I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Object. But suppose that a man have sinned foully, greatly, and he cannot repent, or be humbled enough; (for that is my case, I have sinned, I have sinned greatly, and now after all, my heart is hard, and I cannot be humbled enough, O! I cannot repent enough,) hath he not just cause and reason for his discouragement now, yea now to be quite discouraged?

Object. But suppose that a man have sinned fowly, greatly, and he cannot repent, or be humbled enough; (for that is my case, I have sinned, I have sinned greatly, and now after al, my heart is hard, and I cannot be humbled enough, O! I cannot repent enough,) hath he not just cause and reason for his discouragement now, yea now to be quite discouraged?

Answ. No, not yet, For what if the Lord will have your humiliation ⟨p. 68⟩from you by degrees? should you be so, or so muc• humbled for the present, it may be it would be with you as it h••h been with others, you would never think of your sins afterward, but may be the Lord will have this work of humiliation to stay long upon thy soul, and he will not give it you all at once. Some there are, that when they come into a house, they pay a great in-come, and little rent, others pay a little in-come, and a great rent, so it is with souls that come to Christ, some at the first lay down a great humiliation, and they have lesser of it afterward, some have less at the first, and have more afterwards by continuance in it, and what now if the Lord will lead thy soul in this latter way? this latter way may be the better way if the Lord think fit.

Answ. No, not yet, For what if the Lord wil have your humiliation ⟨p. 68⟩from you by degrees? should you be so, or so muc• humbled for the present, it may be it would be with you as it hh been with others, you would never think of your sins afterward, but may be the Lord wil have this work of humiliation to stay long upon thy soul, and he wil not give it you al at once. Some there are, that when they come into a house, they pay a great in-come, and little rent, others pay a little in-come, and a great rent, so it is with souls that come to Christ, some at the first lay down a great humiliation, and they have lesser of it afterward, some have less at the first, and have more afterwards by continuance in it, and what now if the Lord wil lead thy soul in this latter way? this latter way may be the better way if the Lord think fit.