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…

3. WHEN God designs to heal the Backsliding of his People by Sovereign Grace, he gives them effectual Calls unto Repentance, and the use of means for their Healing: So he doth here by his Prophet, O Israel return, take with you words. And if I could see that God did stir up his Faithful Ministers to apply themselves in a peculiar manner, unto this Work of pressing vehemently all their Congregations with their Duty herein; and let them know, that there is no other way to prevent their Ruin, but by returning unto the Lord, according to the ways of it here prescribed; I should not doubt but that the time of Healing were at hand.

3. WHEN God designs to heal the Backsliding of his People by Soveraign Grace, he gives them effectual Calls unto Repentance, and the use of means for their Healing: So he doth here by his Prophet, O Israel return, take with you words. And if I could see that God did stir up his Faithful Ministers to apply themselves in a peculiar manner, unto this Work of pressing vehemently all their Congregations with their Duty herein; and let them know, that there is no other way to prevent their Ruine, but by returning unto the Lord, according to the ways of it here prescribed; I should not doubt but that the time of Healing were at hand.

4. THE means prescribed unto this end, that our Backslidings may be healed, in a way suited unto the Glory of God, is renewed Repentance: And this acts it self,

1. IN fervent Prayer; Take with you words, and say. Consider the Greatness and Importance of the Work before you, and weigh well what you do in your dealing with God. The matter of this Prayer is twofold: (1.) The pardon of all Iniquity; that is, the taking of it away: And no Sin is omitted, all being now ⟨p. 71⟩become equally burdensome; take away all Iniquity. When the Souls of Sinners are in good earnest in their Return unto God, they will leave out the Consideration of no one Sin whatever. Nor are we meet for Healing, nor shall we apply our selves unto it in a due manner, without some previous sense of the Love of God in the pardon of our Sin. (2.) Gracious Acceptation, Receive us graciously. The words in the Original are only, [Greek or Hebrew], and receive good: but both the words being used variously, the Sense eminently included in them, is well expressed by receive us graciously. After we have cast our selves under tokens of thy Displeasure, now let us know that we are freely accepted with thee. And this also lies in the Desires of them who design to obtain an Healing of their Backslidings; for under them they are sensible that they are obnoxious unto Gods Displeasure.