The oil of gladnessThe oyle of gladnesse

The third follows, and that is worse then both the former. Ah I have made long defections from the covenant of grace, and revolted, backslided, apostated from the ways of God, and in my backsliding ⟨p. 143⟩vein have run into, I know not how many and how grievous offences. Since I found some good things working in my soul, and had for a great space and with great forwardness, continued to walk in the paths of piety. I have again broken forth and continued a long time in my wanderings, without any care of returning, and therefore now I fear that my case is desperate, and that J have committed the unpardonable sin. This argument must be likewise ⟨p. 144⟩cast into this form, whosoever hath been guilty of long and grievous defections and backslidings, hath his sins unpardoned, and hath committed the unpardonable trespass, nor can be pardoned. Now so I have done, as mine own heart is too sure a witness against me: Therefore I neither am nor can be pardoned. Mine answer to this reason, is in the same manner that the former. The first part of it must be denied, as being evidently false and against the ⟨p. 145⟩Word of God. For David in my Text did thus backslide in some degree, but Solomon (whose birth is here mentioned, and who is here graced with the name Jedidiah, because the Lord, not alone did but also would love him) did make even such an Apostasy to the very full and yet he recovered himself by repentance, he was upright before, and he was pardoned. For hath not the Lord promised Israel to heal her backslidings? Tell ⟨p. 146⟩