4 We may read in the 16▪ of Exodus, how the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses & Aaron, which is a manifest sign, that they never repented them of their murmuring in Egypt, at the red Sea, and waters of strife. And although the Lord delayed the punishment, yet could they not be brought hereby to repentance, because they neither felt what their murmuring deserved, nor what the mercy of God is worth▪ We must then learn, not only to leave sin, and purpose not to commit it again, but we must with grief of heart repent of it, feel Gods mercies in forgetting it, and a hearty hatred of it. Otherwise when a new occasion is offered, we shall fall thereinto again, as a swearer1 will after an Oath be angry for it, yet because he seeth not the grievousness of the sin, hath not acquaintance with the reverend use of the Name of GOD, falleth to swear again: So it is with them that profane the Sabbath of the Lord, and of them that speak evil of the magistrates & minsters, they say they will do so no more, and yet because they repent not, therefore they fall again: So is this seen in angry persons, which are rather grieved for shame or loss, or such like causes, & not for the love of GOD: so it is in thieves, which come to the gallows again, although once received their pardon. This also may be seen in Tale-bearers, when their dealing is known, they marvel at themselves; yet not repenting, they fall to their sin again. The Apostle Saint James in his fourth chapter teacheth us, not only to cleanse the hands, but to purge the heart also: for we must see our hearts defiled with the sin we leave, or else it is impossible to repent, for the heart being still defiled, will yield to a new occasion. The means to leave these sins is there set down, to howl and weep, &c. Jam. 4. for the burnt child feareth the fire: but because God doth not throughly punish men, & because mens hearts do not feel the grievousness of sin, and Gods judgements ⟨p. 781⟩due to them for the same, therefore they sin afresh: but if they did feel Gods wrath, and the grievousness of their sins, then no doubt they would shake at the appearance of evil. Therefore that we may come to this, and hate those sins that especially do prevail against us, we must use sharp medicines, as in an old festered sore, they use corrosive2 salves:
4 We may reade in the 16▪ of Exodus, how the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses & Aaron, which is a manifest signe, that they neuer repented them of their murmuring in Egypt, at the red Sea, and waters of strife. And although the Lord delayed the punishment, yet could they not bee brought hereby to repentance, because they neither felt what their murmuring deserued, nor what the mercie of God is worth▪ We must then learne, not only to leaue sinne, and purpose not to commit it againe, but we must with griefe of heart repent of it, feele Gods mercies in forgetting it, and a harty hatred of it. Otherwise when a new occasion is offered, we shall fall thereinto againe, as a swearer1 will after an Oath be angrie for it, yet because he seeth not the grieuousnes of the sinne, hath not acquaintance with the reuerend vse of the Name of GOD, falleth to sweare againe: So it is with them that prophane the Sabbath of the Lorde, and of them that speake euill of the magistrates & minsters, they say they will do so no more, and yet because they repent not, therefore they fall againe: So is this seene in angrie persons, which are rather grieued for shame or losse, or such like causes, & not for the loue of GOD: so it is in thieues, which come to the gallowes againe, although once receiued their pardon. This also may be seene in Tale-bearers, when their dealing is knowne, they maruell at themselues; yet not repenting, they fall to their sinne againe. The Apostle Saint Iames in his fourth chapter teacheth vs, not only to clense the hands, but to purge the heart also: for we must see our hearts defiled with the sinne wee leaue, or else it is impossible to repent, for the heart being still defiled, will yeeld to a new occasion. The means to leaue these sins is there set downe, to howle and weepe, &c. Iam. 4. for the burnt child feareth the fire: but because God doth not throughly punish men, & because mens hearts do not feele the grieuousnes of sinne, and Gods iudgements ⟨p. 781⟩due to them for the same, therefore they sinne afresh: but if they did feele Gods wrath, and the grieuousnes of their sinnes, then no doubt they would shake at the appearance of euill. Therefore that we may come to this, and hate those sinnes that especially do preuaile against vs, we must vse sharpe medicines, as in an old festered sore, they vse corrosiue2 salues:
- 1To leave a sin we must first have grief of heart for it: 2▪ a feeling of Gods mercies in forgetting it 3. a hearty hatred of it. We must see our harts defiled with the sin we leave, else it is impossible to repent.To leaue a sin wee must first haue griefe of heart for it: 2▪ a feeling of Gods mercies in forgeting it 3. a hearty hatred of it. Wee must see our harts desiled with the sin we leaue, else it is impossible to repent.
- 2Simile.
