Dust and ashes. An essay upon repentance to the last. Advising a watchful Christian,…

Secondly; Tis necessary to Repentance, that we Know and Think, what we have done, when we have Sinn'd. The Voice of Repentance is that; Job 33.27. I have Sinned, and Perverted that which is Right, and it Profited me not. To make Light of Sin, this is inconsistent with Repentance. We don't Repent, until we ⟨p. 9⟩reckon Sin, the worst Evil in the world.

Because I would Chastise the most frequent and most fatal Folly in the world, I will somewhat Expressively tell you, what a man does, when he Sins. My Hearers, Attend unto me!

A Sinner does Deny, Disown, cast off the Authority of the God that made him. He sets up Himself in the Throne of his Maker. He Reproaches the Wisdom and Justice of GOD, in His Laws; the Wise and Just Rules that GOD has given us. He Questions the Goodness of GOD, and counts it better to be under his own Government, than that a Good GOD, should Govern him. He throws Contempt on the Holiness of GOD, and represents Him as an Unholy Approver of Sin. He defies the Power of GOD; & Challenges all the Thunderbolts of the All-powerful One. He despises the Promises of GOD; He despises the Threatenings of GOD; He believes not His Faithfulness in them. He makes a Vile Use of the Benefits, he has received from GOD; a Vile Use of the Corrections which GOD has Employed upon him; a Vile Use of the ⟨p. 10⟩Punishments which he hath seen GOD inflict upon other Offenders. He tramples on the Blood of the Blessed JESUS, which hath been shed, that men might be Redeemed from all Iniquity. He turns a Deaf Ear upon the motions of the Holy SPIRIT, who Cries unto him, O Do not this abominable thing! The Dictates and Warnings of his own Conscience, the Deputy of GOD, are nothing with him. The Excellent Pattern of a CHRIST, and of the Saints, the Excellent in the Earth, who have been the Followers of that Good One, is derided by him. He disturbs the sweet Harmony whereto the world is tuned, by a Great Creator and Preserver. He Obeys the Devil, he Follows the Devil; and makes himself worse than the Beasts that Perish. He wrongs the Faculties of his own Soul; and Exposes himself to Wounds from the Wrath of GOD upon All his Interests. He prefers his Flesh above his Immortal Spirit. He prefers Temporal Enjoyments on Earth, before Eternal Enjoyments in Heaven. He incurs the unknown, but fearful Miseries in the World to come; and all but for a momentany Delight in this World.