Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

BUT it is Natural to all Men to divert to such Reliefs in this case. Those who are throughly convinced of Spiritual Decays, are therewithal pressed with a sense of the Guilt of Sin; for it is Sin which hath brought them into that Condition. Hereon in the first place they set their Contrivance at work, how they may atone Divine Displeasure, and obtain Acceptance with God: And if they are not under the actual Conduct of Evangelical Light, two things immediately offer themselves unto them. First, Some extraordinary course in Duties, which God hath not commanded. This is the way which they betake themselves unto in the Papacy, and which Guilt in the Darkness of corrupted Nature vehemently calls for. Secondly, An extraordinary multiplication of such Duties, as for the substance of them are required of us. An instance in both kinds we have Micah 6. 6, 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow my self before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with Calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams, or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oil? Shall I give my First-born for my Transgressions, the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul? And by this means they hope for a Restitution into their former Condition. And ⟨p. 66⟩whereas Spiritual Decays are of two sorts: First, from the Power and Effect of Convictions only, which are multiplied among Temporary Believers: And Secondly, from Degrees in the Power and Effects of Saving Grace. Those whose Decays are of the first sort, are never to be diverted from, attempting their Relief by such means: And when they find them fail, for the most part they cease contending, and abandon themselves to the power of their Lusts; for they have no Evangelical Light to guide them in another course.

BUT it is Natural to all Men to divert to such Reliefs in this case. Those who are throughly convinced of Spiritual Decays, are therewithall pressed with a sense of the Guilt of Sin; for it is Sin which hath brought them into that Condition. Hereon in the first place they set their Contrivance at work, how they may atone Divine Displeasure, and obtain Acceptance with God: And if they are not under the actual Conduct of Evangelical Light, two things immediately offer themselves unto them. First, Some extraordinary course in Duties, which God hath not commanded. This is the way which they betake themselves unto in the Papacy, and which Guilt in the Darkness of corrupted Nature vehemently calls for. Secondly, An extraordinary multiplication of such Duties, as for the substance of them are required of us. An instance in both kinds we have