Again, Suppose that the power and prevalency of sin hinders the souls sweet communion with God, so that the 1soul cannot sport it self, and joy and delight it self in God, as in the days of old; it cannot see God smiling, stroking, and speaking kindly, as in former days. Now there's nothing in all the world that can ease the soul of this burden of sin, below the exercise of grace. Oh saith such a poor soul, I pray, Sir, and yet I sin; I resolve against sin, and yet I sin; I combat against sin, and yet I am carried Captive by sin; I have left no outward means unattempted, and yet after all, my sins are too hard for me; after all my sweating, striving and weeping, I am carried down the stream: There's nothing now but the actings of faith upon a crucified Christ, that will take off this burden from the soul of man: Now you must make use of your graces, to draw virtue from Christ; now faith must touch the hem of Christs garment, or thou wilt never be healed. 'Tis just with a soul in this case, as it was with the poor widow, Luke 8. 43. to 49. that had a bloody issue, she leaves no means unattempted, whereby she might be cured; she runs from one Physician to another, till she had spent all that she was worth, till she had brought a noble to nine-pence; and now says she, If I could but touch the hem of his Garment, I should be whole. Hereupon she crowds through the crowd to come to Christ, and being got behind him, she touches the hem of his garment, and immediately she was made whole. The cure being thus wrought, Christ uncrowns himself, to crown her faith. And he said unto her, daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace. He doth not say, woman thy trembling hath made thee whole; or woman thy sweating and struggling in a crowd to come to me, hath made thee whole; or woman thy falling down and abasing thy self, (though she did all this) but, woman thy faith hath made thee whole. Ah Christians, 'tis not your trembling, or your falling down, or your sweating in this and that service, that will stop the bloody issue of your sins, but believing in Christ. 'Tis sad to consider how few Professors in these days, have attained the right way of mortifying of sin; they usually go out against ⟨p. 174⟩their sins, in the strength of their own purposes, prayers, and resolutions, &c.
Againe, Suppose that the power and prevalency of sin hinders the soules sweet communion with God, so that the 1soule cannot sport it selfe, and joy and delight it selfe in God, as in the dayes of old; it cannot see God smiling, stroaking, and speaking kindly, as in former dayes. Now there's nothing in all the world that can ease the soule of this burden of sin, below the exercise of grace. Oh saith such a poore soule, I pray, Sir, and yet I sin; I resolve against sin, and yet I sin; I combate against sin, and yet I am carried Captive by sin; I have left no outward means unattempted, and yet after all, my sins are too hard for me; after all my sweating, striving and weeping, I am carried downe the streame: There's nothing now but the actings of faith upon a crucified Christ, that will take off this burden from the soule of man: Now you must make use of your graces, to draw virtue from Christ; now faith must touch the hem of Christs garment, or thou wilt never be healed. 'Tis just with a soule in this case, as it was with the ponre widow, Luke 8. 43. to 49. that had a bloody issue, she leaves no means unattempted, whereby she might be cured; she runs from one Physitian to another, till she had spent all that she was worth, till she had brought a noble to nine-pence; and now sayes she, If I could but touch the hem of his Garment, I should be whole. Hereupon she crowds through the crowd to come to Christ, and being got behind him, she touches the hem of his garment, and immediately she was made whole. The cure being thus wrought, Christ uncrownes himselfe, to crowne her faith. And he said unto her, daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole, goe in peace. He doth not say, woman thy trembling hath made thee whole; or woman thy sweating and struggling in a crowd to come to me, hath made thee whole; or woman thy falling downe and abasing thy selfe, (though she did all this) but, woman thy faith hath made thee whole. Ah Christians, 'tis not your trembling, or your falling downe, or your sweating in this and that service, that will stop the bloody issue of your sins, but believing in Christ. 'Tis sad to consider how few Professors in these dayes, have attain'd the right way of mortifying of sin; they usually goe out against ⟨p. 174⟩their sins, in the strength of their owne purposes, prayers, and resolutions, &c.
- 1Much less th•n can the Papists purgatories, watchings▪ whippings, &c. or St. Francis his kissing or licking of Leper's sores, which wil• cleanse the •retting Leprosy of sin, &c. A touch of •aith cureth the woman, as well as a f•ll hold. 'Tis the exercise of the graces of the spirit, by which we mortify the deeds of the flesh, Rom. 8. 13. It is not our strong resolutions or purposes, that will be able to over-master these enemies. A •oul-sore will run till it be indeed healed, though we say it shall not.Much lesse th•n can the Papists purga tories, watchings▪ whipings, &c. or St. Francis his kissing or licking of Leper's sores, which wil• cleanse the •retting Leprosie of sin, &c. A touch of •aith cureth the woman, as well as a f•ll hold. 'Tis the exercise of the graces of the spirit, by which we mortifie the deeds of the flesh, Rom. 8. 13. It is not our strong resolutions or purposes, that will be able to over-master these e•emies. A •oul-sore will run till it be indeed healed, though we say it shall not.
