A choice Bed of Spites... ling to be rid of that load on his ftomack that doth opprefs nature ; and fo a man that is real in his confeffion of fin, is as heartily willing to be rid of his fin, that lyes as a load up- on his confcience, as any lick man can be heartily willing to be rid of that load that lyes upon his ftomack. The peniten- tial confeffor doth as heartily defire to be delivered from the power of his fins, as he does defire to be delivered from the fling and punifhment of his fins. This is obfervable in the confeffion of good-Sechaniah, Ezrst 10. 2, 3. I-re have fret palled againfi our hod, and taken grange wives of the people of the Land ; Now therefore let uo make a covenant with our God to prat away all the wives, and loch as are born of them, according to the counfel of my Lord, and thole that tremble at the commandement of our God, and let it be done According to the Law. And this was the former pra&ife of the children of lfrael, who joyned refor- mation with their confeffion, as you may fee in that, ltidg. to. 1 5. Tre havtfinned. Ver. 116. And they put away the grange Cods from among them, and ferved the Lvel, and foul wad grieved for the,mifery of Ifrael. That, Yob, 34. 31, 3 2, is ob- fervable; Seely it is meet to be. laid unto God, I have born cha- flifement, I will not offend any more ; that which I fee not teach thou me ; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. And the fame fpirit you may find working in thofe that were 9nce gi- ven up to forcery and witchcraft, AU., 18, And many that believed came and confejfed, and 'hexed their deeds. Ver. 19. Many alto of them which idled curious arts, trough: their books to- gether, and turned them lef,re all men. Penitential confellion leaves a holy awe and dread on the foul, to take heed of com- mitting fins confeft. Though a godly man may (in an hour of temptation, or in a day, of defertion, or in a feafon of God's with-holding the gracious influences of heaven from falling upon his-foul) commit a- fin which he has ferioufly confeft andiadly bewailed, yet he retains in his courfe and praotife, filch a holy fear and awe upoti his heart, as in fome meafure proves armour of proof againft future commiffions of fin. But_now wicked men are very ready, bold, and venturous to commit the fame fins they have confefl, as you may fee in S041 , one. while you. shall have him confeffing his finful in- juries !f,
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