Sinners Directed to Hear and Fear, Sermon

Sinners Directed to Hear and Fear · Sermon

p. 1A Broken Heart, Acceptable with GOD through Chriſt.

PSAL. LI.17.

The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit; a broken and a contrite Heart, O GOD, thou wilt not Deſpiſe.

TO underſtand the intention of any Text of Sacred Scripture, it is frequently advantageous to conſider the Occaſion of the Text, & compare it with other Texts, and with the whole current of the Scripture.

The Occaſion of this Text, we may learn p. 2from the Title of the Pſalm wherein we find it, compared with the eleventh and twelfth Chapters of the ſecond Book of Samuel. There we find, that David, a man after God's own Heart, was left unto very infandous, horrendous Crimes: Not only execrable Adultery, but alſo horrid Murder, and very ungodly endeavours to conceal thoſe Wickedneſſes; were among his Crimes. The beſt of Saints may fall into the worſt of Sins, if God leave them to themſelves. [Then what great Sins may graceleſs Sinners fall into, while under the power, and in the poſſeſſion of Satan!] Yea, the beſt of Saints may continue a long time under the guilt of their Sins, that they fall into: How long! David continued a long time under the guilt of his Crimes; it doth not appear that there was any evidence of any Repentance for his Wickedneſs, for a long ſpace after his crimes were committed. But after a long time, the Lord ſent his Miniſter, Nathan, to David, to convince him of his Wickedneſs, and to bring him to Repentance. It is very ſure, that Sinners will never think of repentance of Sin, or turning to God, if the Lord ſhould not call, or look after them; Our firſt Father Adam thought not of repenting of Sin, before the Lord call'd after him; and the Apoſtle Peter thought not of repenting of his Sin, before the Lord looked upon him. The God of all Grace in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with infinite Compaſſion to miſerable Sinners, calls after them, to repent and turn to him, from all their tranſgreſſions, with hopes of Pardon p. 3for the ſake of Chriſt. Thus it is with all that live under the Goſpel: And God will certainly recover from their falls thoſe that are Saints indeed, He will not ſuffer them to periſh for ever in their Sins, how great and ſad ſoever have been their falls. They ſhall be recovered before they dye; So was David. When the Miniſter of God had brought him to a ſight and a ſenſe of his Wickedneſs, them David acknowledges that he had ſinned. He acknowledged his Wickedneſs with a repenting Soul; God helping him to repent with brokenneſs of Heart; with an heart broken for Sin, and from Sin.

A Promiſe of Pardon is immediately propoſed unto the repenting Sinner: The Lord hath put away thy Sin, thou ſhalt not dye. God is ready to bring home pardon to the truly Penitent. Sinners can't be more forward in repenting of their Sins, than God in pardoning of their Souls, and making them ſenſible of his pardoning mercy upon their expreſſing of their unfeigned Repentance. Thou, Lord art Good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee, that call upon thee in truth.

But after the Miniſter of God had finiſhed his Meſſage from the Lord unto David, then David compoſed this Pſalm, for the uſe of the Church of God in all After-Ages. When ſinful perſons become repenting Sinners, they will be concerned for the Glory of God, and for the good of others They will be deſirous that God might be Glorified by themſelves, and they will be willing to do all they p. 4can for the Glory of God, and they will be willing to excite others to Glorify God; and therefore to excite them to Repentance, that they may Glorify God. And they will be deſirous that their own Repentance may be as much known as ever their Wickedneſs hath been known. The Sin of David, was by the wonderful Providence of God brought into open view, before the World; ſo that the Enemies of the Lord thereupon took occaſion to blaſpheme the Holy Name of God. Therefore David was willing that his Repentance might be openly and publickly known, that God might be thereby Glorified; that his diſhonour might as much as poſſible, be prevented; that if the People of God ſhould be reproached, and ſo the Name of God be diſhonoured by any wicked People, twitting of Godly People, and telling of them. Ay, ſee what your David hath done, what deteſtable Impieties he hath been guilty of, and how abominably wicked he hath been, yet he is one of your great Saints: The People of God might be able truly to reply, 'Tis true, we cannot but own it with ſhame and with grief, that David was guilty of great Sins againſt God. But we are alſo ſure, that he did truly repent of his great Sins: God gave him grace to repent, and to evidence his repentance before the World, we have an excellent Pſalm of his own compoſing upon that very occaſion, that ſhews that he was truly penitent. The fifty firſt Pſalm is an everlaſting teſtimony to all Generations, that David was concerned to Glorify God, by evidencing of his Repentance.

This will be the diſpoſition of all true Penitents: p. 5They will be deſirous, that all their godly Neighbours may be furniſhed with ſufficient evidences of their unfeigned Repentance for all their Wickedneſs, that they may be able to do ſomething to ſtop the mouths of the blaſpheming enemies of the Lord, that are glad of any occaſions to reproach his Holy Name.

The ſcope of repenting David in this Pſalm, is to deſire of God that his Sins might be all pardoned, and his Adultry and his Murder, and that he might be cleanſed from Original Pollution, and might be made ſenſible of the pardon of all his Sins, and prepared to praiſe God for the forgiveneſs of his Wickedneſs; and he promiſes unto the Lord, that upon his comfortable apprehenſion of the pardon of his ſin, by the reſtoring of the joy of the Holy Spirit unto him, he would endeavour to promote the Glory of God, by furthering the Converſion of other Sinners. And he ſhews an earneſt deſire for the Proſperity of the People of God: He knew that he had exceedingly grieved them by his Miſcarriages, and he was concerned that they might ſhare with him in his Conſolations upon his Reconciliation with God▪ Penitent Sinners that have grieved others by their Sins, will be deſirous that others may have occaſion to rejoyce in their Repentance.

In our Context, we find the penitent Sinner declaring what would not ſatisfy God for his offences. None of the Sacrifices appointed by God in the Ceremonial Law, to be offered by his People, in their External p. 6Worſhip, could ſatisfy for the wrongs that were done by Sin to the Majeſty of Heaven: The Wrath of God could not be pacified by them, nor could they remove the guilt of ſin from the Soul of the Sinner. The blood of Bulls and of Goats could never take away Sins. This David fully underſtood, and he plainly declares to the World his firm belief, that none of the Levitical Sacrifices could make full ſatisfaction to Divine Juſtice for the ſins of any perſon but they had a reſpect unto ſome other thing. Then he declares what Sacrifices would be acceptable with God. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit. May not this principally refer unto our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who being made a Sacrifice unto the Divine Juſtice, had his Spirit grievouſly broken by the wrath of God, while he was offering up himſelf a Sacrifice for the Sins of his People? He could ſay before he came to dye, My Soul is exceeding ſorrowful, even unto death; and when he came to dye, he poured out his Soul unto death. His very Soul within him was dreadfully broken by the Anger of GOD, which he endured for the ſake of his People, that they might be delivered from the Wrath to come. And altho' he were the eternally beloved Son of God, yet appearing as the Surety for Sinners, the Wrath of God broke his very Spirit within him. And becauſe he was the Eternally Beloved Son of God, therefore he was the Sacrifice of God; a Sacrifice accepted with God, as well as appointed by God; Yea; he was p. 7himſelf God, truly and really God. The very Perſon that was offered a Sacrifice for Sin, was God Tho' he ſuffered only as Man, the Divine Nature being uncapable of ſuffering, yet the Perſon that ſuffered was truly God over all bleſſed for ever: And ſo the Sacrifice of ſuch an One, was of infinite value & virtue, and for that reaſon might be ſtyled, The Sacrifices of God. For, beſure the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was of more value infinitely than all the other Sacrifices that were appointed by God to be offered; He was the Antytipe of them all, and as good as ten hundred thouſand millions of ſuch Sacrifices. Yea, infinitely better than all other Sacrifices. Thus being as good as all, better than all, he might be called Sacrifices. And he was a Sacrifice of ſuch value as to ſatisfy for the ſins of all that will accept of him for their Sacrifice, let them be never ſo many Souls; & he is a Sacrifice of ſuch value, as to ſatisfy for all their Sins, if they believe on him, let their Sins be never ſo many; ſo may the Son of God be ſtyled, the Sacrifices of God. He is the Propitiation for the ſins of the whole World, both Jews and Gentiles, that believe in him as their Saviour; He is a Sacrifice for them all, for all their ſins. Yea, ſuch is the ſufficiency of the Merit of the Sacrifice of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that if all the Sinners in the world would believe on him, there is merit enough in his Blood to ſatisfy for all their ſins: Of ſuch value is his Blood, and therefore might he be called the Sacrifices of God. His Spirit having been broken, he is the Sacrifices of p. 8God. Thro' him other things may be accepted with God. For it follows in our Text, A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe· If the heart of a Sinner be broken for Sin, and from Sin, God will not deſpiſe that heart, but he will for the ſake of the Sacrifices of God, ſhew favour to one that hath ſuch an heart. For there is more intended than is expreſſed in the words. God will not deſpiſe a broken heart, that is; He will greatly delight in ſuch an heart, ſuch an heart will be acceptable with him. Tho' Sinners do not deſerve the favour of God by their brokenneſs of heart, yet their brokenneſs of heart doth prepare Sinners for the favour of God; and he will certainly ſhew his favour to them, who have their hearts rightly broken with Evangelical Contrition.

This then muſt be our preſent Doctrine.

DOCTRINE.

The Broken Heart of a Repenting Sinner, is acceptable with the Glorious God through Jeſus Chriſt. The Glorious God will ſhew favour for the ſake of Chriſt unto a Penitent Sinner that hath a Broken Heart.

