Reformation the great duty of an afflicted people. Setting forth the sin and danger…

USE. II. Let this then serve to convince and ⟨p. 34⟩humble us in this regard, and doubtless we have great Occasion for it. Hath not God been using all manner of endeavours with us, to bring us to a sight and sense of our sins, and to make us know that it is an evil and a bitter thing that we have forsaken him to such a degree as we have, and that feelingly by the sense of all those sharp strokes that he hath laid upon us; and there have been many of them, and no little of his severity exercised in them: and hath he not the mean while been sending as many faithful warnings, clear Convictions, and awakening loud calls in his House and Ordinances, and that from time to time? Have not all his Servants been unanimously engaged in this design? Hath there been any thing wanting as to means? What more could he have done, than what he hath done? Nay have we not been convinced in our Consciences, and enforced by them to make Confessions upon this account? Hath he not also kindly invited us to lay hold on his strength, and be at peace with him? offering us all fair terms in the treaty he hath been holding all this while with us? What is the reason then that there is no more Reformation wrought in the midst of us? Have we been willing, and God unwilling? He will certainly make us to know that there is no such matter ere he hath done with us. How then should this confound ⟨p. 35⟩us, and lay us in the dust before him? How should it fill us with shame, and clothe us in sackcloth? Let us then see and confess the naughtiness of our own hearts; and take the blame home to our selves; set us acknowledge as Ephraim, Jer. 31. 18. We have been as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. This is the great complaint which we have at this day to make of our selves before God, and bitterly to bewail it in his presence, that we have hardened our hearts against him; that we have obstinately-set our selves to withstand all the attempts which he hath been using to reclaim us. And let us be no more stiff necked, but bring these hard hearts of ours to him to have them made tender, and beg of him to take the stone out of them, and work them to a true compliance with his will; that we may have a true resentment of all his Judgments and be humbled under them: and if this may be obtained, we are in fair way to be reformed; and then there will be a good hope that he will return and save us.