SERM. v1.] SINS AND SORROWS SPREAD BEFORE COD. 99 great readiness, when God says in h. i. 18. " Come, let us reason together ; though your sins have been as scarlet, they shall be as wool." " I am ready," says the soul, " to enter into such reasonings ; I am ready to confess before thee, that my sins are all crimson and starlet, but there is cleansing blood with thy son : Blood that has washed the garments of a thousand sin- ners, and made them white as snow ; and it has the same virtue still to wash mine too : I trust in it, and re- joice when I behold that blood sprinkled upon the mercy-seat, and therefore I gròw confident in hope, and draw yet nearer to God, a reconciled God, since his throne has the memorials of a bleeding sacrifice upon it." 2. If I could get near the seat, of God, I would tell him how many my. enemies are, and how strong; how malicious, and how full of rage. And I would beg strength against them, and victory over them. I would sayas David Many there be that hate me, many there be that rise up against me; and many there be that say of my soul, there is no help for him in God : but thou, O God, art my glory, my shield, and the lifter up of my head; Fs. iii. 1, 2, 3. Then, says the soul, I would complain to God of all my in-dwelling corrup- tion, of the body of death that dwells in me, or'in which I dwell ; and say, " O wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me?" I would tell him then of the secret workingof pride in my heart, though I long to be hùm- ble; of the rising of, ambition in my soul, though I would willingly maintain a middle state amongst men, and not aim and aspire to be great. I would acquaint him of the vanity of my own mind, though I am perpetually endeavouring to subdue it. I would tell him, with tears, of my sinful passions, ofmy anger and impatience, and the workings of envy and revenge in me; of the perpe- tual stirrings of disorderly appetites, whereby I am led away from my God : I would tell him of the hardnessof my heart, and the obstinacy ofAny temper. I would open before his eye, all the vices of my constitution; all those secret seeds of iniquity that are ever budding and blossoming to bring forth fruit to death. These things are fit to mourn before the Lord, when the soul is come near to his seat. it M
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