An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Obs. 2 A repenting heart is not a discouraged heart. It is such a heart as sinks not down in discouragements, saying (as some do) we are a lost people, and undone, there is no hope, we had been better never to have ventured so far as we have, but give over what we have done; it dares not draw conclusions from what hath been, to what is, and what will be, this is too much presumption for any man; David in the Cave can trust in God, and hide himself under Gods wing, Psal. 57.1. So long as there is a God in Heaven this soul will expect help from him, a true penitent will expect mercy notwithstanding Gods severity and justice; the severity of justice in God cannot keep him from waiting for, and expecting of what God hath promised; if the soul can but get over this difficulty, the deep gulf of Gods justice, it will easily get over all other dreadfulness of mens displeasure: a repenting heart is a purged heart and therefore not a discouraged but a supported heart, those which are unclean, of foul and filthy spirits are always jealous of God and his dealings towards them: Oh let it appear that we are not of discouraged and sinking spirits by the cleanness of our lives and the purity of our conversations: carnal hearts are not discouraged when they have carnal helps to underprop them, and shall we be afraid of any difficulty, who have God for our help? Remarkable is that place,¹ 1 Sam. 4.9. concerning the speech which was made to the Philistines upon the coming of the Ark into the camp of Israel, what a fear were they put into? yet how do they encourage themselves? Let us fight valiantly for our wives and children and estates, that we and our little ones be not slaves to the Hebrews. So say I, let us be courageous in these times and fight for our Liberties, Laws, and Religion: Did we but spend that strength in returning unto God which we do in discouragements, Oh how soon would help come for us were we but thus resolved! Now though we must not be discouraged, when helps and means fail, but yet humbled we must be for our sins which cause these breaches, see how the Prophet Habakkuk manages this disposition, c. 3. v. 16, 17. we should improve our humiliation as they did, Judges, 20. ⟨p. 535⟩