The third thing thou must labour for distinctly, is to conceive 1true mourning and sorrow for these sins thus confessed. This is that sacrifice is so well pleasing to God, and this is every where in Scripture expressly required, and the promises fastened (divers of them) upon this condition, as these places manifestly show, Mat. 5. 4. Jam. 4. 9. Joel. 2. 12, 13. Zach. 12. 12. Isai. 1. 16. Psal. 31. 9, 10. Isai. 61. 1, 2, 3. Jer. 50. 4. Jer. 31. 18, 19. Now that thou 2mayest attain unto softness of heart, I advise thee to take this course: Resolve with thy self to set some time apart, at least once every day for this business; and when thou doest stand before the Lord with thy former mournful indictment, & while thou strivest to judge thy self, ⟨p. 25⟩and to keep an assize upon thy own soul, beg of God to give thee that soft heart he promised, Ezech. 36. 26. beg it (I say) of God, but let thy prayers be without limitation for the time. If the Lord hear th•e not the first time, yet pray for it the next time again, and so the third day, and so still, till the Lord do hear thee, and make thee feel thy heart to melt, and (if it may be) tears to trickle down thy ch•kes before the Lord; yea, put on this resolution, that thou wilt never stand before the Lord for any request while this course lasts, but thou wilt remember this Petition, to beseech him to give thee secret sorrow and sensible for thy sins. It may be, the Lord will hear thee at the first, or in the beginning, while thou art preparing thy self to speak unto him, or while thou callest upon him at the first or second time; but yet if he do not, ⟨p. 26⟩persist thou, thy suit is just; and importunity will overcome the Lord: and this very desire to sorrow being resolute, is a degree of true godly sorrow. But yet that thou mayest be sure of it, give not over, till the Lord hear the letter of thy desire, if it may be. And withal strive against the perplexities of an unquiet heart; fear not, but that time of the day which thou settest apart for religious duties, be as earnest as thou canst, and when that is done, go cheerfully about the works of thy calling. Hang not down thy h•ad like a bulrush, as if thou must do nothing else but sigh and bemoan thy self, and show a troubled mind in all things:
The third thing thou must labour for distinctly, is to conceiue 1true mourning and sorrow for these sinnes thus confessed. This is that sacrifice is so well pleasing to God, and this is euery where in Scripture expresly required, and the promises fastened (diuers of them) vpon this condition, as these places manifestly sh•w, Mat. 5. 4. Iam. 4. 9. Ioel. 2. 12, 13. Zach. 12. 12. Isai. 1. 16. Psal. 31. 9, 10. Isai. 61. 1, 2, 3. Ier. 50. 4. Ier. 31. 18, 19. Now that thou 2mayest attaine vnto softnesse of heart, I aduise thee to take this course: Resolue with thy selfe to set some time apart, at least once euery day for this businesse; and when thou doest stand before the Lord with thy former mournefull inditement, & while thou striuest to iudge thy selfe, ⟨p. 25⟩and to keepe an assise vpon thy owne soule, begge of God to giue thee that soft heart he promised, Ezech. 36. 26. begge it (I say) of God, but let thy prayers bee without limitation for the time. If the Lord heare th•e not the first time, yet pray for it the next time againe, and so the third day, and so still, till the Lord doe heare thee, and make thee feele thy heart to melt, and (if it may bee) teares to trickle downe thy ch•kes before the Lord; yea, put on this resolution, that thou wilt neuer stand before the Lord for any request while this course lasts, but thou wilt remember this Petition, to beseech him to giue thee secret sorrow and sensible for thy sinnes. It may bee, the Lord will heare thee at the first, or in the beginning, while thou art preparing thy selfe to speake vnto him, or while thou callest vpon him at the first or second time; but yet if he doe not,
- 13. Thirdly thou must seek godly sorrow & not give outr, till thou feel thy heart melt within thee.3. Thirdly thou must seek godly sorrow & not giue outr, till thou feele thy heart melt within thee.
- 2How it may be attained.How it may bee attained.