If a Sinner would be received into the favour of God, for the ſake of Chriſt, then let his Repentance of Sin, be ſure to go ſo far, as to break his heart for, and from Sin.

We have two Enquiries to conſider under this Doctrine.

p. 9Enquiry 1.

What is implied in that Brokenneſs of Heart, which will be acceptable with the Glorious God through Jeſus Chriſt, and what will attend ſuch a Brokenneſs of Heart?

ANSWER:

To this we may anſwer; Six things muſt be attended, and a ſeventh muſt not be omitted by the Penitent Sinner, that would have a broken Heart acceptable with the Glorious God thro' Jeſus Chriſt. Let all people conſider the things now to be offered; and certainly the poor Condemned Priſoner, under a Sentence of Death, not likely to enjoy another Sabbath, before his paſſage into the Eternal World, will reckon himſelf under peculiar Obligations to conſider theſe things, to direct him to that brokenneſs of heart, that will be acceptable with God thro' Chriſt: Poor man, Hearing for your laſt, hear for your Life, your Life; The Life of your precious immortal Soul is concerned in what you are now hearing. And let all hear ſo, that their Souls may live; Hear ſo that you may find what you hear.

1. There muſt be ſome ILLUMINATION of the Mind, where there is that brokenneſs of Heart that will be acceptable with God through Chriſt. The Underſtanding muſt be enlightened if the heart be rightly broken. If the heart be never ſo much diſtreſſed, oppreſſed, Bruiſed and broken by dreadful terrours▪ by fearful horrours, by amazing affrightments, p. 10by aſtoniſhing expectations of the Wrath of GOD, juſt ready to be poured down upon the Soul; yet if there be no light in the mind, the heart is not rightly broken; If the mind be full of darkneſs, there may be ſome ſort of brokenneſs of heart, but not that which will be acceptable with God. Therefore muſt there be ſome illumination of the Underſtanding, to ſee ſomething about thoſe Truths of God, that will ſhew why the heart of a Sinner ſhould be broken. The broken hearted Sinner will have ſome underſtanding and conſideration about the righteouſneſs and the holineſs of God, about the odiouſneſs and heinouſneſs of ſin, about the juſtice and the ſtrictneſs of the Law of God, that is broken by ſin; about the certainty of the threatnings of the Law of God againſt ſin, about the dreadfulneſs of the puniſhment threatned for ſin, by the Law, and about the unavoidableneſs of the puniſhment threatned, without full ſatisfaction to the Law, which cannot be without a perfect righteouſneſs every way anſwering the Law; but no ſuch righteouſneſs can he had beſides the Righteouſneſs of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; nor can this Righteouſneſs be had without faith in Chriſt; and where there is true ſaving faith in Chriſt, there muſt and will be unfeigned repentance that breaks the heart for, and from ſin Such as theſe things muſt have ſome conſideration in the Penitent Sinner, that will have his heart ſo broken, as to be accepted with God: Therefore muſt there be not only ſome acquaintance with the Law of God, but alſo ſome p. 11conſideration what that Law requires, and what that Law forbids: Thence might the Penitent ſay, as in Rom. 7.7. I had not known ſin, but by the law; by the law is the knowledge of ſin. Sinners muſt have their minds enlightned in the Law of God, that they may come to ſee their ſins, before they will have their hearts broken ſo as to be acceptable with God. The eyes of Sinners muſt be opened ſo as to ſee ſomething of their miſerable condition, before their hearts will be rightly broken. Light muſt break into their Souls, that they may ſee how things are in their Souls, before their hearts will be rightly broken. The Law muſt be conſidered, and the Author of the Law, that Sin againſt the Law may appear unto Sinners to be exceeding ſinful, before their hearts will be duly broken for, and from ſin. If the heart of the Sinner be duly broken, then will the Repenting Sinner be able truly to ſay, Now I ſee ſomething of the Righteouſneſs of the Holy God, and I muſt acknowledge the holineſs of his righteous Law; his Law is holy, juſt and good, therefore Sin which breaks that Law, muſt be an evil and a bitter thing.

Examine then upon this Article as we paſs along, and conſider, every Soul. Is your Underſtanding ſo enlightned as to ſee the righteouſneſs and the holineſs of God; to ſee the odiouſneſs and the heinouſneſs of Sin; to ſee the juſtice and the ſtrictneſs of the Law of God; to ſee the certainty of the threatnings of the Law, to ſee the dreadfulneſs of the puniſhment threatned by the Law upon the breakers of the Law; to ſee the inevitableneſs p. 12of the threatned puniſhment, without a full ſatisfaction to the Law, which cannot be without a perfect Righteouſneſs, every way anſwering the Law; and that there is no ſuch Righteouſneſs to be had, beſides the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and this cannot be had without faith in him; and this faith muſt be attended with unfeigned Repentance, to which belongs brokenneſs of heart for, and from Sin? Do you ſee ſomething about the reality of theſe things? If you ſee nothing about them, it is not likely that your hearts will be rightly broken: But if your minds are enlightned ſo as to ſee, and conſider and realize theſe and ſuch things, there is room to hope that ſomething is doing toward breaking of your hearts with a Goſpel Contrition.

But then,

II. There muſt be ſome CONVICTION upon the Conſcience, where there is that brokenneſs of heart that will be acceptable with God through Chriſt. This Conviction doth conſiſt in a perſonal & particular application of guilt & wrath unto the Sinners own Soul, ſo as to bring the Sinner to an acknowledgment like this; If the Word of God be true, then my Soul is in a miſerable Condition. For as long as notions abide in the head as airy, empty ſpeculations, without coming down into the heart, with a powerful impreſſion upon the Soul, Sinners never have their hearts duly broken; let their notions be never ſo good and right. The Righteouſneſs of God, and his Holineſs, p. 13the juſtice and ſtrictneſs of his Law may be acknowledged, ſin may be conſidered as an evil and hateful thing; but the Sinner will not be affected with the evilneſs and the hatefulneſs of ſin, without ſome Conviction upon the Conſcience, whereby a ſenſe of the evil of ſin is brought nigh unto the Soul, and the weight of ſin is laid upon the Soul. For as the heavieſt weights while at a diſtance, will not bruiſe nor break, but when they are laid upon us, then they may bruiſe and break us: Thus while Sinners conſider of the evil in ſin at a diſtance, without any application of the guilt of Sin to their own Souls, in their conſiderations, they will not have their ſinful heart rightly broken. Therefore is there a neceſſity of that thing, in John 16.8. The Spirit convincing of ſin. There muſt be a work of the Holy Spirit of God, bringing home conviction upon the Soul of the Sinner, ſo as to lay ſomething of the weight of guilt upon the Soul, in order to a right brokenneſs of heart. The Sinner muſt come to acknowledge, I know Sin to be in it ſelf an evil thing, becauſe it is a tranſgreſſion of the juſt law of a Good God, and I feel my ſelf guilty of ſuch evil before the Lord; I have tranſgreſſed the Law of God, the guilt of Sin lies upon my Soul; and I am ſenſible of ſomething of the burthen of ſin. So it muſt be with the Sinner, that his heart may be rightly broken. David might be produced as an inſtance of this. He might hear abundance of Sermons Preached about Repentance, while he was under the guilt p. 14of ſin, but none of them ſeemed to break his heart, until the Holy Spirit of God, by a particular application of the Truth of God in the Miniſtry of the Prophet Nathan ſaid, You David are the man that is guilty of all the Wickedneſs that you have condemned; for you have done ſo and ſo, and have broken the Laws of God, and have deſerved the Wrath and Curſe of God, the guilt of Sin lies upon your Soul. This particular application, by the Holy Spirit of God, in the Miniſtry of the Prophet began to make ſome tendency toward the breaking of the heart of ſinful David. And ſo, when the Spirit of God will pleaſe to ſet home Conviction upon the Conſcience of the guilty Sinner, and bring him to ſee and own that he hath been guilty of thoſe things for which the Wrath of God is denounced in the Law of God, againſt the Children of Diſobedience, who break that Law; then may there be ſome room to hope that the heart will be rightly broken.

Examine then upon this Article, and conſider, every Soul; Have you not only had your Underſtanding Illuminated about the truth of God, referring unto the Evil of Sin, ſo as to ſee, that Sin in it ſelf is an evil thing and a bitter; but have you alſo had ſuch a Conviction upon your Conſcience, that you do feel the burden of Sin? Do you feel the dreadful weight of the guilt of ſin upon your Soul? Is your Soul burthened with the guilt of ſin? If there be no ſuch Conviction upon the Conſcience, it is no wonder if there be no brokenneſs of heart. But if there be ſuch Conviction upon the Conſcience, then is there p. 15ſomething done toward breaking of the heart. But there muſt be ſtill ſomething more done, before the heart will be rightly broken, ſo as to be acceptable with God. For,

