An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Lastly, The Souls-trouble may arise from the breaches it hath made by Apostasy, and falling into great sins after it hath known God. And these commonly do give a mortal blow to all our former comfort. You see it in David, Psal. 51. when he complaineth of his broken bones, praying to have joy restored to him. Some have thought that David never had such comfort again as formerly. Certainly the godly in such falls sin heinously, because of the experience they have of Gods favour, and the bitterness of sin, therefore for them to revolt from God is an high aggravation: As if the Prodigal son, after he had been entertained in his Fathers house, and feasted with the fatted calf, should have gone to his husks again, how intolerable would that have been? Well, but for all this, this sad condition of a gradual Apostate, and revolter, is not without ground of comfort, when truly humbled and debased before God. Doth not God speak graciously, Jer. 3. 22. Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings? And see how this merciful offer is embraced, Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God. She pleadeth her interest and right to God howsoever. Thus also God promiseth, Hos. 14. 4. Isle heal their backsliding. So that although when the conscience hath been the second time bruised; when thou hast been twice as it were in the new birth, thou must look for greater pains and agonies, yet God can, and doth comfort such also. Peter speaks of joy unspeakable, and full of glory, which the people of God have, though he had greatly revolted from Christ his master. So that manna may be had in this wilderness also.

Lastly, The Souls-trouble may arise from the breaches it hath made by Apostasie, and falling into great sins after it hath known God. And these commonly do give a mortal blow to all our former comfort. You see it in David, Psal. 51. when he complaineth of his broken bones, praying to have joy restored to him. Some have thought that David never had such comfort again as formerly. Certainly the godly in such fals sinne hainously, because of the experience they have of Gods favour, and the bitterness of sinne, therefore for them to revolt from God is an high aggravation: As if the Prodigal son, after he had been entertained in his Fathers house, and feasted with the fatted calf, should have gone to his husks again, how intollerable would that have been? Well, but for all this, this sad condition of a gradual Apostate, and revolter, is not without ground of comfort, when truly humbled and debased before God. Doth not God speak graciously,