Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

No Heart opens to Christ by Faith till it be first pricked and wounded by Compunction and Humiliation; this Heart-wounding work is always antecedent to the work of Faith. I doubt not but your thoughts fore-run my Discourse to that famous Scripture, Acts 2. 37. where Peter preaching to those that had crucified Christ, and bringing up his Discourse close to their Consciences, in the application of that Sermon, convincing them not only what an horrid and atrocious crime the crucifying the Son of God was in it self; but also charging it home upon them, ⟨p. 70⟩Whom you have taken, and with wicked Hands have crucified and slain: When they heard this, they were pricked at the Heart; and cried out, Men and Brethren what shall we do? Upon this outcry three thousand Souls opened in one hour to Christ▪ Now consider whether your Hearts have been thus pricked and wounded? Hath sorrow for sin pierced thy Soul? Vain sinner, that frothy Heart of thine must be made to bleed, under Compunctions for sin, or there will be no room for Christ in it. Come Souls, tis in vain to flatter your selves in your own Eyes; reflect upon the frames of your Hearts, call back the days that are past, and say, When was the Time, and where was the Place when thou layest at the Foot of God sobbing and mourning upon the account of thy Sins? Did ever God hear such a cry as this from thy Soul? Ah, Lord my Soul is distressed, I roll hither and thither for ease and comfort, but find none: O the insupportable weight of guilt! Oh the bitterness of sin! My Soul fails under it, Lord undertake for me. I do not say, The degrees of Compunction and Humiliation are equal in all Converts, neither their sins nor abilities to bear sorrows for them are equal; but this I say, Thy Heart must ache for sin, or it will never open to Christ; he binds up none but broken Hearts,