III. There muſt be a diſtreſſing AFFLICTION of Soul, attending of this Conviction upon the Conſcience, where there is the brokenneſs of heart, that will be acceptable with God through Jeſus Chriſt. The Soul muſt be made ſo ſenſible of the burden of Sin, as to be affected, and grievouſly afflicted with that dreadful burden, before the heart is duly broken. Perſons may acknowledge that Sin is Evil, and they may be ſenſible, that ſin hath done much evil to them, and that it deſerves the Wrath and Curſe of God for ever; and they may be convinced, that they are guilty of ſin, that abundance of guilt lies upon their Souls; and yet they may not be very much afflicted in their Souls, becauſe of their ſins: their ſins may ſeem ſomewhat burthenſome, yet they are but light burdens to them, or tolerable; they can ſtill bear the burden of their ſins; the burden of ſin is not altogether inſupportable, at leaſt they think that they are able to endure it a little longer. The hearts of theſe Sinners be not duly broken. For if the heart be rightly broken for ſin, the Soul muſt be diſtreſſed and afflicted, becauſe of the burden of ſin, ſo as to be able to ſay like him, in Pſal. 40.12. Innumerable evils have compaſſed me about, mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, ſo that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head, therefore my heart p. 16faileth me: Or like him, in Pſal. 38.4. Mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burden, too heavy for me to bear. When Sinners come to this, then is there ſome room to hope that their ſinful hearts will be rightly broken; but as long as they can bear the burden of their ſins beſure they have not that brokenneſs of heart that will be acceptable with God; for a wounded Spirit who can bear? If the heart be rightly broken, it cannot eaſily bear up under the burden of ſin: The burden of ſin will ſink the broken heart ſo as to make it long for deliverance from that burden. Sinners may know and own, that Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, Lying, Stealing, prophane Swearing and Curſing, and Blaſpheming the Name of God, Sabbath-breaking, Diſobedience to Superiours, and Malice, Envy, Diſcontent, as well as Murder and other heinous Crimes, are great ſins before God; but as long as they do not acknowledge themſelves guilty of any of theſe Crimes, their hearts will not be broken, how guilty ſoever they are of theſe Crimes. Yea, Sinners may know and own themſelves to be guilty of theſe and thoſe crimes; Conſcience may tell one perſon, You are a Drunkard; another perſon, You walk in ſome way of Uncleanneſs? another perſon, You are guilty of Lying or Stealing, or prophane Swearing, Curſing; another perſon, You are a Sabbath-breaker, diſobedient to Superiours, guilty of Malice, Envy, Dſicontent, or ſome other Wickedneſs. But if Sinners can bear theſe and ſuch intimations of Conſcience unto them, without feeling any ſuch p. 17heavy burden, but what they can bear up their Spirits under it, their hearts be not rightly broken. Sinners may be convinced, without being converted. This is plain. The Hearers of the Apoſtle Peter, when they were told of their Wickedneſs in Crucifying the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, They were pricked to their hearts; their hearts began to be rightly broken. But the Hearers of the Martyr Stephen, while they were told of their wickedneſs in reſiſting the Holy Spirit, they were cut to the heart. Their hearts were after a manner bruiſed, and pierced, and vexed, but not rightly broken. They went on ſtill in Wickedneſs. Thence it appears that Sinners may have ſome ſenſe of ſin, without having their hearts rightly broken for, and from ſin. There may be ſome knowledge, and acknowledgment of the evil that is in ſin, as well as of the evil that comes by ſin, without any right brokenneſs of heart: But where there is a right brokenneſs of heart, there will be affliction of Soul, becauſe of the burden of ſin: Conſcience muſt not only be convinced, but muſt alſo be quickned and excited to do its duty toward the convinced Sinner; to make the Sinner conſider with trembling, I have provoked the righteous and holy God, and expoſed my ſelf unto his terrible diſpleaſure: What ſhall I do to eſcape the Wrath of God? Conſcience reveals the Wrath of God unto the Sinner, when the heart is rightly broken, ſo as to make the Soul of the Sinner full of diſtreſs and anguiſh, and to have ſecret wiſhes like theſe: Oh, that I had never been! Oh, that p. 18I had never Sinned as I have done! Oh, that I might ceaſe to be; or my Sin taken away, ſo as to lie no longer upon my Soul! Oh, that I might eſcape the Vengeance of Eternal Fire, that is due to me for Sin! How can I dwell with Devouring Fire! How ſhall I dwell with Everlaſting Burnings? What ſhall I do to be Saved? Such Operations of the Spirit of God working by Conſcience, are in the Souls of the Sinners that have their ſinful hearts rightly broken for ſin. There muſt be ſome work of the Law upon the Soul, to bring the Sinner into diſtreſs by reaſon of ſin. The Law of God, or the Spirit of God by the Law, muſt rouſe up the Sinner, to ſmite him and laſh him for ſin, before there will be that brokenneſs of heart, that will be acceptable to God.

Indeed, there will not be the like degrees of diſtreſs in the Souls of all Sinners, that have their hearts duly broken for Sin.

Some Sinners may have greater terrours, and of longer continuance than others.

God may work more gradually with ſome than with others; for the holy Spirit of God is an arbitrary Agent: He may act how he pleaſes, and where and when he pleaſes. The wind bloweth where it liſteth, and ſo the Spirit of God may work as he pleaſeth. And ſo ſome ſecure Sinners may be awakened out of their ſinful Security, as with a ſtrong Wind, or a loud Voice, or as with dreadful Thunders, that may ſeem at once to break their ſinful Hearts all to ſhivers. They may like the Apoſtle Paul in his conviction, be ſtruck down by the mighty power of God, or like p. 19the convinced Jaylor, be ſtruck with dreadful Fear, what will become of their Souls for ever. And ſome of theſe may be ſpeedily raiſed up and revived and comforted and ſtrengthned, and have their Eyes opened quickly, and their Souls refreſhed and filled with abundance of ſweet Conſolations from God. Others may lye longer under bitter diſtreſs of Soul. The terrours of God may abide upon them and ſeem to drink up their Spirits. They may go mourning under the burden of their Sins a long time, and may walk in heavineſs of Soul, until they cry out, Will the Lord caſt off for ever, will he be favourable no more? God may for holy Reaſons, keep them long under trouble of Soul. Sometimes to make them own that his Grace is free, or to make them cry the more fervently for his Grace, or to make them prize comfort the more, and to be the more thankful for it, when it is beſtowed, or to prepare them for the greater Conſolations. Other ſecure Sinners may be awakened out of their ſinful Security, as with a ſmall Wind, or a ſtill Voice, or as with pleaſant Whiſpers, that ſeem to delight their Souls: The Lord may ſecretly open their Hearts to receive his Grace, and as when Samuel was to be ſet about the work of God, the Lord call'd him in ſuch a manner, that there ſeemed no greater concernment or amazement than what had been uſual upon his Spirit: So may ſome Sinners be brought home to God with leſs preſſure from the burden of their Sins than ſome other Sinners. And of theſe there may be ſome that p. 20have comfort quickly beſtowed upon them, in the light of Gods countenance lifted up over their Souls. They may lye but a ſhort time under their diſtreſs of Soul by reaſon of the burden of their Sins. Others may have their diſtreſſes abiding longer upon them. They may continue a great while under the work of the Spirit, as a Spirit of bondage, before they find him working as a Spirit of Adoption upon their Souls. But ſtill we muſt beſure that all Sinners that have their Hearts broken ſo as to be accepted with God, feel Sin to be a grievous burthen to their Souls. They are made willing to get rid of that burden. They cann't bear to think of lying under the burden of Sin. The burden of Sin is of all burdens the moſt intollerable. And if they underſtand that they muſt wait upon God in the uſe of the means of Grace for the influences of his holy Spirit, to draw them to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for Salvation; They will pray in ſecret and with others, and deſire others to pray for them, and if they can, with them; They will, (if they can) read the Word of God, and hear his Word, and beg of God, to ſet home his truths upon their Souls, that their Souls may be ſtill more burthened with Sin, that they may ſtill be more ſenſible of their burthen, ſo as to be made really willing to part with Sin. They will pray that God would for the ſake of Chriſt by his holy Spirit, apply the pardoning, ſoftning, healing Blood of Chriſt unto their Souls, and unite their Souls to Chriſt by a living Faith, and make an p. 21everlaſting ſeparation between their Souls and their Sins, that their Souls might enjoy deliverance from all their Sins, for ever. Thus it will be with them, whoſe Hearts be rightly broken for Sin.

Examine then upon this Article and conſider, every Soul; Are you ſo burthened with Sin, ſo Afflicted for Sin, that you are willing to be ſeparated eternally from all Sin? Would it rejoyce your Souls, if you might now be delivered from ſo bitter an evil as the being of Sin in your Soul, and might have no more Sin for ever? If there be nothing of this, nothing like this, there is no right brokenneſs of Heart. But if there be a willingneſs to be ſeparated from all Sin for ever; and a gladneſs that God will uſe any means to ſeparate from Sin, then is there ſome room to hope that the Heart begins to be broken. Affliction of Soul by reaſon of the burden of Sin, will drive the repenting Sinner to Supplication before the Lord for deliverance from Sin with hopes of Pardon for the ſake of Chriſt, if the Heart ever be ſo broken as to be accepted with the Lord: But theſe things muſt be accompany'd with another thing: For

