The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
That which we are necessarily bound to doe daily, is
FIrst to bee humbled before the Lord in the sense of our owne1 To be humbled before the Lord in the sense of our sinnes. or others sinnes by true and vnfained repentance.
And that because,
1 The best seruice we shall doe must be sanctified by repentance.
2 Hereby we giuegive glorie vntounto God, and offer a daily sacrifice acceptable vntounto him. Psal. 51. 18.
3 Hereby wee deny our selues and daily take vp our crosse. Math. 16.
4 We approue our right and estate in Christ Iesus in that we confesse our selues to be sinners and such as hauehave daily neede of his merciemercy, and so daily fit our selues vntounto the same. Math. 11 28.
5 Wee iustifie the truth of our religion against all the imaginarie per…ection of Popery, and securitie, of Libertines and Atheists whomsoeuer, and so do daily giuegive an account of our faith. 1. Pet. 3. 15.
Now this dutie is conscionably performed,Sect. 1. Practice of repentance.
First, By taking a strict view and account of them by the glasse of the law. Psal. 19. 11.
Secondly, by mourning before the Lord in the sense of them, not so much for feare of the punishment, as that we hauehave offended so good a God. Luke 15. 21.
Thirdly, by acknowledging our sinnes vntounto the Lord. Prou 28. 13. and that,
1 From the fountaine, originall sinne. Psal. 51. 5.
2 From the streames; both our thoughts so far…e as we may, our idle words, and prophane actions. Psal. 19. 12. 13. And here both,
1 What good we hauehave omitted.
2 What …uil we hauehave cōmitted.
3 How we hauehave sinned of ignorance. Psal. 73 22.
4 How of knowledge we hauehave transgres…ed, &c. Especially and more particularly we must acknowledge,
1 The sinnes we hauehave bin subiect to. Psalme 51. 14.
2 Those which for the presen… we grone vnderunder.
3 Those which we feare most. Psal. 19. 13.
4 The sinnes of our fathers. Nehem. 9.
5 The sinnes of the Land and State among whom we liue. Daniel 9.
6 Yea, such as in particular wee knowe not, we are notwithstanding to yeeld vp to bee searched by the Lord; and by his merciemercy either to be brought to our remembrance, or to be gratiously passed ouer. Psal. 19. 12.
Fourthly, Sinne being thus acknowledged, wee must further proceede to a detestation thereof, Iob 42. and of our selues for the same.
Fiftly, Then we must feele them a burthen which wee are not able to beare. Act. 2. 37. Psal., 8. 4.
Lastly, Wee must flie vntounto Iesus Christ, by faith to be eased of this burthen. Matth. 11 28.
Helpes hereunto, are
1 The due contemplation of the Maiesty of God,Sect. 2. Helps to this practise. whom we hauehave so highly offended. Psalme 51. 4.
2 The vilenes and abiectnes of man, that durst commit such wickednes against God.
3 The danger that he hath incurred hereby, euen all the plagues that are written in Gods booke, Deut 29. 27.
4 The riches of Gods merciemercy, in prouiding so excellent a remedie against sinne, as the pretious blood of his onelyonly and deerely beloued Sonne, when nothing in the world was auaileable thereunto. 1. Peter 1.
5 The excellencie of our estate in Iesus Christ, with the manifold priuiledges and benefits thereof. 1. Iohn 3 1.
6 Our vnthankfulnes against the blood of the Couenant, in not walking worthy of the same. Ephes. 4. 1.
7 The danger heereof, to hauehave made the same, so much as lieth in vsus, of none effect. Heb. 10.
8 That we hauehave grieued Gods holy Spirit Ephe. 4 30.
9 And dulled, if not quenched the graces of God in vsus. 1. Thessalo.Sect. 3. Markes of repentance. 5. 19.
Markes of true repentance, are
1 Refusing carnal comforts more then ordinarily. Ionah 3. 6. Esai. 64. 6.
3 Desire to bee more vile. 1. Tim. 1. 13. 15.
3 Mourning and complaining of hardnes of heart. Esai. 63. 17.
4 Sorrow for the sins of others. Dan. 9. Ezec. 9. Psal. 119. 136.
5 Trembling at the word, and yet louing the sharpest blowes thereof. Psal. 119. 120.
6 Submiting our selues to Gods chastisements. Psal. 39. 9. Mich. 7. 9.
7 Labouring the conuersion of others. Psal. 51. 17.
8 Shame of humane society. Ezech. 16. 61.
9 Feare of the wrath of God. Psal. 119. 120.
10 Strong cries for merciemercy. Ioel. 2. 17.
11 Feare of the occasions and hatred of all apparance of euill. 1. Thessa. 5. 22. 1. Tim. 5. 14. Iude. 23.
12 Pouerty of spirit in regard of sinne all our life long. Math. 5. 3. 2. Ephes. 3. 12.Sect. 4. Effects of repentance.
The effects and benefits hereof, are
1 We shall cut off custome in sinne, and preuent security in the same. Math. 26. 41.
2 Our feare of God shall be encreased, and so the rage of sinne abated Psal. 119. 133.
3 Selfe louelove shall bee weakned and happily subdued.
4 The sandie foundation of natuere shall be discouered, and wisely abandoned. …om. 3. 9. 20.
5 An holy despaire of our selues procur…d.
6 Our hunger after Christ Iesus more sharpned and encreased.
7 The heart exceedingly eased of a most grieuous burthen. Psalme 32. 4. 5.
8 Yea the very bodie much quieted and maintained in health. Psal. 32. 5.