Ambrose - BT200 A42 1658

1 . Before converfion, before the firfr wound be given it, why then ordinarily there is forne compunCtion offpirit, [orne pricking ofheart, what a cafe do ~e finde th.e Jews in, . when after Peters Sermon, they were pncked at tbetr hearts? an.d what an agony do we finde the Jaylor in, when he.carne trembling in, and Atl.l. ~ 1 . falling down at the Apofiles feet, and crymgout, firs, what fha!i. t\cl.t6 3 o. 1 dB to beJaved ? with fuch agonies as thefe is th_e beginning.of · mortification ufually attended ; I do not fay that they are altke in all, whether for degree or continuance; but in ordinary, true and found tonverfion is not without [orne of thefe foul~ confliCts. 2. After converfion, after the firfr round there are fqrne ago~ nies frill; for though a beleever be delivered of fin in refped of the guilt and reigning. power ; yet he hatb frill forne remainders of Gnful corruption left within him, which draw many a groane, andrnany a figh from his trembling heart, we alfo which havt the firfl fruits of theJPirit, (7/fi'J we ~ur felves groane ·within Bur [elves, waiting for the ad8ption, to wit the redemption of our Rom s.~J • bodyes; fuch are the groaues C?f mortified Saints, Saints dying unto fin, like £he groanes of dying men, whofe fouls being . weary of their bodyes, do earnefHy defire a dilfolution: and thus Paul grpaned, wh~n hefaid, 0 wmched mall that Jam, who.fba!t deli1>·er me from the:bodJ of this death? 1 R.om.7 • 14~ Oh what a touch.ftone is chis ? how will this difcover true mortification from that which was counterfeit? forne rn'!y think they are dead unto fin, when indeed and in truth they are not ~ead but afleep-unto 'fin,; and it appeares by this, becaufe there were no pangs in ti1eir d~ath ; you know this is a difference be~ twixt death a~d fleep,_ th~r,eare pangs in tbe one, but not in the other; 0 my foul examine, what pangs were there in thy death unto fin ? what agonies: what foul confliCts haft thou felt? what compunCtion of. heart, what affliCtion offpirit, haft thou endur~ ed for fin ? what tro~ble ha(t thou had tofinde {uch a /aw in · ~hJ. rmmk~r! rebf(ling at;~inji the law. in thy mind, and brjnging thee Rom, '·13• tnto captt'l(zty to the law offin? wh'y furely thou art not fo· mor~ ~ified as to be [reed wlwlly from the power of fin ; it may be it doth n~t rule '!I thee as~ Prince, yet certainly it tyranizeth over thee ; 1t oft- Hrnes car~ies thee contrary to the bent of thy regene~ate min~~ -t9 ~~.e ~mitting of what-thou WQU!dft dQ, al)4 ~ . ·N n n n - -· · - to

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