Annesley - Houston-Packer Collection BX9327 .M6 1664

42 What mull, and can Perfons do Serm.z. RolT1,I o,a. ,flevúyagtr &xttaa atirai dolarcnfgrifr- vt, i'ifca¢. kex,1,3.1. of the Liw,and for the Traditionsof the Elders, that they woulJ have ventured their lives for them : fo Paul before his converfiou, how zea lous was he ? Alts 22.3,4. Gal.I.7 4. To corne more particularly and clofely to the queftion. Though Conversion be wrought in an inflant, yet men have Tome prævious difpotirrions thereunto, who live under the found of the Gofel, and obtain fuch knowledge as worketh in them feveral things, which I fhall . thew untoyou fromAds 2.37,e 38 .tier. Andwhen they heard this they were pricked in their heart, andfaid,rren, &c. Many preparative difpoli- tions or qualifications they had unto repentance or convertion, but they had nor yet repented ;for Peter faith,no:with(tanding thefe, repent. I. Menmay be convinced of fin as thefe were, they found they had tranfgreffed the Law of God, and were ,guilty before him,for they were pricked in their hearts. Men may have (Irong conviaions of fin, and not converted from fin. 2. They may mourn for fin, and grieve that they have done fuch and fuch things. Thefe risen had crucified the Lord Chrifl,put an innocent perfon to death, faw themfelves in an ill condition, and thereupon mourned and grieved forely, as theword pricked intimates ; they had fuch griefas pained and afflidced their hearts. There's a How let upon lhabs humiliation by the Lord hirnfelf : Seel$ thou bowAhabhumbletk ' . felf, I Kings 2I.29. 3.They may be filhd with fear,and dread the threatnings and puni(h- anents of God dine to fin.This was the cafe here ; they had provoked the Lord againft their fouls, felt their c®nfciences condemning of them, apprehended the judgements of God near unto them, and fo were pof- feit with much fear lest the Lord ( hould dearoy them,and therefore fay, Men and brethren what !hall we do ? We know not whither to go, where to hide our felves,or what to do,that we may cfcape the things we have deferved, and fear. 4. Theymay confeïs their fin, renounce ir, and reform much ; thefe Auditors of Peter being pricked in their hearts, faid, what !hall we do? We have finned, and that greatly, we confefs and acknowledge it be- fore God and you, it was a curfed a& of ours, and we abhor ir, we will never do fo hereafter. Theywere tick of fin,and vomited it up, as they in Peter, and wouldchange their minds and manners, and walk in any way the Apoftles fhouldciret them. The (Merchant, Mar.! 3.46. fold ail that he hadfor the pearlebefore he bought it. This felling all is made by Lome Interpreters to be his re(traint from all inward fin,and his confor- mity to all outward duties, This was much, and yet not more than un- converted

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