1. That he take to heart his natural condition. And here he must know some things, and also be very serious about them: I say, he must know some things; as (1.) That as he was born a Rebel and out-law unto God, so he hath by many actual transgressions disobliged God, and ratified the forfeiture of his favour; yea, a man should know many particular instances of his rebellion on all hands, as that he is a liar, sabbath-breaker▪ blasphemer, or the like, as Paul speaketh very particularly of himself afterward, 1. Tim. 1. 15. (2.) The ma• must know, that the wrath of God denounced in Scripture, ⟨p. 83⟩is standing in force against these very sins whereof he is guilty, and so consequently, he is the party undoubtedly against whom God (who cannot lie) hath denounced war. A man must know, that when the Scripture saith, Cursed is he that offereth a corrupt thing unto God, Mal. 1. 14. it speaketh against him for his superficial service performed unto God with the outward man, when his heart was far off. When the word saith, God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain, Exod. 20. 7. the man must know it speaketh against himself, who hath often carelessly profaned that dreadful name before which all knees should bow, Phil. 2. 10. and which his enemies do take in vain, Psal 139. 20. When the Word saith, Cursed is he that doth the Work of the L•rd negligently, Jer. 48. 10. the man must know that it speaketh against himself, who hath irreverently, with much wandering of heart, and drowsiness, heard the Word preached; and without sense, faith, or understanding, hath often prayed before him: When the Word saith, Woe be unto him who giveth his neighbour drink, and putteth his bottle to him, to make him drink also, that he may look on his nakedness, Hab. 2. 15. 16. the man must know that it is spoken against himself, who hath gloried in making his neighbour drunk, and that dreadful wrath is determined by the Lord against him, according to that Scripture: When the Word saith, God will judge unclean persons, Heb. 13. 4. and will shut them out of the […] Jerusalem, Rev, 21. 8. the man must know that the Scripture speaketh these words against him, he being an unclean person, so that he is the person against whom the curses of the Law do directly strike. (3.)
1. That he take to heart his natural condition. And here he must know some things, and also be very serious about them: I say, he must know some things; as (1.) That as he was born a Rebel and out-law unto God, so he hath by many actual transgressions disoblig'd God, and ratified the forfeiture of his favour; yea, a man should know many particular instances of his rebellion on all hands, as that he is a liar, sabbath-breaker▪ blasphemer, or the like, as Paul speaketh very particularly of himself afterward, 1. Tim. 1. 15. (2.) The ma• must know, that the wrath of God denounced in Scripture, ⟨p. 83⟩is standing in force against these very sins whereof he is guilty, and so consequently, he is the party undoubtedly against whom God (who cannot lie) hath denounced war. A man must know, that when the Scripture saith, Cursed is he that offereth a corrupt thing unto God, Mal. 1. 14. it speaketh against him for his superficial service performed unto God with the outward man, when his heart was far off. When the word saith, God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain, Exod. 20. 7. the man must know it speaketh against himself, who hath often carelesly profained that dreadful name before which all knees should bow, Phil. 2. 10. and which his enemies do take in vain, Psal 139. 20. When the Word saith, Cursed is he that doth the Work of the L•rd negligently, Jer. 48. 10. the man must know that it speaketh against himself, who hath irreverently, with much wandering of heart, and drowsiness, heard the Word preached; and without sense, faith, or understanding, hath often prayed before him: When the Word saith, Wo be unto him who giveth his neighbour drink, and putteth his bottle to him, to make him drink also, that he may look on his nakedness, Hab. 2. 15. 16. the man must know that it is spoken against himself, who hath gloried in making his neighbour drunk, and that dreadful wrath is determined by the Lord against him, according to that Scripture: When the Word saith, God will judge unclean persons,
