Sermons preached

(2.) The Guilt continues till serious and solemn Repentance, and Humiliation before God, and suing out our Pardon in Christ's Name. 1 John 1. 9. He speaks of Believers, If we confess our Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness. There must be a solemn humbling for the Sin, and then God will forgive us. Suppose a Man forbear the Act, and never commit it more, (as Judah forbore the Act, after he had committed Incest with Tamar, but it seems he repented not till she showed him the Bracelets and the Staff,) yet with serious remorse we must beg our Peace humbly upon the account of our Mediator. Therefore something must be done to take away the Guilt.

(2.) The Guilt continues till serious and solemn Repentance, and Humiliation before God, and suing out our Pardon in Christ's Name. 1 Iohn 1. 9. He speaks of Believers, If we confess our Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness. There must be a solemn humbling for the Sin, and then God will forgive us. Suppose a Man forbear the Act, and never commit it more, (as Iudah forbore the Act, after he had comitted Incest with Tamar, but it seems he repented not till she shewed him the Bracelets and the Staff,) yet with serious remorse we must beg our Peace humbly upon the account of our Mediatour. Therefore something must be done to take away the Guilt.

(3.) There is the Blot or evil Inclination to sin again. The Blot of Sin in general is the defacing of God's Image, but in particular Sins it is some weakening of the Reverence of God. A Man cannot venture to act a grievous wilful Sin, but there is a violent Obstruction of the Love of God. A Brand that hath been in the Fire is more apt to take Fire again; the evil Influences of the Sin continue. Now the Root of Sin must be mortified, it is not enough to forbear or confess a Sin, but we must pull out the Core of the Distemper before all will be well. As Jonah, he repented of his Tergiversation, and forsaking his Call. The fault was not repeated, he goes to Nineveh and does his duty; yet the core of the Distemper was not taken away, for you read of him,