A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

What now have the most of men, who are confident in the profession of this faith, to say unto this thing? Let them speak clearly, and they must say, that indeed they never found the least difficulty in this matter; they never doubted of it; they never questioned it, nor do know any reason why they should do so. It is a thing which they have so taken for granted, as ⟨p. 234⟩that it never cost them an hours labour prayer or meditation about it. Have they had secret reasonings and contendings in their hearts about it? No; Have they considered how the Objections that lye against it may be removed? Not at all; But is it so indeed that this persuasion is thus bred in you, you know not how? Are the corrupted Natures of men, and the Gospel so suited, so complying? Is the New Covenant grown so connatural to flesh and blood? Is the greatest secret that ever was revealed from the bosom of the Father, become so familiar and easy to the wisdom of the flesh? Is that which was folly to the wise Greeks, and a stumbling block to the Wonder-gazing Jews, become on a sudden Wisdom, and a plain path to the same principles that were in them? But the truth of this matter is, that such men have a general, useless, barren notion of Pardon, which Satan, Presumption, Tradition, Common Reports, and the Customary hearing of the Word have furnished them withal; But for that Gospel discovery of forgiveness whereof we have been speaking, they are utterly ignorant of it, and unacquainted with it. To convince such poor creatures of the folly of their presumption, I would but desire them to go to some real Believers, that are or may be known unto them; Let them be asked whether they came so easily by their Faith, and Apprehensions of forgiveness, or no? Alas, saith One, these twenty years have I been following after God, and yet I have not arrived unto an abiding Cheering persuasion of it. I know what it cost me, what trials, difficulties, temptations I wrestled with, and went through withal before I obtained it, saith another. What I have attained unto, hath been of unspeakable mercy. And it is my daily prayer, that I may be preserved in it; by the exceeding greatness of the Power of God; for I continually wrestle with storms that are ready to drive me from my Anchor. A little of this discourse may be sufficient to convince poor, dark, carnal creatures of the folly and vanity of their confidence.

What now have the most of men, who are confident in the profession of this faith, to say unto this thing? Let them speak clearly, and they must say, that indeed they never found the least difficulty in this matter; they never doubted of it; they never questioned it, nor do know any reason why they should do so. It is a thing which they have so taken for granted, as