(IV.) HUMILIATION before the Lord, will be where there is that brokenneſs of Heart that will be acceptable with God thro' Chriſt. Indeed herein doth chiefly conſiſt the eſſence of that brokenneſs of heart, that God will not deſpiſe: when the Heart comes to be ſo humble as to ſubmit and ſubject it ſelf entirely unto the divine will, to ſay, Let the Lord do to me as p. 22ſeemeth good unto him. Then the Heart begins to be rightly broken, when the will of the Sinner is reſigned unto, and reſolved and as it were diſſolved into the will of the Creator. An humble Heart is a broken Heart. The broken hearted Sinner may acknowledge according to that, in Lam. 3.19. Remembring my Affliction and my Miſery, the Wormwood and the Gall, my Soul hath them ſtill in remembrance, and is humbled in me. Then a broken Heart muſt be an humbled Heart. And there muſt ſhame and grief, as well as reſignation to the will of God, and confeſſion of Sin to God and others, in that humiliation that will attend a broken Heart. The broken hearted Sinner muſt be aſhamed that ever he ſhould ſo grievouſly offend ſo gracious and merciful a God, as the Lord hath been unto him. Shame and bluſhing ſhould cover his Soul, when he looks unto the Lord againſt whom he hath Sinn'd and he ſhould be able truly to ſay, Lord, I am aſhamed to look up to thee, becauſe of my Sinfulneſs. And he muſt be grieved for that he hath diſhonoured God, the Father, wounded God the Son, griev'd the holy ſpirit of God, and wronged his own Soul, and occaſioned miſchief to others by ſinning againſt God; And he ſhould be able truly to ſay, I am exceeding ſorry, for that I ever ſinned againſt God. Oh, that I had not ſo ſinned, Oh, that I might no more ſin as I have done! Then there muſt follow ſuch a ſubmiſſion to God, as to be willing that what methods God ſees beſt, may be taken for deliverance and preſervation from Sin. The p. 23broken Heart muſt be willing to yield to God in every thing, and to ſay upon the hardeſt and ſaddeſt things, The will of the Lord be done The Heart is not ſufficiently broken, as long as there is any continued reluctancy or oppoſition to the will of God: See the Language of the broken-hearted ſinner, in Jer. 31 19. Thou has chaſtiſed me and I was chaſtiſed, as a bullock unaccuſtomed to the Yoak; Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God: Surely after I was turned, I repented, and after I was inſtructed, I ſmote upon my thigh; I was aſham'd yea, even confounded, becauſe I did bear the reproach of my Youth. And there muſt be confeſſion of Sin to God Pſal. 32.5. Jam. 5.16. Such an humble Heart muſt that broken Heart be that is accepted with the glorious God. Thence when Penitent Sinners come to have their hearts truly broken, they are ſo humble, that they can bear any wrongs, miſchiefs, injuries, indignities from any of their Fellow-Creatures, becauſe of their ſins againſt God: Thence all the trou-of this Life are accounted but ſmall troubles unto Penitent Sinners; becauſe they are humbled ſo, as to ſee that they deſerve greater and ſorer than ever they have endured. They will own, It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not conſum'd. And they will be thankful for the leaſt mercies, conſidering that they deſerve no mercy, but are leſs than the leaſt of all the mercies of God; and will ſay, As long as I am out of Hell, I have cauſe to be thankful to God for his mercy to my Soul: Whatever God pleaſes to do with me, he is juſt in all. p. 24The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his Works. Theſe things will be in the Humiliation of the Repenting Sinner, whoſe Broken Heart will be accepted with God thro' Chriſt. Then,

Examine upon this, and Conſider, every Soul, Are you ſo humbled before the Lord, that you can ſincerely ſubmit to the Will of GOD? Are you willing that God ſhould do what he will with you, ſo that he will preſerve you from diſhonouring his Holy Name, and ſave you from Hell; and improve you to Glorify him here, and in Heaven for ever? If there be nothing of this Humiliation before the Lord, there is not that brokenneſs of heart that will be accepted with God. But if there be ſuch Humiliation before the Lord, then the heart begins to be well broken; but if it be ſo broken, there will another thing be accompanying theſe things. For,

V. INDIGNATION toward Sin will be, where there is that brokenneſs of heart that the Glorious God will accept. For if Sin hath broke the heart, and if the heart be broken for, and from Sin, there muſt be an hatred of Sin; Sin will be abhorr'd by a broken heart: The broken-hearted Sinner thinks about Sin, Oh, It is a vile thing! And this hatred unto ſin muſt be an univerſal hatred againſt all ſins; for ſmall, ſecret, ſpiritual ſins muſt be hated as well as great, open, more ſenſible and viſible ſins; yea, if the heart be rightly broken, ſome one particular ſtream of ſin will carry the Soul unto the conſideration of the p. 25ſpring of Sin, the fountain of Original Corruption; ſo that the Sinner will be able to ſay, with ſhame and ſorrow, and bitterneſs of Soul, as David, Pſal. 51.5. In Iniquity was I ſhapen, and conceived in Sin. He muſt own, Sin dwelleth in me; my heart is full of ſin, and therefore is there juſt reaſon for it to be broken; I abhor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. He muſt be able to ſay, I hate every falſe way, I hate vain thoughts. I allow the Law to be ſpiritual, and to reach to my Soul, and to all the aims and frames of my Soul; and therefore ſhould I be diſpleaſed at ſpiritual ſins, and mourn for the ſinful inclinations and diſpoſitions of my Soul; and hate ſin ſo, as to abſtain from all appearance of evil. Yea, the broken-hearted Sinner will bewail and lament his condition in thoſe terms, in Rom. 7.24. O wretched one that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death! He will not be ſatisfy'd as long as he hath any remainders of In-dwelling Corruption: All ſin hath bitterneſs in it, and therefore doth he hate all ſin with a bitter, and a vehement, implacable, irreconcileable hatred. For this hatred unto ſin, muſt be a continual hatred, as well as univerſal. Sin muſt never be loved, allowed, tolerated in a broken heart, which God will accept. Then,

Examine upon this, and conſider, Every Soul; Do you hate, and abhor, and abominate every Sin: Can't you endure to be defiled with any Sin? Would it be the rejoycing of your Soul, if you might preſently be delivered from the very p. 26being of ſin? If there be nothing of this indignation toward ſin, there is no brokenneſs of heart that will be accepted with God. But if there be ſuch indignation againſt all ſin, then doth the heart begin to be broken; then will follow another deſirable thing, whereby a right brokenneſs of heart will be evidenc'd. For,

VI. RESOLUTION againſt all Sin, and for Holineſs by the Grace of God in Chriſt, belongs to a broken heart, that God will accept. The Penitent Sinner, whoſe heart is rightly broken, is able to ſay, as in Pſal. 119.100. I have ſworn, and will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous Judgments: And is willing to ſay, What have I any more to do with Idols? I have done iniquity, but let me do it no more. So it muſt be with Penitent Sinners, that have their hearts broken for, and from ſin: There muſt be in their broken, hearts, a purpoſe againſt their ſins, and a purpoſe for ſerving God; and the reſolutions of broken-hearted Sinners againſt Sin, and for Holineſs muſt paſs into executions: They muſt purpoſe what is good, and perform what they purpoſe, if their hearts be ſo broken as they ſhould be, in order for the Divine Acceptance. Then,

Examine upon this Article, and Conſider, Every Soul; Do you ſincerely reſolve againſt all ſin, and for God and Holineſs? And is it the deſire and purpoſe of your Souls to forſake all Ungodlineſs, and to walk in the ways of Religion? By the Grace of God in Chriſt, can you truly ſay, the conſtant, ſettled intention of my Soul is, that abandoning p. 27the ways of wickedneſs, I will entertain the things of Godlineſs? Do you ſincerely and conſtantly intend to depart from all evil, and to do good? Is it the main deſign of your Soul, to be cleanſing from all filthineſs of fleſh and of ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of God? If there be no ſuch reſolution againſt ſin, and for holineſs, there is no right brokenneſs of heart▪ but if there be ſuch a reſolution againſt ſin. and for holineſs, then is there ſome tendency toward that brokenneſs that God will accept for the ſake of Chriſt.

There are ſix things to be remembred and practis'd about the brokenneſs of heart, that will be acceptable with God. But the ſeventh Article which muſt not be neglected nor forgotten, is this,

