The third thing thou1 must labour for distinctly, is, to conceive true mourning and sorrow for these sins thus confessed. This is that sacrifice is so wellpleasing to God, and this is every where in Scripture expressly required, & the promises fastened (divers of them) upon this condition, as these places manifestly show, Math. 5. 5. Jam. 4. 9. ⟨p. 39⟩Joel 2. 12. 13. Zach. 12. 12. Isaiah 1. 16. Psalm. 31. 17. Isaiah 61. 1. 2. 3. Jerem. 50. 4. Jerem. 31. 18, 19. Now that thou mayst attain unto2 softness of heart, I advise thee to take this course: Resolve with thy self to set some time apart, at least once every day for this business; and when thou dost stand before the Lord with thy former mournful indictment, and while thou strivest to judge thy self, and to keep an assize upon thy own soul, beg of God to give thee that soft heart he promised, Ezech. 36. 26. beg it (I say) of God, ⟨p. 40⟩but let thy prayers be without limitation for the time. If the Lord hear thee not the first time, yet pray for it the next time again, and so the third day, and so still, till the Lord do hear thee, and make thee feel thy hart to melt, and (if it may be) tears to trickle down thy cheeks before the Lord; yea, put on this resolution, that thou wilt never stand before the Lord for any request while this course lasts, but thou wilt remember this petition, to beseech him to give thee secret sorrow and sensible for thy sins. It may be, the ⟨p. 41⟩Lord will hear thee at the first, or in the beginning, while thou art preparing thy self to speak unto him, or while thou callest upon him at the first or second time, but yet if he do not, persist thou: thy suit is just; & importunity will overcome the Lord: and this very desire to sorrow being resolute, is a degree of true godly sorrow. But yet, that thou mayest be sure of it, give not over, till the Lord hear the letter of thy desire, if it may be, and withal strive against the perplexities of an unquiet hart; fear not, but at time of the day which thou settest apart ⟨p. 42⟩for religious duties, be as earnest as thou canst, and when that is done, go cheerfully about the works of thy calling. Hang not down thy head like a bulrush, as if thou must do nothing else but sigh and bemoan thy self, & show a troubled mind in all things: Even the freer and readier thy mind is, the more fit thy heart will be for this or other holy employments.
The third thing thou1 must labour for distinctly, is, to conceiue true mourning and sorrow for these sinnes thus confessed. This is that sacrifice is so wellpleasing to God, and this is euery where in Scripture expressely required, & the promises fastned (diuers of them) vpon this condition, as these places manifestly shew, Math. 5. 5. Iam. 4. 9. ⟨p. 39⟩Ioel 2. 12. 13. Zach. 12. 12. Isaiah 1. 16. Psalme. 31. 17. Isaiah 61. 1. 2. 3. Ierem. 50. 4. Ierem. 31. 18, 19. Now that thou mayst attain vnto2 softnesse of heart, I aduise thee to take this course: Resolue with thy selfe to set some time apart, at least once euery day for this businesse; and when thou dost stand before the Lord with thy former mournefull inditement, and while thou striuest to iudge thy selfe, and to keepe an assise vpon thy owne soule, beg of God to giue thee that soft heart he promised, Ezech. 36. 26. beg it (I say) of God, ⟨p. 40⟩but let thy praiers be without limitation for the time. If the Lord heare thee not the first time, yet pray for it the next time againe, and so the third day, and so still, till the Lord do hear thee, and make thee feele thy hart to melt, and (if it may be) teares to trickle down thy cheekes before the Lord; yea, put on this resolution, that thou wilt neuer stand before the Lord for any request while this course lasts, but thou wilt remember this petition, to beseech him to giue thee secret sorrow and sensible for thy sins. It may be, the ⟨p. 41⟩
- 13 Thirdly, thou must seek godly sorrow, & not give over, till thou feel thy heart melt within thee.3 Thirdly, thou must seek godly sorrow, & not giue ouer, till thou feele thy heart melt within thee.
- 2How it may be attained.
