A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Secondly, Though Evangelical sense of sin, be a Grace, yet it is not the uniting Grace, it is not that which interests us in Christ, not that which peculiarly, and in its own nature exalts him. There is in this sense of sin, that which is natural, and that which is spiritual; or the matter of it, and its spirituality. The former consists in sorrow, trouble, self-abasement, dejection and anxiety of mind, with the like passions. Of these I may say as the Apostle of Afflictions, they are not joyous but grievous. They are such as are accompanied with the aversation of the object which they are conversant about. In their own nature they are no more but the souls retreat into it self, with an abhorrency of the objects of its sorrow and grief. When these Affections are spiritualized, their nature is not changed. The soul in and by them, acts according to their nature; and doth by them as such, but retreat into it self with a dislike of that they are exercised about. To take up here then, must needs be to sit down short of Christ; whether it be for life, or consolation.

Let there be no mistake. There can be no Evangelical sense of sin, and humiliation, where there is not Union with Christ, Zech. 12. 10. Only in its self, and in its own nature it is not availing. Now Christ is the only rest of our souls: in any thing, for any end or purpose, to take up short of him, is to lose it. It is not enough that we be prisoners of hope, but we must turn to our strong hold, Zech. 9. 12. not enough that we are weary and laden, but we must come to him, Matth. 11. 27, 28. It will not suffice that we are weak, and know we are ⟨p. 69⟩weak, but we must take hold on the strength of God, Isa. 27. 4, 5.