VII. Where there is that brokenneſs of heart▪ that will be acceptable with God, there muſt be an APPREHENSION of the pardoning mercy of God in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt With a conſideration of that, in Pſal. 130.4. There is forgiveneſs with the Lord, that he may be feared. For whatever illumination upon the Underſtanding, whatever Conviction upon the Conſcience, whatever diſtreſſing affliction upon the Soul, whatever Humiliation before God, and whatever indignation toward Sin, or what reſolution ſoever againſt ſin, and for holineſs, there may be in ſeemingly penitent Sinners; yet if there be no thoughts of Chriſt, no conſideration about the Son of God made with his broken ſpirit, the Sacrifices of God; if no apprehenſion of the mercy of God in p. 28Jeſus Chriſt, there can be no brokenneſs of heart; for God out of Chriſt, will be a conſuming fire to Sinners; their ſinful hearts may indeed be broken by that fire, but not ſo, as to be accepted with God, and received into his favour; but if the heart be rightly broken, there muſt be that thing, in Zech. 12.10. A looking upon him that was pierced, becauſe of Sin. Such a look muſt cauſe bitterneſs of Soul, and brokenneſs of heart in Penitent Sinners. To think, we have pierced the heart of the dearly beloved Son of God, by our ſins, this muſt break our ſinful hearts, if they are ever duly broken. We have had ſome intimations that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath been the Sacrifices of God, and that his heart was broken, becauſe of our ſins. Our ſins have broken the heart of Chriſt. But we muſt conſider him, that our hearts may be broken: Conſider him who was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, and bruiſed for our iniquities, and upon him was the chaſtiſement of our peace, and by whoſe ſtripes we may be healed. Conſider the heart-breaking diſtreſs that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt underwent for the ſake of miſerable ſinners; Whole the Lord laid upon Him the Iniquity of us all. Conſider what he endured when his heart was broken within him, and melted like wax, and he was poured like water, and his Soul was ſore amazed, even unto death; and he prayed, O my Father, if it be poſſible, let this Cup paſs from me: And after that cried out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? The holy heart of the Son of God was broken ſo, that he offered prayers p. 29and ſupplications, and ſtrong crying with tears, before God. Yea, his heart was ſo broken, that he ſweat great drops of blood in his agony before his Crucifixion; but after this, his ſide was pierced with a ſpear, ſo that blood came from his heart. But why was all this? Wherefore was the heart of the Son of God ſo broken? It was that Sinners might have their ſinful hearts broken ſo as to be prepared for the pardoning mercy of God. And it was that the Juſtice of God might be ſatisfied, and their Souls delivered from the guilt and filth of ſin. The heart of Chriſt was broken, that his Blood might be applied to believing Sinners, for the remiſſion of their ſins, and the ſalvation of their Souls, Theſe things muſt be conſidered by Sinners; and they muſt have, a realizing apprehenſion about the readineſs and willingneſs of the Glorious God to receive broken-hearted Sinners into his favour for the ſake of Chriſt. If God ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how ſhall he not with him freely give us all things. If God hath broken the heart of his Son for us, will he not heal our hearts, upon our ſeeking to him? Thus we muſt conſider that our hearts may be rightly broken. Our eyes muſt be unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for all the bleſſings and benefits of broken hearts; if we will be accepted with God. We muſt look unto Chriſt for all the good that is beſtowed in, and with a broken heart. By the merit of his heart blood, muſt our hearts be broken for, and from our ſins, and healed when ſo broken; and the acceptance p. 30of our brokenneſs of heart with God, muſt be aſcribed unto him, whoſe heart was fore broken: For we may not expect to be accepted with God, meerly becauſe our ſinful herrts are broken, ſo as to be willing to he delivered and ſeparated from ſin: For if we have no intereſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we cannot by any means be admitted into the favour of God, nor accepted in his right, tho' our hearts were never ſo much broken; for we muſt conſtantly remember that, in 1 Pet 2.5. Spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to God, by Jeſus Chriſt. When we try to offer broken hearts for ſacrifices unto God, we muſt look for acceptance of them thro' Jeſus Chriſt. And when ever we deſire the mercy of a broken heart, or the mercies promiſed with ſuch an heart, we muſt behold our Lord Jeſus Chriſt purchaſing all for us; and believe that God the Father is willing, for the ſake of his Son, by his Holy Spirit, to beſtow upon us all the good things belonging to a broken heart, if we are but willing to receive thoſe good things; and if we are made thus willing, we are obliged unto a broken-hearted Redeemer for that willingneſs. He hath purchaſed and procured that willingneſs for us, and beſtowed it on us. Thus muſt there be an apprehenſion of the pardoning mercy of God in Chriſt, where there is the brokenneſs of heart that God will accept.

Hereupon Examine then every Soul, and conſider, Have you a due regard unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in all your ſorrow for Sin? Do you look p. 31for acceptance of your ſerious endeavours about repentance on the account of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt! Or do you think to deſerve or obtain the Mercies of God, by your brokenneſs of Heart? Or do you think to prepare your ſelves for Union with Chriſt, by getting your Hearts more broken by your endeavours in your own ſtrength? Certainly if you have had no regard unto Jeſus Chriſt in your eſſays to get your Hearts broken, or if you have not eyed him, as the author and finiſher of this benefit, you have yet no right brokenneſs of Heart. If the blood of Chriſt hath not been applyed unto your Souls, by the holy Spirit of God bringing home the ſenſe of Gods love in Jeſus Chriſt to your Souls, and helping you to believe in Chriſt, you cannot be ſure that your Hearts have been rightly broken. But if our underſtandings have been ſo illuminated as to ſee the juſtice and ſtrictneſs of the holy law of the righteous God, and the odiouſneſt and the heinouſneſs of all ſin againſt that Law, and the dreadfulneſs, and the certainty of the puniſhment threatned by that Law, againſt all the breakers of that Law, without a full ſatisfaction to that law by a perfect Righteouſneſs; and if we have ſuch conviction upon our Conſciences, that the burden of Sin lies heavily upon our Souls, and our Souls are ſo diſtreſſed and afflicted with that burden, that we are ſo humbled, grieved and aſhamed, that we have ſinned, and willing to ſubmit unto any terms, that God ſhall preſcribe, that we may be delivered from Sin; and if we abhor all Sin, reſolve and purpoſe againſt it with all our Hearts, relying on Chriſt p. 32for ſtrength to avoid and conquer all Sin; and if we have a continual apprehenſion of the pardoning mercy of God, in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with faith in his Blood, and are continually concerned for aſſurance of an Intereſt in that Mercy, on the account of Chriſt; and our Souls do more and more long for more full aſſurance of our Union and Communion with Chriſt, and our Souls are more and more ſwallowed up in love unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and in Admiration of his Love to our Souls; and we aſcribe unto him the Glory of all the good that ever we enjoyed, or deſire to enjoy; and are continually ſtudying and contriving to ſhew our thankfulneſs unto God for giving Chriſt unto us; and our thankfulneſs unto Chriſt, for what he hath been willing to do and bear for our good, and if we long for Heaven, becauſe there we ſhall be employed in glorifying of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for ever; Then we have ſomething of the brokenneſs of Heart, that will appear acceptable with the glorious God thro' Jeſus Chriſt.

Enquiry II.

Why is ſuch-brokenneſs of heart acceptable with God? And how it appears to be ſo?

Anſw 1. Sin is pardoned and the Soul ſubdued unto God when the Heart is thus broken. Therefore is this brokenneſs of Heart acceptable with God. We read in Iſaiah 1.18. About them that are willing and obedient, ſo have their Hearts broken, Tho' their Sins be as Scarlet, they ſhall be white as Snow; tho' they p. 33be red as Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wool. The meaning is, they ſhall be all Pardoned, and the Souls of the Sinners purifyed, as well as juſtifyed. Then the clamour of their Sins, will be Silenced, and they ſhall not hinder the courſe of the Mercies of God, unto their Souls. We find in Iſa. 59.2. It is declared to ſome, Your Iniquities have ſeparated between you and your God, your Sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear. But if their Sins are pardoned, then Sinners may have acceſs to God thro' Jeſus Chriſt: And when the wall of ſeparation is made by Sin, between God and our Souls is removed, then will there be a free paſſage for mercy to our Souls. Then will God manifeſt unto our Souls, that he doth receive us into his favour and ſo our broken Hearts will appear not to be deſpiſed, but accepted with the Lord.

2. God is appeaſed unto Sinners, and well pleaſed with them for the ſake of Chriſt, when their Hearts be ſo broken. Their wills are brought into Gods will in brokenneſs of Heart, and therefore will he not deſpiſe their broken Hearts, being reconciled unto their perſons. The great conteſt between God and Sinners, it is this, Who ſhall have their Will, God or Sinners? But when the Hearts of Sinners are duly broken, then they yield to God. They conſent that he ſhould have his will. He hath attained his end upon them, and brought them to a ſubmiſſion to his pleaſure, and ſo he is attoned to them; Thence will God have delight in broken Hearts, and make his abode in them, as in Iſa. 57.5. The high and lofty p. 34one that Inhabiteth Eternity, dwelleth with him that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, and he will revive & comfort them that are ſo. And he ſays in Iſa. 66. To this man will I look, that is of a contrite Spirit, and that trembleth at my Word. When the Heart of Ephraim was broken ſo as to bewail and bemoan his miſerable condition, then ſays the Lord in Jer. 31.20. Is Ephraim my dear Son, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill, my bowels are troubled for him, I will ſurely have mercy on him, ſaith the Lord. God being reconciled unto Sinners, will ſurely accept their broken Hearts, and be well pleaſed with them

3 The heart of God appears in a manner broken with compaſſion toward Miſerable Sinners, when their ſinful hearts do appear to be duly broken. But if His Heart be broken and opened with compaſſion toward Sinners, then be ſure, he will not deſpiſe their brokenneſs of Heart. We read in Judges 10.16. The People of God had grievouſly ſinned againſt the Lord, Miſeries came upon them for their Sins, they prayed unto the Lord for deliverance from their miſeries, the Lord brought them to ſuch a brokenneſs of heart that they complyed with his will, Then it follows, The Soul of the Lord was grieved for the Miſery of Iſrael.

By theſe things we may learn a little what means that brokenneſs of Heart which God will not deſpiſe, and That and Why ſuch brokenneſs of Heart will be acceptable with God thro' Jeſus Chriſt.

USE 1. We might hence Learn, The p. 35folly of all Sinners that harden their heart againſt God, that will not comply with his Will. They ſhall not, they cannot proſper; for none ever yet proſpered in hardening themſelves againſt God. God evermore, overcomes all thoſe that harden themſelves againſt him. Remember Pharoah! If the Hearts of Sinners be not broken by the means of Grace in the time of his patience, they will certainly be dreadfully broken by the Wrath of God in the day of Vengeance. Would Sinners conſent to have their Hearts broken by the means that God hath appointed for the breaking of them, they would find that the Lord would take pleaſure in them; He delights in broken Hearts, but as long as poor Sinners do refuſe to have their Hearts broken, they find their bands are made ſtronger and ſtronger: The diſtreſſes of their Soul grow more and more terrible. Was it not ſo with David, in Pſal. 32.3. Where he ſays While I kept ſilent (from confeſſing of Sin to God:) my bones waxed old thro' my roaring all the day. But when his Heart was broken ſo, as to be willing to confeſs his Sin to God; Then he found relief in, releaſe from his trouble of Soul. Therefore ſhould Sinners be willing to have their Hearts broken ſo as to be prepared for the ſenſe of the pardoning mercy of God in Chriſt Jeſus. For obſtinacy and obduracy in Sin will never be comfortable to Sinners. But,

2. Hence we may learn, what we muſt do, that we may find acceptance with God thro' Chriſt. We muſt muſt get our underſtandings illuminated in the truths of God, our Conſciences convicted p. 36about the guilt of Sin, our Souls affected & afflicted with the burden of Sin; labour for Humiliation before God, indignation toward Sin, reſolution againſt all Sin and for Holineſs; but, be ſure, in all and with all, yea, above and before all, that we do, we muſt maintain a due regard unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in our Souls. This thing is not mentioned laſt, becauſe it ſhould be attended laſt, for it ſhould be attended with all the other things that are implied in brokenneſs of Heart; we ſhall do nothing well about getting broken Hearts, that will be acceptable with God, unleſs we have our eyes to Chriſt in all. We muſt not imagine to get our Hearts broken that we may come to Chriſt, but we muſt come to Chriſt for brokenneſs of Heart: We muſt look on him whoſe Heart hath been pierced and broken by our Sins, that our Heart may be broken for our Sins, and from our Sins. But,

3. Let all of us be adviſed to take right method for ſuch brokenneſs of Heart as will be acceptable with God thro' Chriſt: Thoſe methods have been propounded to you all.

