PART II. SERMON VI: ID him : I would spread all my concerns before his eye, and I -wouldplead with him for relief : I would fill my mouth with arguments. Four things I proposed in the prosecutionof this doctrine. I. To consider what it is for a soul to get near toGod inprayer. II. What particular subjects doth a soul, thus brought near to the mercy-seat, converse with God about. III. Why he chuses to tell all his circumstances and his sorrows to God, when he is thus near him.-1V. How he pleads for relief. I. We have already considered, what it is for a soul to get near to the seat of God, and what are the usual attendants of such a privilege. At such a season the holy soul will have an awful and adoring sense of the majesty of God, a becoming fear of his terrors, and some sweeter taste of his love. There will be a di- vine hatredof every sin, and a sensiblevirtue and influence pro- ceeding from a present God, to resist every temptation ; therewill be a spiritual andheavenly temperdiffusing itselfthrough the whole soul, and all the powers of it ; a fixedness of heart without wandering, and a liveliness without tiring : no weariness is felt in the spirit at such a season, even though the flesh may be ready to faint under the overpowering sweetness : then the soul with freedom opens itself before the eye of God, and melts and flows in divine language, whether it complain or rejoice. But I have finishedthis head, and repeat no more. II. What are some of the particular circumstances, or subjects of complaint, that a saint brings to God when he comes nearhim. In general, a saint, whenhe is near to God, has all the ful- ness of his heart breaking out into holy language ; he pours out his whole selfbefore his God and his Father ! Allthe infinite affairs that relateto the flesh and spirit, to this life, and that which is to come : all things in heaven, and all things in earth, created or untreated, may, at one time or other, be the subjects of converse between God and a holy soul. When the question is asked by a carnal man, what can achristian talk with God so long and so often about? The christian in a divine frame, answers, "he hath matter enough for converse with God, to wear out time, and to fill up eternity." It may be as well asked on the other side, what has he not to say ? what is there that relates to God, or tohimself, to the upper, or the lower world, that he may not at some time say to his God ? But I must confine myself from wandering in so large a field, that I may comport with the design of my text. Though, a good man, in devout prayer, often spreadshis hopes andhis joys before the Lord, as well as his sorrows, fears, and distresses ; yet I shall- at present endeavourto set forthonlythe mournfuland
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