CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Take these Directions.¹

1. 1Answ. Directions showing how a man may come to prize this doctrine.Answ. Directions shewing how a man may come to prize this doctrine.

1. Feel sin as a burden; as a weight let it be more to thee then all temporal evils in the world, for so Mat. 11. Come to me ye that are heavy laden and I will ease you; David Psal. 32. when his sin was ready to overwhelm him, then he crieth out, Blessed is he to whom the Lord imputeth no sin; When Mary Magdalene hath her head and heart a Fountain of water because of her sins, then she is greatly endeared in her affections to Christ; Those love much to whom much is forgiven, as our Saviour at large showeth, Luk. 7.46. If then thou art not persuaded of thy debts, or if the thoughts of them do not afflict and grieve thee, never think that Christ will be chief in thy heart; Oh then begin here, lay this for a Foundation, saying, All these precious Truths will be spilt like water upon the ground, until I be of a broken contrite heart for sin; The Prodigal never regarded the bread and Fullness in his Fathers House, till he comes to want even husks themselves: Joab would not come to Absalom, till all his Corn was fired: Neither do we readily and willingly run to Christ, till God hath shot his arrow into us, till he hath wounded us at the heart, till we feel sin the greatest burden, and that because God is dishonoured and provoked, and indeed this may be a very good motive to Repentance and humiliation, because there is such an excellent Remedy; Thou needest not fear going into the depths of this water because Christ will preserve thee therein; No wonder if a man not believing or acquainted with this Truth be afraid to think of his sins; That with Luther he hates the word Repent, for there is nothing but despair and hopelessness about sin till this Truth be discovered; Oh then be no longer afraid to have thy sins brought to thy mind; Say not, They are a greater burden then can be born; for had Cain believed in Christ, Had Judas believed in Christ, Their sick and wounded Souls had quickly been healed; It's not the greatness nor the multitude of thy sins; It's not the terrible aggravations of them may wholly overwhelm thee if so be thou dost but cast Anchor upon Christ.