Conſider ſerioufly what tin is 3 and ſure there is enough evil in it tomake us repent: There are in fin theſe twenty Evils. |
I, Every fin is a receſſion from
- " Gad,
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JS God *, Jer. 2,,5. God 1s the ſupream
go00d, and our bleſledneſs lyes in union with him 3-but fin, like a {trong byals, draws aWay. the heart from God, The ſinner takes his Jeave of God 3 he bids farewel to Chriſt and mercy. Every ſtep forward.in ſin, is a'ftep backward from God, ' Iſa. 1. 4. They have forſaken the Lord, they are gone away backward. The further,one goes from the Sun, the nearer he approacheth to darkneſs : the further the ſoul goes from God, the nearer 1t
approacheth to miſery.
2. Sin 1s awalking contrary to God, Levit.26. 27. .Theſame word in the He- brew * fgnifies both to commit ſer, and to rebel, Sin is Gods oppoſite : If God
' beot one min, fin will be of another :
It God faith ſandifie the Sabbath, fin laich, propbane'1t, Sin ſtrikes at Gods very being .; {t {in could help it, God ſhould be no longer God, 1/a. 30.11, Capje the holy One of Tjrael to ceaſe from be- fore w. Whatan horrible thing is this, for a piece of proud duſt, to riſe upin defiance againlt its maker ! |
3. Sin1s an injury to God. For 1. It violates. his Laws 3 here 1s crimen leſz majeſtatis, What greater injury can be
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Peccatum fundatur in
znorantia- cgurie of ſinning, Jer. 9.3. They proceed *- from evil to evil, and know not me, faith the
"The DoBrine of Repentance. offered to a Prince, than to trample up-
on his royal edits? A _finner cfters con-"'. F eaven, -
tempt to the Statute-Laws of Nebem. 9. 26, They have caſt thy be- hind their back; as if they ſcorned to look upon it, |
2. Sin robs God of his due. You injure +
a wan when you do not give him his due, The ſoul belongs to God, he laies a double claim to-it; it 1s his by creation and purchaſe : now fin ſteals the ſoul from Ged, and gives the Devil that which of right belongs ta God.
4. Sin 1s profound ignorance. The School-men ſay, AY ſin is founded it igno- rance *; did men know God in his puti- ty and juſtice, they durit not go on1n a
Lord. Therefore jezorance and luft are Joyned together, I Per. 1. 14, Ignorance 1s the womb of luſt, Vapours ariſe moſt in the night : The black vapours of (in ariſe moſt in a dark ignorant foul. Satan caſts a miſt before a ſinner, that he ſees not the flaming ſword of Gods wrath- The Eagle brl
- -.
EYES,
rolls himſelf in the ſand, | - and then flies at the Stagg, and by flut- ' tering his wings, ſo beduſts the Staggs ..
3. that Eagle or Prince of the Air firſt F blinds men with ignorance *, and then * 2 ce.
- cauſe to repent of ignorance,
' brink of the bottomleſs pit. Foolilh finner, . . * . doſt that which may undo thy ſoul for
Paradiſe ; One fin of the Angels loſt them
rowegie, filthineſs, Jam. 1. 21. The Greek