God's terrible voice in the city

In their confessions of sin, how have they raked into the dunghill of a rotten heart, and laid abroad its inward filthiness? how have they traced the foot-steps of its deceitfulness, through the maze and wilderness of its many windings and turnings? how have they pierced into the very bowels of sin, and ripped it up as it were to the back-bone, bringing forth its very entrails to open view? how have they anatomized as it were the body of death in all the parts and members of it, discovering withal the several diseases of every part, with their cause, and manner of working? and all this in such pathetical cutting expressions, accompanied with such brokenness and bleeding of heart, as no form can imitate or effect.

In their confessions of sin, how have they rak'd into the dunghill of a rotten heart, and laid abroad its inward filthiness? how have they trac'd the foot-steps of its deceitfulness, through the maze and wilderness of its many windings and turnings? how have they peirced into the very bowels of sin, and ript it up as it were to the back-bone, bringing forth its very entrals to open view? how have they anatomiz'd as it were the body of death in all the parts and members of it, discovering withall the several diseases of every part, with their cause, and manner of working? and all this in such pathetical cutting expressions, accompanied with such brokenness and bleeding of heart, as no form can imitate or effect.

In their supplications for the pardon of sin, for spiritual and heavenly riches, O with what feeling and fervour did they express themselves? O with what faith and importunity did they wrestle and plead at the Throne of Grace for such favours beyond the importunity of poor prisoners through the grates, or poor beggars at the doors, ⟨p. 27⟩when they are most earnest for relief? yea how did they besiege God as it were, and seem as if they would scale the walls of Heaven it self, and take the Kingdom of Heaven with violence and force? how have they even pressed in upon God with the dint of argument, and laid hold on him with the hand of faith, resolving not to let him go without a blessing?