The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behaviour of a man…The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behavior of a man…

This Reproves, 1. Those that cast off all Hope. 2. Those that ¹without ground will do nothing but Hope. 1. If the Lord stir up the heart of his to hope for his Mercy, then take heed of that fearful sin of Despair. Despair we must in our selves, and that is good; but this Despair we speak of, is heinous in the eyes of God, and hurtful to thee. 1. Injurious to God, thou goest to the deep dungeon of thy Corruption, and there thou sayest, These sins can never be pardoned, I am still proud, and more stubborn, this distress God seeth not, God succours not, his hand cannot reach, his Mercy cannot save. Now mark what the Prophet saith to such a perplexed soul, Why sayest thou thy way is hid from the ²Lord? the Lord saith, Why sayest thou? is any thing too hard for the Lord? O you wrong God exceedingly, you think it a matter of humility, when you account so vilely of your selves: Can God pardon sin to such unworthy creatures? It is true (saith the soul) Manasseh was pardoned, Paul was converted, Gods Saints have been received to mercy, But can my sins be pardoned? can my soul be quickened? No, no, my sins are greater then can be forgiven. Why then, poor soul, Satan is stronger to overthrow thee, then God to save thee; and thus you make God to be no God, nay you make him to be weaker then Sin, then Hell, then the Devil. 2. This sin is dangerous to thy own soul, it is that which taketh up the bridge, and cutteth off all passages, nay it plucks up a mans Endeavours (as it were) quite by the roots: Alas (saith he) what skilleth for a man to pray? what profits it a man to read? what benefit in all the means of grace? The stone is rolled upon me, and my Condemnation sealed for ever: I will never look after Christ, Grace, Salvation any more; the time of grace is past, the day is gone. And thus the soul sinketh in it self, Will the Lord cast me off for ever, and will he show no favour? ³I said (saith David) this is my infirmity: the word in the Original is, This is my sickness; as who should say, What, is mercy gone for ever? this will be my death, then is life gone.

This Reproves, 1. Those that cast off all Hope. 2. Those that ¹without ground will do nothing but Hope. 1. If the Lord stir up the heart of his to hope for his Mercy, then take heed of that fearful sin of Despair. Despair we must in our selves, and that is good; but this Despair we speak of, is hainous in the eyes of God, and hurtful to thee. 1. Injurious to God, thou goest to the deep dungeon of thy Corruption, and there thou sayest, These sins can never be pardoned, I am still proud, and more stubborn, this distress God seeth not, God succors not, his hand cannot reach, his Mercy cannot save. Now mark what the Prophet saith to such a perplexed soul, Why sayest thou thy way is hid from the