1. To raise up the Soul of a helpless sinful cursed lost sinner in his own eyes, to some hope (at least) of mercy and help from the Lord. For thus usually every mans Soul is wrought, to whom the Lord doth intend grace and mer•y: he first turns his eyes inward, and makes him to see he is stark naught, and that he hath not one dram of grace in him, who thought himself rich, and wanting nothing before, and consequently, that he is under the curse and wrath of God for the present, and that if the Lord should but stop his breath, and cover his face, and take him away, which he may easily do, and is to be feared he will, that he is undone for ever. Hereupon the Soul is awakened and falls to his kitchen physic, as I spake before, prays, and hears, and amends, and strives to grow better, and to stop up every hole, and to amend it self of every sin, but finding it self to grow worse and worse, and perceiving thereby that he doth but stir, and not cleanse the puddle, and that it is not amending of nature that he must attain to, but he must believe, and make a long arm to Heaven, and apprehend the Lord Jesus, (which so few know, or ever shall enjoy) and hereby quench the wrath of God; I say, finding he cannot do thus, no, nor no means of themselves can help him to this, hereupon he is forsaken of all his self wisdom, ⟨p. 29⟩and of all his vain hopes, and now sits down like a desolate widow, comfortless, and sorrowful, and thinks there is •o way but death and hell, and the wrath of a displeased God to be expected. And if any come and tell this Soul of Gods mercy and pity to sinners, I saith he, its true, he is even infinitely merciful unto them who are rent from their sins, and that can believe, but that I cannot do; and am sure shall never be able for to do, and therefore what cause have I but to lie down in my sorrow, and to expect my fatal stroke every moment? Reply again upon this Soul, and tell him, that though he cannot believe, or loosen his heart from sin, yet that the Lord hath promised to do it, that he will subdue all his iniquity, and he will pardon all his sin, and that he will cause men to walk in his ways, &c. True, saith the Soul again, he will do thus for his own people, and for them he hath chosen, but I never had dram of grace in my heart, and there is no evidence that the Lord is mine own, or that I am his:
1. To raise up the Soul of a helplesse sinnefull cursed lost sinner in his owne eyes, to some hope (at least) of mercy and help from the Lord. For thus usually every mans Soul is wrought, to whom the Lord doth intend grace and mer•y: he first turnes his eyes inward, and makes him to see he is stark naught, and that he hath not one dram of grace in him, who thought himself rich, and wanting nothing before, and consequently, that hee is under the curse and wrath of God for the present, and that if the Lord should but stop his breath, and cover his face, and take him away, which he may easily do, and is to be feared he will, that he is undon for ever. Hereupon the Soul is awakened and falls to his kitchin physick, as I spake before, prayes, and hears, and amends, and strives to grow better, and to stop up every hole, and to amend it selfe of every sinne, but finding it selfe to grow worse and worse, and perceiving thereby that he doth but stirre, and not clense the puddle, and that it is not amending of nature that he must attain to, but he must believe, and make a long arme to Heaven, and apprehend the Lord Jesus, (which so few know, or ever shall enjoy) and hereby quench the wrath of God; I say, finding he cannot do thus, no, nor no meanes of themselves can help him to this, hereupon he is for•aken of all his self wisdome, ⟨p. 29⟩and of all his vaine hopes, and now sits down like a desolate widdow, comfortlesse, and sorrowfull, and thinks there is •o way but death and hell, and the wrath of a displeased God to be expected. And if any come and tell this Soul of Gods mercy and pitty to sinners, I saith he, its true, he is even infinitely mercifull unto them who are rent from their sinnes, and that can believe, but that I cannot do; and am sure shall never be able for to do, and therfore what cause have I but to lie downe in my sorrow, and to expect my fatall stroke every moment? Reply againe upon this Soul, and tell him, that though hee cannot believe, or loosen his heart from sinne, yet that the Lord hath promised to do it, that he will subdue all his iniquity, and he will pardon all his sinne, and that he will cause men to walk in his waies, &c. True, saith the Soul againe, hee will doe thus for his owne people, and for them he hath chosen, but I never had dram of grace in my heart, and there is no evidence that the Lord is mine owne, or that I am his:
