Such as when he was making the world, ⟨p. 142⟩enlightened the Chaos. Such as hath made them see things that concerned them as they truly were, and with their own proper face, God, and Christ, and themselves, sin and duty, heaven and hell in their own true appearances! How effectually they have been awakened! how the terrors of the Almighty have beset and seized their souls! what agonies and pangs they have felt in themselves, when the voice of God hath said to them, awake thou that sleepest, and arise from dead, and Christ shall give thee life! Ephes. 5.14. How he hath brought them down at his feet, thrown them into the dust, broken them, melted them, made them abase themselves, loath and abhor themselves, filled them with sorrow, shame, confusion, and with indignation, towards their own guilty souls, habituated them to a severity against themselves, unto the most sharp, and yet most unforced self-accusations, self-judging and self condemnation; so as even to make them lay claim to hell, and confess the portion of devils belonged to them, as their own most deserved portion. And if now their ⟨p. 143⟩eyes have been directed towards a Redeemer, and any glimmering of hope hath appeared to them; If now they are taught to understand God saying to them, Sinner, art thou yet willing to be reconciled, and accept a Saviour? O the transport into which it puts them! this is life from the dead! what is there hope for such a lost wretch as I? How tasteful now is that melting invitation? how pleasant an intimation doth it carry with it, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, &c. If the Lord of heaven and earth do now look down from the throne of glory, and say, what, Sinner, wilt thou despise my favour and pardon, my Son, thy mighty merciful Redeemer, my grace and Spirit still! — What can be the return of the poor abashed wretch, overawed by the glory of the divine Majesty, stung with compunction, overcome with the intimation of kindness and love? I have heard of thee, O God, by the hearing of the ear, now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor my self, and repent in dust and ashes. So inwardly is the truth of that word ⟨p. 144⟩now felt, that thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. Ezek. 16.63.
Such as when he was making the world, ⟨p. 142⟩enlightned the Chaos. Such as hath made them see things that concerned them as they truly were, and with their own proper face, God, and Christ, and themselves, sin and duty, heaven and hell in their own true appearances! How effectually they have been awakened! how the terrours of the Almighty have beset and seized their souls! what agonies and pangs they have felt in themselves, when the voice of God hath said to them, awake thou that sleepest, and arise from dead, and Christ shall give thee life! Ephes. 5.14. How he hath brought them down at his feet, thrown them into the dust, broken them, melted them, made them abase themselves, loath and abhor themselves, fill'd them with sorrow, shame, confusion, and with indignation, towards their own guilty souls, habituated them to a severity a••inst themselves, unto the most sharp, and yet most unforced self-accusations, self-judging and self condemnation; so as even to make them lay claim to hell, and confesse the portion of devils belonged to them, as their own most deserved portion. And if now their ⟨p. 143⟩eyes have been directed towards a Redeemer, and any glimmering of hope hath appeared to them; If now they are taught to understand God saying to them, Sinner, art thou yet willing to be reconciled, and accept a Saviour? O the transport into which it puts them! this is life from the dead! what is there hope for such a lost wretch as I? How tastful now is that melting invitation? how pleasant an intimation doth it carry with it, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, &c. If the Lord of heaven and earth do now look down from the throne of glory, and say, what, Sinner, wilt thou despise my favour and pardon, my Son, thy mighty merciful Redeemer, my grace and Spirit still! — What can be the return of the poor abashed wretch, overawed by the glory of the divine Majesty, stung with compunction, overcome with the intimation of kindnes and love? I have heard of thee, O God, by the hearing of the ear, now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor my self, and repent in dust and ashes. So inwardly is the truth of that word ⟨p. 144⟩now felt, that thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. Ezek. 16.63.
