Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

A second means is, when a man not only sees it soundly ¹and so doth effectually go out of himself, but also resolveth to cast away that sin he sees in himself, a man may come to consider his estate deeply and yet go on in wicked courses. But when he can desire with all his heart to be rid of all his sin, and cast it off, it is a special means and a further step to this faith, at least to the ⟨p. 174⟩manifestation of it to us. Repent and believe is the voice of the gospel. No man can believe except he repent, and cast off sin, so no man can repent except he believe, and have some hope that his sins may be pardoned. Many see their sins yet cast them not away, and therefore the conscience beats them off and will not let them believe. It tells them that Christ and such a soul cannot stand together. The door is shut, if thou makest not account in thy affection and conversation to leave all sin, 1 Jo. 3. 6. whosoever, saith the Apostle, sinneth hath not seen God. So that the soul hath a second step to believe when a man truly repents of all his sins, 2 Cor. 6. 17, 18. Then God offers himself as a father to a man, when he casts off such as are lin be as it were of Satan, and of the fellowship of darkness, that is when a man casts off his evil company and all sin that may defile his soul, and make him unworthy to be Gods child; and therefore when a man casts off sin and the instruments of sin, then is he fit to believe, and God will be ready to show himself unto him, not a judge but a father, Rev 3. 19. When a man begins to be zealous for God and amend his sinful ways and courses, and leaves cherishing those abominable sins that before he hath lived in, and for want of this resolution to take Christs part against sin, it comes to pass a mans heart and conscience will not let him come to lay hold of Christ, even because he harbours Christs enemies that will not suffer him to come in.

A second means is, when a man not onely sees it soundly ¹and so doth effectually go out of himself, but also resolveth to cast away that sin he sees in himself, a man may come to consider his estate deeply and yet go on in wicked courses. But when he can desire with all his heart to bee rid of all his sinne, and cast it off, it is a special meanes and a further step to this faith, at least to the