232 . A Box of precious Ointment : Or, ',Concomitant Fifthly, Yea what vehement defire, E Ti7r6316152 it figni- of gorily forrow. fies fuch a defire of fervency, that can admit of -no delay it notes fuch a defire as produces diligence, Idtivity) and in- dultry. The true penitent is full offervent and vehement de- fires to be rid of his fins ; Rachel was never more vehement and fervent in her desires after children, nor," 14vid after the water of the well Bethlehens,nor the huntedHart after the vva- ter-brooks,nor the betrothedVirgin for her marriageday,nor the Apprentice for his freedom, nor the Captive for his ran- fom, nor the Soldier for the conqueft, nor the lick Man for his cure, nor the condemned Man for his pardon, than the R0111.7.22,2144 true penitent is vehement and fervent in his defires to have his lulls fubdued, mortified and deftroyed. Many a day have I fought death with tears (faid bleffed Cowper) not out of diftruft , -impatience or perturbation , but becaufe I -am weary of fin, and fearful of falling into it. If you ask the penitent, why do you hear, pray, read, and apply your felf fo ferioutly, fo frequently, fo unweariedly, and fo con- tiantly to all fin-fabduing adminiRrations? he will tell you, 'tis out -of a vehement and fervent defire. that he has to he rid of his fins. If you ask him ,again, why he is fo much in complaining againft fin, in mourning over fin, and in war- ring againft fin ? &c. he will tell you, out of a vehement andearneft defire that he has to be fully and finally delivered from fin. 'Sixthly, Yea what zeal. Zeal is an extream heat of all the affeaions fet againft fin, and working flrongly towards .God. David's zeal did eat uphis fin as well as himfelf. And Pars/ was as zealous in propagating the Gofpel,as he had been "furious in perfecuting of it. Many mens zeal is hot and burn- ing, when fcorns and reproaches are cal.' upon them ; but the penitent man's zeal is moft hot and burning, when Re- ligion is fcorned, Saints perfecuted, truth endangered, and the great and dreadful name of God blafphemed, &c. The zeal of a true penitent will carry him on in a courfe of god-- linefs, and in a courfe of "mortification, in fpight -of all the cliverfionS and oppofitions that the world, the ilefh, and the 6. Concomitant of godly forrow.
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