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…

First, That spiritual humiliation and brokenness of heart which thou hast found, may be very powerful to persuade others of the bitterness of sin. Say with meltings of thy soul to them, Oh, if thou hadst known, if thou hadst ever felt what God hath made me feel, what wonderful changes would be in thee immediately! Those sins which are honey, would presently be as gall. Thus it was with David, Psal. 51. when he could recover from his broken bones, when he could enjoy the face of God, which was hid from him; Then I will teach transgressors thy ways. Then his heart could not hold any longer. He that had sound how bitter a thing it was to provoke God by sin, would persuade others also of it. Thus Christ he bids Peter, when he was converted, to confirm his Brother: To use his own experience to help him. So that you see, even the very sorrow and grief God hath put thee into, let it be a real Sermon to others. Our Saviour made it an aggravation of the Jews wickedness, that if one should rise from the dead; they would not believe. And certainly, if others will not believe thee, who art (as it were) come out of hell, who hast been in the depths of Gods displeasure, their hearts must needs be much hardened. Oh then, make use of what God hath made thee feel, to be a furtherance to others! As Paul, Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, 2 Cor. 5. 11. He knew the terror of the Lord experimentally, when he was stricken to the ground in a Vision, and found the power of God so wonderfully upon him, in making of him another man.

First, That spiritual humiliation and brokennesse of heart which thou hast found, may be very powerfull to perswade others of the bitternesse of sinne. Say with meltings of thy soul to them, Oh, if thou hadst known, if thou hadst ever felt what God hath made me feel, what wonderfull changes would be in thee immediately! Those sinnes which are honey, would presently be as gall. Thus it was with David, Psal. 51. when he could recover from his broken bones, when he could enjoy the face of God, which was hid from him; Then I will teach transgressors thy waies. Then his heart could not hold any longer. He that had sound how bitter a thing it was to provoke God by sinne, would perswade others also of it. Thus Christ he bids Peter, when he was converted, to confirm his Brother: To use his own experience to help him. So that you see, even the very sorrow and grief God hath put thee into, let it be a reall Sermon to others. Our Saviour made it an aggravation of the Jews wickednesse, that if one should rise from the dead; they would not believe. And certainly, if others will not believe thee, who art (as it were) come out of hell, who hast been in the depths of Gods displeasure, their hearts must needs be much hardned. Oh then, make use of what God hath made thee feel, to be a furtherance to others! As Paul, Knowing the terrour of the Lord, we perswade men,