(3.) Aggravate thy sins from the consideration of God's love. Two things very much humble the soul, light and love. So it was in Saul's case: 1 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17, 'And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Tliou art more righteous than I ; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded ihee evil.' There is a natural ingenuity in the sourest nature to make us relent, when we have done wrong to a kind person. Take the same course with your souls ; all this is done against a merciful God, and against special offers of love. Surely you have very hard hearts, if they will not be melted with offers of grace.
(4.) Do not skin over the wounds of conscience: Jer. vi. 14, ' They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, say- ing, Peace, peace, when there is no peace , ' they put it off, rather than put it away ; stop the flux of humours, rather than cure the distemper. Better keep conscience raw than let it fester into an ulcerate sore : Ps. li. 3, ' I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.' This must be the disposition of your hearts, otherwise, your iniquities will find you out ; we must have a care of quenching the Spirit, when a ray of conviction is darted into our bosoms.
(5.) Propound the encouragements of a common faith. Observe that mercy is made an argument to draw men to the highest pungent afflictive sorrow : Joel ii. 13, 'Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God : for he is gracious and mereiful ; ' it noteth a deep and heightened sorrow upon the motive of God's good- ness. The apostle tells them of a promise. Acts ii. 39 ; after they were pricked in hearts, ver. 37 ; Mat. iii. 2, ' Repent ye : for the king- dom of heaven is at hand ; ' that is, the whole gracious administration
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of Christ. Partly because else there would be a despondency and despair, it is a dangerous temptation to say there is no hope . Jer. xviiL 12, 'And they said, There is no hope; but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart : ' it is the nature of man to be led by hope, much more in a duty so distasteful to flesh and blood as humiliation is. Partly because greatness of sins should increase our repentance, but not diminish our faith. Rend your hearts, be deeply humble, but still remember God is merciful.
(6.) Compare thy own want with the blessed condition of those that eujoy grace. As the prodigal : Luke xv. 17, ' How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! ' Christ cannot want a people, but I may want a saviour: blessed are they that are at peace with God through Christ, but I am an alien and stranger to those joys. Emulation is a means to humble us; the meanest of God's family abound in spiritual comforts.
Secondly, Do something to further the immediate workings and actings of faith ; that is your work when the heart is humble and sensible.
1. Consider God's gracious invitation. God hath fully opened his mind concerning the receiving of sinners that come to Christ. He prays us to come, makes public proclamation : Isa. Iv. 1, ' Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money : come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price.' God by his ministers goes a begging to poor creatures : 2 Cor. v. 20, ' Xow then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us ; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.' He pitieth those that do not come to him, Ps. Ixxxi. 13, ' Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways ! ' so Luke xix. 41, 42, ' When he was come near he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying. If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! ' He professeth his loathness that any should perish : Ezek. xxxiii. 11, ' As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways, for why will you die, 0 house of Israel ? ' he reasoneth with them — ' Why will you die ? ' So Ezek. xviii. 31. He chideth them for not coming, John v. 40, ' Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.' He promiseth and offereth to them all the favour that may be : John vi. 27, ' Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you ; ' Mat. xi. 28, ' Come uni.o me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Ye need not fear an entertainment. Now it is a great advantage to faith to consider these passionate forms. Show yourselves men by a literal revolution of the promises ; though it be but an act of imderstanding and memory, yet God may bless it. Constant thoughts have a natural efficacy; when God is in them, and giveth his blessing, they work much. 2. Season the heart with gracious maxims and discourses, such as these. The more angry you conceive God to be, the more need you