N01663:78
The greatest concern in the world. A short and plain essay, to answer that…
The greatest concern in the world. A short and plain essay, to answer that most concerning and all concerning enquiry, What must I do to be saved? : Published, with a design to assist the addresses of good men unto their neighbours, whom they press to mind, the one thing that is needful.
printed by T. Green, 1718
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First; This must be done; You must heartily and bitterly Bewail all your Sins. Your Original Sin, your Actual Sin, the monstrous Aggravation of your Sin; You must be Convinced of it. A Contrition must follow this Conviction; With a Broken Heart you must Cry out, Psal. 38.18. I will declare my Iniquity, I will be sorry for my Sin. You must Mourn for your Sin; and Mourn for the Offence given to God by your Sin as well as for the Mischief done to your selves: Mourn, Mourn, and never count that you have Mourned Enough.
First; This must be done; You must heartily and bitterly Bewayl all your Sins. Your Original Sin, your Actual Sin, the monstrous Aggravation of your Sin; You must be Convinced of it. A Contrition must follow this Conviction; With a Broken Heart you must Cry out, Psal. 38.18. I will declare my Iniquity, I will be sorry for my Sin. You must Mourn for your Sin; and Mourn for the Offence given to God by your Sin as well as for the Mischief done to your selves: Mourn, Mourn, and never count that you have Mourned Enough.
Secondly; This must be done; You must make a Penitent Confession of your Sins; a Remorseful Confession of them. All your Known Crimes, you must as Particularly as you can, Enumerate with shame and grief before the Lord. You must be able to say; Psal. 51.3. I Acknowledge my Transgressions, and my Sin is ever before me. Your Acknowledgement of your Secret Sins, must be only to the LORD: But where your Sins are Known, where your Neighbours have been either Sufferers by, or Witnesses of ⟨p. 18⟩your Miscarriages, They also should Know that you Acknowledge them.
Secondly; This must be done; You must make a Penitent Confession of your Sins; a Remorseful Confession of them. All your Known Crimes, you must as Particularly as you can, Enumerate with shame and grief before the Lord. You must be able to say;