And what hath been propounded unto all, muſt now be very particularly applyed unto one perſon here, that hath no ground to hope, that he ſhall ever come any more into this Houſe, after this day.

Poor Man, Be now adviſed, in the Name and Fear of the glorious and eternal God, to be now earneſtly concerned for ſuch a broken Heart as God will not deſpiſe,

None of us all have any reaſon to deſpiſe p. 37deſpiſe you, in your preſent deplorable Circumſtances; while we muſt all own our ſelves to be miſerable Sinners, and the uncontroleable Sovereignty of the Moſt High God, is to be acknowledged, in the differences that are made in our Circumſtances▪ Your Caſe might have been my Caſe or the Caſe of any other perſon here, if the Sovereign Lord of all had ſo pleaſed. But now the Holy Providence of God, hath ordered me to the heart-breaking work of ſpeaking unto you, in his Name; to promote in you ſuch a broken heart as may by his Grace, be prepared for the Conſolations of God: Let me with all due Compaſſion to you, be faithful to God, and to my own Soul, and to your Soul and to the Souls of all the People, that I am Preaching unto, while I am Preaching particularly unto you, and to help you in your great work of getting a Broken Heart. Beſides all the other things that have been more generally Offered unto all, for their Conſideration and Improvement; there may two or three things be now Offered unto your more peculiar Conſideration; but the ſum of them is not unfit to be conſidered by all the Congregation.

I. Conſider the Sins, the great Sins, the heinous and many Sins, that you have been guilty of, in the ſight of the Glorious and Heart-ſearching God; that your heart may be broken by the conſideration of theſe your Sins. Your ſins are, God knows what, and how many; you p. 38know more than is poſſible for any of your Neighbours to know, tho' your Neighbours know enough, to affect all their hearts, if they were not exceeding hard, and ſome of them have ſeemed to be mightily affected with the conſideration of thoſe your ſins, which they have known. Then be ſure the conſideration of your ſins, that you know your ſelf to be guilty of in the ſight of God, ſhould break your own heart. You ought ſeriouſly and ſolemnly to conſider the ſins which your heart is privy to; all the ſins that your Conſcience can juſtly charge you with, and the ſins that you may juſtly believe in your own heart, have provoked the pure eyes of the Glorious God, to leave you unto the great Sins, for which you are Condemned to Dye before your time; the time, which you might in a courſe of nature have lived unto; and the time which you might have deſired to live unto. You are not to live unto that time, that you might now deſire, becauſe you have been wicked over-much. And be ſure, you ſhould conſider with heart-breaking diſtreſſes, thoſe your ſins that have been more obſervable than others unto your Neighbours; and you ſhould confeſs and bewail thoſe your ſins before the World as well as before the Lord, with bitter lamentations: Your forſaking of God, neglecting his Worſhip, and Prophaning the Lords-Day; and all your ſins of Speech, that you can call to mind. Theſe are doubtleſs among the evils, that have incenſed Heaven againſt you, ſo as to leave unto your great tranſgreſſions. But, Oh, how p. 39great are theſe your Tranſgreſſion! The Sin of Murder, you know, is a Crying Sin. So the Lord told Cain, The voice of thy Brothers Blood cries to me from the Ground It is a Crime, not only againſt Chriſtian Charity, but alſo againſt common Humanity. They ſeem to lay aſide Humane Nature, that are guilty of the Crime. It is againſt the Law of man, as well as againſt the Law of God: All Nations that have any thing of Civility among them, do abhor the Crime. It is againſt the Natural Conſcience; thence it brings horror upon the minds of them, that are guilty of it; unleſs they are amazingly ſtupify'd. The Heathens thought, A Murderer, Vengeance will not ſuffer him to live. The Crime defaces the Image of God, which Humane Creatures bear; and therefore God ſaid unto all the Children of Noah, Gen. 9.6. Whoſo ſheddeth mans blood, by man ſhall his blood be ſhed, [The Civil Magiſtrate ſhould take care, to puniſh the Murderer with Death] for in the Image of God made he man The Crime defiles the Land, where it is committed; and the Land cannot be cleanſed without the death of the Murderer: And therefore is it commanded, in Prov. 28.17. A man that doth violence to the blood of any perſon, ſhall flee to the Pit, let no man ſtay him. There muſt be all convenient ſpeed in the Executien of the Murderer. Indeed, reaſonable time ſhould be allowed for preparation for Death; and merciful perſons are willing ſuch time ſhould be allowed; but there can't be allowed very long time, ſo great is the ſin. Yea, by this p. 40ſin▪ Humane Creatures do ſink themſelves beneath the very Beaſts of the Earth; for the Beaſts of the Field will not ordinarily kill one another of their own kind. Yea, more ſad; by the Sin of Murder, the Children of men do dreadfully reſemble the Devils of Hell; the Fiends of darkneſs. Murderers may juſtly be called, the Children of the Devil. In Job. 8.44. He is called a Murderer: and Murderers, by imitation are his Children; Murder is his work. But if Murder be ſo great a ſin, then what may you think of your own ſin, that is more than a ſingle or a double Murder: For you have not only murdered others, but alſo endeavoured to murder your ſelf; Did I ſay, that you endeavoured to murder your ſelf? Alas! You have been guilty of ſelf-murder, not only in attempting to murder your ſelf, (cutting your own Throat) but alſo you have actually and barbarouſly murdered your Wife, that by the Ordinance of God, was one with your ſelf; in Marriage made one fleſh with you; and you ſhould have loved her, as your ſelf, as your life; (yea more than you ſeemed to love your own life) and been willing to venture your own life, thouſands of times, had there been occaſion, for the preſervation of her life. But inſtead thereof, you have inhumanely put an end to her life, and to the life of her (and your) Siſter, with dreadful ſtroaks, and with cruel ſtabs; and have thereby given occaſion for all their Relations, and all your Relations, to have their hearts filled and broken with bitter ſorrows all their days. Don't this break your heart! But beſides this, You have p. 41occaſioned Confuſion and Conſternation throughout the whole Town Yea, filled the whole Land with amazement, with aſtoniſhment. You have defiled the Land with Blood, and it cannot be cleanſed from its defilement, without your Death. You muſt be made a Sacrifice unto Juſtice, or God would be angry at the Land. So great are your Sins. Will not this break your heart? The Law of God, in Numb. 35.16. was, That if a man ſhould ſmite any perſon with an inſtrument of Iron, (ſo that he Dye) he is a Murderer and the Murderer ſhall ſurely be put to Death. But it ſeems, that you have uſed two Inſtruments of Iron (a Pen-knife and an Ax) for the deſtruction of two perſons, whom you ſhould have loved as your life, and been willing to have expoſed your own life, to have preſerved either of theirs. But you have deſtroyed them, without giving them any time to make preparation for Eternity, into which you have hurried them after a dreadful manner. If it were true, that you ſaw not what you did, after the firſt mortal blows, it would be no wonder. For what Eyes, unleſs the Eyes of Dragons or Tygers could look on, to ſee ſuch Cruelty! ſuch Barbarity! ſuch Inhumanity! ſuch Deviliſm! Oh, Conſider ſuch things, to break your heart; and mourn for that your heart hath been ſo hard; no more broken for your ſin, than it hath been ever ſince your Apprehenſion, before your Condemnation, whatever it hath been ſince the Sentence of Death was paſſed upon you. Oh, that you may not appear ſo without the fear of God, while you are under Condemnation, as to have your heart p. 42unbroken for your deteſtable Abominations! But, Oh! Try to ſet your Sins in Order before your Eyes. Conſider them with their mighty aggravations. And forget not Original Sin; be able to ſay truly with him, in Pſal. 51.3. I acknowledge my tranſgreſſion, my ſin is ever before me. This may be one means to break your own heart; and be ſure, if your ſins are before your face, and you mourn for them with bitterneſs of Soul, and brokenneſs of heart, looking unto the Blood of Jeſus for the cleanſing of them: This will be a deſirable token that God will caſt them behind his back, and forgive and forget them, and remember them no more. Will not theſe things break your heart? Then,

II. Conſider the woes, the ſad woes, the grievous and many woes, that you are expoſed unto, by reaſon of your Sins, that your Heart may be broken for your Sins, that have deſerved theſe woes. Oh, conſider what woes are already come, and what woes you may ſtill plainly ſee certainly coming! The diſtreſs on your Body, tho' you may ſometimes have endured grievous pains, for awhile; The diſgrace on your name, tho' you have brought grievous reproach thereupon; Theſe are nothing! nothing, to the other woes deſerved by ſin. You have brought grievous and laſting trouble upon your Relations: How muſt their Hearts be broken with diſtreſs, while they live? (The Infinitely, compaſſionate Lord, ſhew his tender compaſſions to every of them and ſupport their Souls under their heavy Sorrows) How muſt p. 43they be diſtreſſed while they conſider what is come & coming upon you! Will not this break your Heart! To think, your are bringing the grey hairs of your aged Father, with bitter Sorrow, to the Grave? To think, that you have brought miſery upon your poor Children, ſo that wicked People may ſay to them, Your Father Murdered your Mother and your Aunt; don't your Heart break to think, what diſgrace you have bro't on your name, and ſo trouble on the Souls of your Friends from Generation to Generation, after your Soul is gone into the other World?

