The application of redemption

Exhortation. We here see the way that the Lord hath ¹chalked out before us the means which in mercy and in way of his providence he hath provided & appointed to break our hearts, to bring us to his son and so to life. We are therefore to be exhorted to attend and follow the counsel of the Lord that we may expect and so receive his blessing; even with Conscientious diligence and studious endeavour to press on to the performance of this service. some happily never knew it, looked not at it as ⟨p. 242⟩a labour or task that did […] to them, let such now own it, and set about it with all […] might, others it may be have been convinced of the duty, and have been forward in the practice of it in former times, and forced to it in the […] of their distress, but now are fallen back and grown wearish in their way, those are to be persuaded to proceed on with more cheerfulness and speed, he that never knew the work let him now learn it. He that hath set about it in former times let him be for ever quickened and encouraged in it. Join all your counsels and resolutions you that are children and servants in the same family, members in the same assemblies, neighbours in the same place and plantation, and […] upon each other to this holy course; Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord. say so one to another, you that are privy to the wretchedness of your own hearts and lives, we complain and that justly of a giddy slightness of spirit, we meet with many strokes of the word, stirrings and recoilings of spirit, our hearts misgive us, many checks of Conscience, and motives (we think) of the holy Ghost cast into our minds but nothing stays with us, sticks upon us, they pass away insensibly, and leave no impression, no power behind them we wash away all: we cannot but see and wonder at the unreasonable hardness of our heart, and condemn our selves, who have had so many blows from Gods hand and they break not, so many dreadful threatenings we hear out of the word daily able to shake the heart of a Devil, we stir not, we are not affected therewith; our corruptions are heinous for their nature, many for their number, accompanied with direful plagues from the Lord, are daily before our eyes, have driven many to untimely deaths and so to Hell.