I say in all these I have given you only the History; I have made no Application, neither do I intend it: I leave the application of each particular to your selves. You know more by your selves then any stander by in the world doth; or at least, you may do, if you study your selves, and study your own hearts; I pray God you may: And you may deal more plainly and thoroughly with your selves, then it is meet for any Minister to do. You are our Fathers, and we would gladly go backward and cover your nakedness; mourn in secret for you, and lift up a prayer to God in your behalf. What therefore another can do but by Hints and loof-intimations at any time, you may do in down-right accusations, between God and your souls: you may say, if there be occasion, Lord, I am the man; I have forgotten mercies; Honour and success have made me proud and secure, and lifted up my heart with Hezekiah: I have consulted with Carnal policy rather then the Oracles God: I am an Unprayerful wretch; my Chaplain prays, but I pray not; my Closet is a stranger to such duties: Ah God be merciful to me, I have pursued base ends and self-interests: I have been too easy to believe fair and specious pretences, but have not searched into the bottom and truth of things: Preposterous methods have been my sin, and I was never troubled for it. There be Delinquents of an high nature; Trinity-blasphemers, Scripture-Traitors, &c. and I have not done my best to bring them to judgement: I want solid Principles: I am a child, said Solomon; Lord, I may much more say so: and that which is worse, I that should reform others, am unreformed my self; I and my bosom-sin are not yet parted: Oh will God make use of such a wretch as I am, in so glorious a work as this is whereto I am called? God be merciful to me a sinner. I say, This language would not become a Minister; but this language would exceedingly become you, as you shall find occasion. Oh deal faithfully between God and your own souls: Yea, all that stand before God this day; deal impartially in this business of Self-examination this day: Reformation sticks in the birth; the ⟨p. 35⟩children are come to the birth, but there is not strength to bring forth. God is certainly angry;1 he hath seen some accursed thing in the midst of us: And O that every one would begin to ask with the Disciples, Nunquid ego Domine mi? LORD IS IT I?
I say in all these I have given you onely the History; I have made no Application, neither do I intend it: I leave the application of each particular to your selves. You know more by your selves then any stander by in the world doth; or at least, you may do, if you studie your selves, and studie your own hearts; I pray God you may: And you may deal more plainly and thorowly with your selves, then it is meet for any Minister to do. You are our Fathers, and we would gladly go backward and cover your nakednesse; mourn in secret for you, and lift up a prayer to God in your behalf. What therefore another can do but by Hints and loof-intimations at any time, you may do in down-right accusations, between God and your souls: you may say, if there be occasion, Lord, I am the man; I have forgotten mercies; Honour and successe have made me proud and secure, and lifted up my heart with Hezekiah: I have consulted with Carnal policie rather then the Oracles God: I am an Ʋnprayerful wretch; my Chaplain prays, but I pray not; my Closet is a stranger to such duties: Ah God be merciful to me, I have pursued base ends and self-interests: I have been too easie to believe fair and specious pretences, but have not searckt into the bottom and truth of things: Proposterous methods have been my sin, and I was never troubled for it. There be Delinquents of an high nature; Trinity-blasphemers, Scripture-Traitors, &c. and I have not done my best to bring them to judgement: I want solid Principles: I am a childe, said Solomon; Lord, I may much more say so: and that which is worse, I that should reform others, am unreformed my self; I and my bosome-sin are not yet parted: Oh will God make use of such a wretch as I am, in so glorious a work as this is whereto I am called? God be merciful to me a sinner. I say, This language would not become a Minister; but this language would exceedingly become you, as you shall finde occasion. Oh deal faithfully between God and your own souls: Yea, all that stand before God this day; deal impartially in this businesse of Self-examination this day: Reformation sticks in the birth; the ⟨p. 35⟩children are come to the birth, but there is not strength to bring forth. God is certainly angry;1 he hath seen some accursed thing in the midst of us: And O that every one would begin to ask with the Disciples, Nunquid ego Domine mi? LORD IS IT I?
- 1Josh, 7.11.