But Oh, what woes have you brought upon your own Soul! You have ſurrendered your Soul into the hands of Satan, the deſtroyer of Souls, after a dreadful manner. Satan hath fill'd your Heart & hardened your Heart, and Oh! How dreadfully maintain'd a poſſeſſion of your Heart! Oh! that your ſinful Heart might be broken, that the Devil might no longer find any lodging, any ſhelter there! That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt by his holy Spirit might take poſſeſſion of your broken Heart, ſo as to mend it and heal it, with his precious Blood! But, Oh! Still conſider what woes you have brought on your own Soul, in ſhortning your Time, in greatning your Guilt, and have now procured this woe to your Soul, that it muſt quickly be hurried out of your Body into the Eternal World, to appear before the awful judgment ſeat of God. And if you dye before your Heart be broken, there will ſtill be more terrible woes, than all theſe woes: All the Woes and Sorrows and Miſeries and Calamities of your whole Life, they will p. 44be nothing at all, compared with the dreadful woes, that you muſt experience immediately upon the ſeparation of your Soul from your Body; your Soul it muſt fall into the hands of the living God; whoſe angry Hands it is a fearful thing to fall into; and he will ſuffer it to fall into the hands, the jaws of the deſtroyers of Souls: The Fiends of darkneſs will ſeiz upon it. And it muſt be ſhut up in a dark, doleful, fiery, ſmoaky Priſon, till the Great Day of Judgment; then muſt your Soul be re-united with your Body, to appear before the tremendous Tribunal of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the ſight of the whole World of Angels and men. But if you are then found without an heart that hath been broken for, and from Sin, before you dye; if Sin be then found fixed upon your Soul, and your heart then appear to have been fixed and hardened in ſin all your life, then you muſt hear a Sentence paſſed upon you, that will make the very Angels of Heaven to tremble: The Judge of the whole World will then ſay, Depart, under the Curſe of God into Everlaſting Fire, with the Devil and his Angels. Then there will be no room for a, Lord have mercy upon your Soul. But your Soul muſt, with your Body, go into Eternal Miſery. But, Oh, how do you think to bear up under the Wrath of God, for ever and ever! Who knows the power of God's Anger? Men don't know, Angels don't know. The Anger of God overturns the Mountains, thoſe Pillars of Heaven tremble at his rebukes; How then can you think of dwelling with Devouring Fire, and with Everlaſting p. 45Burnings without having your heart broken by ſuch thoughts! Does not your very Soul within you, begin to ſhake, and quake, and to quiver with horrour, upon the fore-thoughts of theſe terrible things? To lie for ever in Hell, where the Wrath of the Lord of Hoſts, like a ſtream of brimſtone, will be for ever kindling the Fire. Oh, dreadful, dreadful! A man, that I have underſtood was once upon this Iſland, but dyed in another place for Murder; before he dyed, he cried out to this purpoſe, I have been ▪ ſaid he, before the roaring Canon, among drawn Swords. Bullets flying about my ears, and Death ſtaring me in the face▪ but I never knew what fear meant, before I came to conſider the Eternal Wrath of the Almighty God, that will be poured out upon my Soul in the other World, if I dy impenitent: But when I come to conſider this Wrath, it makes me to ſhiver with horrour Another man, that dyed in this Town, had his Conſcience awakened ſo before he dy'd, that he made the Standers by to tremble, when he cried out in my Hearing, O Torment, Torment, Torment like fire in my Soul! Oh, Conſider the Wrath to come! to come, the Wrath which will be for ever coming, and yet never all come upon the miſerable Soul of the Sinner that hath not his heart broken for, and from Sin, before he dies▪ Ah, Jeremiah, You may lament with the words of your Nameſake the Weeping Prophet, in the third Chapter of his Lamentations. I am one that hath ſeen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath brought me into darkneſs, and not into light; his hand is againſt me p. 46all the day. And you have reaſon to ſay, My Soul hath cauſe to be troubled; there is reaſon for you to be troubled exceedingly; You know not of any other man that ever was in ſuch lamentable Circumſtances, as you are now in. You are already very miſerable; but Oh what is to follow, will be more dreadful, than all that is come! inexpreſſibly more dreadful, if your heart be not ſo broken, as to be prepared for the healing blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt before you Dye. Can your heart endure to be baniſhed from the Gracious Preſence of God for ever? and pun ſhed with an everlaſting deſtruction from the Preſence of the Lord, and the Glory of his Power; becauſe you refuſe to accept of Chriſt with a broken heart?

But I have one thing more to offer to your Conſideration, for the breaking of your heart; and if that thing will not break your heart, what will? No Conſideration will do it. But your heart will remain eternally under obduration, if the conſideration of that thing will do nothing toward the breaking of it. God will break you ſore in the place of Dragons, and cover you with more, than the ſhadow of Death for ever, if this conſideration make no impreſſion on you. The very ſubſtance of Death, of Eternal Death, in Everlaſting Separation from all good; and in your enduring of inconceivable vexation within your Soul for ever and ever, muſt be your portion; if the conſideration of what is now to be propoſed, will make no impreſſion upon you, to break your heart. But if your heart begin p. 47to be already broken, the conſideration of what is now to be offered, will certainly be for yout advantage; it will promote the great work already begun. Prepare then to conſider, what is preſently to be mentioned: Lift up your Soul now to the Lord. Beg of him for the ſake of Chriſt, by his Grace, to help you unto ſuitable Conſiderations, upon what is now to be conſidered.

