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foul, this is fuch a despair as is afly the
runner of a faving converfion. And thereis
people that have spent their time in financ
ty, in ignorance and worldlineffe, in
thefelves, and to the flesh, and have
any work of Grace upon their hearts, nore
been truly humbled under an apprehen
vil and danger of their fins; to exe
nifter fhould speak comfort to them,
to be footh'd and flattered to their

on..

The Directions therefore I think fick perfons are thefe following.

I. Let them confider that no fickn or distemper of body comes by chan the wife and orderly guidance of the band 2 that 'tis his messenger, and fent by his them. And therefore let them hear ther who hath appointed it, Micah 6.9.

II. Let them fet themfelves before t bunal of Chrift, before whom they may ought they know) fhortly appear. As them confider, he is a Fudge that cannot ceived, nor will be mocked: That he is well as merciful, righteous as well as gra and all their fins original and actual of em commißion, against the Law and against the feel, against mercies, against judgments, « promifes and vowes of better obedience, finfull thoughts, and finfull affections and m

of their hearts all their finful words and finfall actions, with the feveral aggravations of all these, are known unto him; yea, their fecreteft fins are fet in the light of his countenance.

III. Let them feriously examine themselves, and put these fix questions home to their Consci

ences.

First, What abiding fenfe they have had upon their hearts (in the whole course of their lives) of their own vileneffe and wretchedneffe by mature, the odionfneffe and defilement of their fins, their just defert of wrath, their natural impotency and inability to good, their proneneffe to evil & Whether they have ever been deeply fenfible of the darkneffe of their minds, stubbornnelse of their wils, deceitfulneffe of their hearts, inordinateneffe of their affections, finfulnesse of their practife? If they have, what effects has the confideration of these things produced? what forrow, what: fear has been stirred in them? What courfe has it put them upon for remedy? What industry have they ufed, what pains have they taken to be delivered out of this miferable eftare

Let their Confciences have liberty to speak freely to them, and to tell them the truth, whether ever they have been affected (in any confiderable degree) with thefe things or no.

Secondly, Whether they ever rightly appre hended what are the conditions of the new Covenant, the Covenant of Grace. Moft will grant

that

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Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lad Fefus Chrift are neceßary to salvation; but then their apprehenfions and conceptions are different from, and inconfiftent with the nature of the Graces. There is a great deal of danger in mifta king about these things. Therefore let them ask themselves seriously, whether they do in deed understand that true repentance follows upon a clear and full conviction of the evil, odionfneffe, and filthineffe of fin, as that which is con trary to Gods holy Nature, and is flat rebellion against his Lawes and Authority, as that which der faces his Image, depraves, defiles, pollutes the foul weakens its powers, difenables it for boly o perations, and conforms it to the Image of Satan, Whether they rightly apprehend the danger, de fert, and mischievous effects and confequents of fins how it expofes the finner to judgments fpi rituall, temporal, and eternal. Whether eve they apprehended their own deep guiltineß both of original, and a huge number of actual fins? Whether there ever has been wrought in them an deep contrition and hearty forrow for their fins; and that upon Gofpel-grounds because they have fo exceedingly difhonoured God, pierced our des Lord and Saviour, grieved the holy Spirit, broug a ftain and defilement upon their foules, and rer dred themfelves justly liable to the wrath and cur of God? Whether their hearts have been wrough to a hatred and loathing of fin, and to a førfaking

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of every known fin; and are now really turned unGod? Whether they have clearly and without ruile of Spirit confeffed & bewailed their fins unto God, their particular known fins particularly, and all fecret, undiscovered, unknown fins with ageheral confeffion? And here that the fick verfon may the better examine himself, and awaten his Confcience, and may understand (in Come measure) the number of his fins, the feve val kinds of them, and the various waies of offending God; let him confider and ponder feriusly of the duties commanded and fins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments; and the special fins against the Gospel: For the more particu lar his repentance is, the more pungent and af fictive it will be, and fo the more fincere and effectual.

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Of the duties commanded and fins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments.

The firft Commandment requireth us to own and acknowledge Jehovah to be the only true God, and our God, and to adore, worship and glorifie him accordingly...

"The fins against this Commandment are,.

1. Atheifm; not believing there is a God; "or fo living as if there were no God in the world to be obeyed and worshipped. 2. Idolatry, in having or worshipping more Gods

"than

Chap. than one, or any with or in ftead of the te "God: praying, or giving any religious w "hip to Saints, Angels, or any other C

<ture.

3. All compacts, and confulting w "the Devil, all reforting to Witches and C jurers, which is in effect to go to the De himself.4.Making men the Lords of our Far

& Confciences. 5. Ignorance, mifapprehen "ons,misbelief concerning God; not labouring "after the true knowledge of God, morendes"vouring to understand aright his nature, pro"perties, and works. 6. Infidelity, not believing "his word,or not believing it effectually & pr "Etically fo as to live according to our belief no "beleeving his threatnings fo as to be afraid "chem; nor his promifes fo as to be invited by "them unto obedience, and newnesse of life "7. Diffidence and diftruft of his care and pro "vidence; not depending on him for the fup

ply of our wants: not looking up to him for a "bleffing on our lawful endeavours; tempting "him by ufing unlawful means, in stead of wai "ing his leifure: Creature-confidence, truft ing in wit, wealth, friends, &c. and there withdrawing our hearts and dependance from God. 8. Want of love to God: Not ck: "ving to him with a fervent love, apprehendin "him the chief good; not loving him fort "own infinite excellencies, and for his goo "neffe to us; not loving him with all our

"fections

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