to the Chief of Sinners. I I I , 239~0f this I \vas maie deeply fenfible by tbe Prayer of -holy David 7 who when he was under prefent' Mercy, yet prayed that Gt)d \vonld · hold hin1 back from Sin, and t =· n1pta- , tion. to con1e? For then, f1ith he, I jlJall be upright,and 1 j1Ja/l be innocent ~f-r·.om the great Tran_(grtffi_on, PfJl. 16. I 3. By t!11s. very word was I gauled and condemned quite through this long temptation. · · 140. That alfo was another word that did much condetnn me for my fol1y~ in the neg ... ]ea of this Duty, Heb. 4·· I 6. Let ItS therefore come buldly to the Throne of .Grace, thatw·e may obtain Men:y 1 and find Grace t() help in time o( need:This I had not done, and therefore was thus fuffered to fin and fal1,according to what is written, Pray -that you _e.nter not into temp– tation: And truly this very thing is to this dayof fuch weight and awe upon me, that I d.1re not., when I come befoTe the L,ord, go offmy kn6es until I intreat ,him for help and mercy agianfr the temptations that are to con1e;and I do befeech thee,Reader,that thou learn to beware of my negligence by the affliCtion that for this thing I did for daysand Iponths and years, . with f.0rrow undergo r 24r.Another caufe of this temptation was, That I had tempted God; and on tl1is man– ner did} do it: Upori a time myWife was great with Child, and before her full titne was come, her pangs, as of a Won1an in 1-·ravel, · wer~Ji'erce and ftron_g upon her, C'Ven as If f.b.e WOUld immediatclihaVe fallen in labOUf, ( . d / an
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