III. Conſider, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Eternal Son of God, the Redeemer of Souls hath endured very grievous Woes, and Sorrows, and Miſeries, and aſtoniſhing Calamities for the ſake of Sinners. That ſuch as your Sins might be pardoned, that ſuch Sinners as you might be receiv'd into the favour of God; and have his Blood applied unto their ſinful hearts, for the ſoftning of them, and the breaking of them into godly Repentance; and this Blood of the Son of God, that hath been ſhed, is freely offered unto you in the Glorious Goſpel of God, our Saviour, which is now Preached in your hearing: This Blood of Chriſt is freely Offered unto you, for the remiſſion of your ſins, if you will but accept the Offer: though you have been guilty of ſhedding Blood in a dreadful manner. And if this Blood be applied unto your Soul, it will ſtill the dreadful cry of the Blood of your deareſt Relations, that hath made, or will certainly make a dreadful cry upon the thorow awakening of your guilty Conſcience. But, Oh! Be amazed, be filled with everlaſting Admirations. Don't the Angels of God p. 48wonder at this, that the Blood of the Eternal Saviour of Souls, may be offered unto an horrible Murderer, that hath dreadfully ſhed the innocent blood of thoſe, for whom he ſhould have been willing, to have ſpent the laſt drop of his own blood, for the preſervation of their lives! Oh! remember the advice, in Heb. 12.2. Looking unto Jeſus, conſider him; Conſider what Chriſt endured for Sinners; that ſuch miſerable Sinners as you and I, and the reſt of us are, even the vileſt of us all, might have our ſinful hearts broken for, and from Sin, ſo as to be Saved from Eternal Miſeries. He endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame; he endured the contradiction of Sinners, that we Sinners might be delivered from eternal ſhame, and eternal pain, Oh, Think what the Redeemer of Souls underwent, for to redeem Sinners. He that was holy, harmleſs, undefiled, ſeparate from ſinners, that never had guile found in his mouth, never did any thing amiſs, went about doing good; and when he came to dye, no fault at all could be found in him; yet he appearing in the room of Sinners, it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, and to put him to grief ▪ and he made his Soul an offering for ſin, bearing the rage of men▪ the fury of Devils, and the Anger of his Eternal Father; hanging for ſeveral hours, nailed unto the Croſs, and his precious blood running from ſeveral parts of his Body; and then at laſt, his heart-blood fetched away from him; that the hard hearts of Sinners might be ſoftened ſo, as to be broken for their Sins, that they might be healed with that Blood. And conſider, O miſerable Malefactor, conſider the p. 49Son of God was numbred with Tranſgreſſors, hanged with Malefactors, to ſhew, that the vileſt of Malefactors, might have benefit by his Blood, if they do with unfeignedly repenting, broken, bleeding hearts accept of that Blood. And his Blood was ſhed for the Remiſſion of the Sins of notorious Malefactors, that they might have granted unto them Repentance unto Life, Repentance unto Salvation. You know that one of the Malefactors that was Crucifyed with Him, had benefit by his Blood immediately after it was ſhed; and ſo may you now, and you will have Eternal Benefit by that Blood, if your heart be duly broken. For behold the pardoning, healing, ſoftning, heart melting Blood of the Son of God is now ſtill offered unto you, and it is your duty now to accept the Offer. And is not the Holy Spirit of God, working now upon your Soul, at leaſt inclining you to ſome deſires, that this Blood might be made beneficial to your Soul? Oh, Strike in with the preſent motions of the Spirit of God! Comply preſently with the firſt and the leaſt motions of that Holy Spirit; immediately comply now, after all your ſinful delays. Your ſinful delays to accept of the pardoning Blood of Chriſt Offered unto you in the Goſpel, may be among the Crimes, that have provoked the Holy Spirit of God to leave you unto the Capital Crimes, for which you are Condemned to Dye, and unto all that hardneſs of heart, which you have lately too much diſcovered. Forty years have you grieved p. 50the Spirit of God: Grieve Him no longer. But, Oh! Be humbled before the Lord, for your having ſo long delay'd to accept the offered Blood of Chriſt, for the Salvation of your Soul; and be very thankful to the God of Patience, that you may have yet one Offer more of that Blood. The Soul-juſtifying and Heart-purifying Blood of the Son of God is yet Offered unto your Soul, and you are coming apace, near unto the laſt time, that ever that Blood will be Offered. O reject not the Offer; tremble to continue refuſing the Offer any longer. Delay no longer to comply with the Offers of the Goſpel of Chriſt, and the Motions of the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, now is the accepted time! Behold, now is the Day of Salvation! your Salvation is yet poſſible, no contrary Doctrine is here Preached: Therefore Now hear the Voice of God this day, that it may not quickly be for ever too late. Your Crimes are, ſome of them, Bloody Crimes. And you have now heard much, about the Blood of the Son of God, for the expiation of theſe Crimes. And this Blood hath been Offered unto you, and you have been urged to accept the Offer of that Blood, and to conſent preſently & immediately, that the Blood of the Lamb of God may be applied unto your Soul. Now conſent with all your heart, and with a broken heart, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt may have your ſinful heart, and waſh it from all your Sins with his own Blood: O Conſent, before you go out of this Houſe, and before you ſtir from the place, the ſpot where you are. And mourn before the Lord, that p. 51you have been ſo long unwilling to conſent. But if you hope you are now at all willing to conſent, be thankful to the Lord that hath made you willing. Own his Grace in making you willing, praiſe him for his Grace. Keep good motions alive in your Soul, if you are come to your ſelf, to a right mind▪ But if you fear, that you are not yet willing to conſent, Oh be grieved for that your unwillingneſs, be impatient while ſo unwilling; Own the Righteouſneſs of God in leaving you to ſuch hardneſs of heart; Beg of him, to glorifie his Free Grace wonderfully, in making of you willing to have your Sins pardoned, your Soul cured of its maladies, by the Blood of Chriſt, for the glory of his Grace for ever. And that I may be faithful to you, as well as earneſt with you: Be aſſured, That if the Blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ever does any ſaving good unto your Soul, your heart will be more broken than ever it hath appeared to have been before this day, ſince your Impriſonment. God knows what hath been really. But if your heart be really, and appear ſavingly broken, ſo as to ſatisfie all people, that you are truly penitent; there muſt be ſome other tokens of that brokenneſs of heart, than have yet appeared. Your heart muſt be ſo broken, as to pour forth, if not tears, yet ſighs and groans of unfeigned Repentance: You will repent of ſin, you can't but repent of ſin, confeſſing and bewailing your ſins before the Lord, if your heart be broken by the application of the Blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt unto your Soul. And you muſt be willing with heart-breaking p. 52agonies to warn others to take heed of ſinning againſt the Lord of you havedone. You muſt be concerned for the Glory of God in your Salvation before you Dy, if your heart be rightly broken by the Blood of Chriſt. But if your heart be not ſo broken before you Die▪ then, within a few days, you muſt be dreadfully broken for ever, between the Milſtones of the Indignation of the Almighty God. But if your heart be rightly broken, then will you be prepared for the Conſolations of God: And that you may by a right brokenneſs of heart be prepared for thoſe Conſolations; the People of God will be ready to offer their Supplications to the Lord. We muſt pray to the Glorious God, who hath made your heart, that he would take your heart into his own hands, that he would break it as it ſhould be broken, that it may be changed, cleanſed, framed, formed, new-made, and moulded according to his own Holy Will. And we muſt pray, That all of our own ſinful hearts, may be ſuitably affected and broken, as they ſhould be, by our Conſideration of your deplorable Circumſtances. And therefore I muſt with a few words, now addreſs the reſt of the Congregation, that we may, by the Grace of Chriſt, be prepared to pour out our Supplications before the Lord for your Soul, and for our own Souls.

O People of God, Conſider, what reaſon there is for all of us to have our ſinful Hearts broken this day, before the Lord. Never was there ſuch a terrible Spectacle, in your Congregation, before this day, nor in your Colony, if there hath any thing like it, ever been in this Country. p. 53Should it not break our Hearts to think that ever the righteous and holy God, ſhould be ſo provoked, as to ſuffer the Dragons of the bottomleſs pit, ſo far to break looſe among us, as they have done, to occaſion ſuch bloody, fiery deſolations,? We ought to conſider, what means the heat of this anger of the Lord? And all People ſhould ſearch and try their Souls, and their ways and turn to the Lord; and pray him to turn away from his fierce anger, that hath been burning againſt us. And let all of us conſider and examine our ſelves, and ſee how far we have our ſelves had an hand in pulling down the anger of God that hath been pouring down among us. If any one perſon here ſhould ſay, I am ſure that I have had no hand in pulling down the anger of God; it might be juſtly feared that perſon have been guilty, of ſome great wickedneſs, that can be ſo inſenſible, ſo inconſiderate, ſo unconcerned, ſo hard hearted. We muſt all remember and realize unto our ſelves that we are all of us miſerable Sinners, born Sinners, with hearts full of Sin, have lived ſinfully, fill'd our lives with Sin. Who of us all can ſay, I have made my Heart clean? I am Pure from my Sin? We are all by Nature Children of Wrath: As vile as the vileſt. They that by the grace of God in Chirſt have been kept cleareſt, and fartheſt, and moſt free from outragious wickedneſs, yet have cauſe to mourn before that Lord, and to beg that he would cleanſe our ſelves from ſecret faults, that are before his face; and the ſin of our Heart that is in the light of his countenance. And who can ſay, how far God may remember p. 54againſt us our common Sins, that are too unlamented? How many People think well of themſelves and would have others think ſo of them too, becauſe they are not guilty, as they pretend, of any more than the common Sins of the times, not conſidering that God may, for the puniſhment of common Sins, leave Sinners unto uncommon Sins, that they may be hung up in Irons for the warning or ſucceeding Ages, to take heed of common Sins? But if we were never ſo clear from the common Sins of the times, yet this would not aſſure us, that we have no hand in pulling down the anger of God. There was an holy miniſter of God, as faithful in the diſcharge of his Duty, for ought we know, as ever any Miniſter had been; but when that Faithful Miniſter of God beheld the glorious Majeſty of Heaven, appearing in his Holineſs, going to pour out his Wrath upon a ſnful People, for their great wickedneſs, he cryed out, Wo is me, for I am a Man of unclean Lips, and I dwell among a People of unclean Lips. It ſeems that he feared, he had not always maintained that faihfulneſs, that ſhould have been maintained, in teſtifying againſt the Sins that provoked the Wrath of Heaven againſt a ſinful People. But, beſure, all of us may fear, that God is manifeſting his diſpleaſure againſt every one of us, in what he hath lately in his Soverreignty, permitted, among us. We have no reaſon to ſay, it is, becauſe that ſuch a perſon hath been, a greater Sinner than all others of the Neighbours, and therefore hath p. 55God left ſuch a perſon to be guilty of Capital Sins. But we ſhould rather ſay, let all of us repent of our own Sins, that we may not provoke the Lord, to leave us alſo unto deſtructive Iniquity. All People ſhould hear & fear that they may no more do any ſuch wickedneſs. Other Congregations in the Town, may have reaſon to conſider how far they are concerned, in minding the diſpenſations of God. But be ſure, now God hath, in his holy Providence, brought this terrible Spectacle into our Congregation; certainly it becomes all of us, to conſider and examine our ſelves, and be very humble before God, for our own Sins, and very thankful to God, that we have been ſo far preſerved by the reſtraints of God, from deſtroying our ſelves, or being deſtroyed by others, and be very careful to take heed about all our ways, that we may not provoke the Lord to leave us unto our own Luſts, or unto the Temptations of Satan. We ſhould fall if we were not upheld. Provoke not the Lord to withdraw his upholding Grace. Make ſure of a change of Heart and of a real Union with Chriſt, and of Pardon for all Sins paſt; walk humbly and cloſely with God, rely on Chriſt for Help, to do ſo. Be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long. Shun all occaſions of Sin, all tendencies to Sin. Be much in Supplication to the Lord. And if God hath made us, by his Grace in Chriſt, ready and willing to pour out our Supplications before him, for the bleſſings and benefits of broken Hearts, for our ſelves and others, it is an p. 56hopeful token, that he hath begun to beſtow, and will go on to beſtow thoſe good things upon us: For the Lord hath not forſaken the Souls of them that are ſeeking of him; He will fulfil the deſires of them that Fear him; He hath not ſaid to the Seed of Jacob, ſeek ye me in vain. If God encline our Hearts to ask for good things, there is room for us to hope that he hath prepared his Ear to hear us. If ſincere Prayers break out of our Hearts for more brokenneſs of Heart, then do our Hearts begin to be rightly broken. Then may we conſider for our everlaſting encouragement, thoſe good and ſweet words in Pſal. 34.18. The Lord is nigh to them, that are of a broken Heart, and ſaveth the Contrite of Spirit.

FINIS.