CHAP. XXXIX. UPON HOLY REVENGE FOR SIN, WITH MOTIVES LORD, I HAVE ever been too apt to revenge the fmallest injuries offered unto me by others, in relation to my outward condition, and too remifs in that holy revenge of thofe great and infufferable wrongs which I daily and hourly obtrude upon mine own foul: this plainly fheweth me to have been too much favouring of flesh and blood, too kittle mindful of thy kingdom, and the righteoufnefs thereof that foul which is truly fenfible of its own injury, will (by thy grace) be daily minding of its own redress; and that finner which is unce scious pable of flight offences, will in time become infenfible of greater. My greatest enemies are thofe of mine own hous hold: the world may allure me, the devil persuade me, but it is mine own false heart alone that betrays me, and mine own corrupt nature that enslaves. me: my greatest care shall therefore be, to bend my ftrongest force against mine own corruptions; to labour much to fubdue mine affections, and to take an holy revenge upon my finful actions; not to fatisfy thy justice, but to implore thy mercy, that I may thereby truly manifeft my perfect hatred against fin, and the fincerity of my foul to thy fervice. There need none other motive to invite me to this holy duty, than the woeful breaches fin hath daily made in my foul, fuch as (without mercy). will never be repaired; this is too fadly proved by the fenfible decay of goodness, and the too powerful growth of ungodliness in my corrupt heart; as it is eafy for that caftle to ftand a close siege, that is well fortified, manned and victualled, fo is it poffible for that fort to hold out long which maketh no refiftance. Lord, as mine own fpiritual ruins have hitherto been caufed by mine own neglects, fo (by thy gracious affiftance) mine own repairs fhall be begun and finished, by my prefent defires, and future endeavours. That time which I have loft by former carelesnefs, and coldness in religion, I will endeavour to redeem by holy vigilance, and christian fortitude; and that I may fincerely be what I intend, with willingness of heart, I offer up this folemn vow unto thee: Lord, as this holy motion came from thy heavenly fpirit, fo enable me to the perform ance of it, by thy grace to thy glory, and my foul's eternal comfort. I vow myself a serious and professed enemy to all ungodliness; no finful thought fhall furprise me, without a forrowful figh; an ungracious word pass me without a fudden retraction, and devout confeffion; no wicked action defile me without a fincere and godly humiliation; unto each measure of fin I will allow a due measure of forrow; those fins that have been reigning over me, fhall, at fet hours, be conftantly revenged by me; and as my body hath been a deep fharer in my fins, so it shall be a daily fharer in my fufferings: I will at set seasons deny myself somewhat of these outward enjoyments (which thou, Lord, in mercy hast allowed me) as a true fign of my true forrow for that finful excess which I have too often taken without thy allowThose finful hours which have been vainly lost in idleness, and emptiness, fhall be willingly redeemed in a constant observation of religious duties; no day shall pass me without a folemn and devout task of devotion, no hour without some sweet ejaculation: and when at any time the troubles and disturbances of this frail life fhall deny me happy opportunities for these heavenly performances, what is wanting in act, fhall be made up in defire; which thou, Lord, I truft will gracioufly accept, and look upon as done, because faithfully intended. ance. O THOU infinitely wife, and for ever bles fed being, that art truly and eternally happy, without the finful service of thy creature; and yet commandeft us to serve thee for our own fakes, that we may also be happy in thee; thou that loveft not a falfe and fickle heart, nor delightest in the facrifice of fools, give me a wife and understanding heart, that I may seriously confider of this facred vow; give me a conftant and religious heart, that I may chearfully perform what I have faithfully promifed; give me a broken and contrite heart, that I may bitterly bewail what I have foolishly neglected; that thy great name may be glorified, my finful life amended, my confcience quieted, my fpirit comforted, thy faints delighted, thine angels rejoiced, and my foul and body eternally faved in that great and dreadful day of the Lord Jefus, to whom with thee, O bleffed Father, and thine holy Spirit, be all poffible praife, and honor, and glory, now and for ever. -AMEN. CHAP. XL. BEING A CALL TO ALL, GOOD AND BAD, SAINTS AND SINNERS, TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES TO THE GREAT WORK OF MAKING ALL READY FOR A DYING HOUR. WHAT is the language of all this? Verily it calls aloud upon all, good and bad, faints and finners, to make it our great bufinefs to fet all things right in the matters of our fouls, and make all ready for a dying hour: and O that we would make this improvement of this great truth, and of God's fparing goodness to us! He fpares us, and why does he spare us, but that we should fet all things right, and make all things ready? O that we would now fall in with the end and defign of God herein, making it our great care and business in time to provide for eternity, in life to make ready for death. Some of you, I verily believe, are about this work, and the Lord prosper you in it: you know you were born for eternity, aud you do endeavour to live for eternity; your great work in time is to make provifion for a blessed eternity. |