A25470:167
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers, September 1661.
London: printed for Joshua Kirton and Nathaniel Webb, 1661
Sermon 2: What must, and can Persons do Towards their own CONVERSION?
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. They may be filled with fear, and dread the threatenings and punishments of God due to sin. This was the case here; they had provoked the Lord against their souls, felt their consciences condemning of them, apprehended the judgements of God near unto them, and so were possest with much fear lest the Lord should destroy them, and therefore say, Men and brethren what shall we do? We know not whither to go, where to hide our selves, or what to do, that we may escape the things we have deserved, and fear.
3. They may be fil'd with fear, and dread the threatnings and punishments of God due to sin. This was the case here; they had provoked the Lord against their soules, felt their consciences condemning of them, apprehended the judgements of God near unto them, and so were possest with much fear lest the Lord should destroy them, and therefore say, Men and brethren what shall we do? We know not whither to go, where to hide our selves, or what to do, that we may escape the things we have deserved, and fear.
4. They may confess their sin, renounce it, and reform much; these Auditors of Peter being pricked in their hearts, said, What shall we do? We have sinned, and that greatly, we confess and acknowledge it before God and you, it was a cursed act of ours, & we abhor it, we will never do so hereafter. They were sick of sin, and vomited it up, as they in Peter, 1and would change their minds and manners, & walk in any way the Apostles should direct them. The Merchant, Mat. 13.46. sold all that he had for the pearl before he bought it. This selling all is ⟨p. 35⟩made by some Interpreters to be his restraint from all inward sin, and his conformity to all outward duties. This was much, and yet not more than unconverted persons may attain unto. Herod reformed many things, the foolish Virgins went far, as was said before, they were Virgins free from spot and pollution, they had Lamps, visible professions, they went forth to meet the Bridegroom; they had some faith in him, and affection to him, else they would not have gone forth.