A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

Object. But then who may presume and venture into Secret Communion.

Ans. True, if God should strictly mark what we do amiss, who can stand? David was sensible of this objection,¹ but he answers it humbly: There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared. If we come with holy purposes to leave all sin, he hath promised to pardon abundantly. His thoughts and ways are not as ours,² guilt makes us fly his presence: but proclamation of pardoning grace to a wounded soul that comes for strength from heaven to subdue its iniquities,³ sweetly draws the soul to lye at his foot for mercy. Though we cannot as yet be so free as formerly, while under the wounding sense of guilt,⁴ yet when he restores to us the joy of his salvation, he will again uphold us with his free spirit. Yet take heed of Scars upon the soul. God knows our foolishness and our guiltinesses are not hid from him, yet we come for purging and cleansing mercy. A godly man may be under the sense of divine displeasure, for some iniquity that himself knoweth, as the Lord spake of Eli, yet the way to be cured,⁵ is not to run from God, but like the distressed woman, come fearing and trembling and fall at his feet and tell him all the truth. But if prayer have cured thee, sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee. For if we regard iniquity in our heart, ⁶the Lord will not hear us, but the guilt may stare conscience in the face with great amazement. As 'tis storied of one that secretly had stolen a sheep, it ran before his eyes in prayer that he could have no rest. How strangely will memory ring the bell in the ears of conscience! If we have any secret sin in deliciis, if we look but a squint with desires and secret thoughts (after our peace-offerings) to meet our beloved lusts again, this is dangerous,