Sg e T. IX. of Cenverften,orTmrni>ígsntoGod. 537 SERMON LXXII, Some Helps and Encouragements to thofe thatare dfouraged, becaufe of thefruitlf ff oftheir R.eflutionsto `1 \epent, or the hainoufnefs oftheir Sinnes. E z a X. 33. II. Turn ye, turn ye, whywillye dye, ofiottfeofIf delf ]E have endeavored to retake plain thofe Mountains, that are in the way W V to ourConverfion, andturning to God : Now itremaineth, that we exalt fome Valleys, and remove thofe difcouragernents il - that are o mens fpirits, while inthe general, they feem todefire and purpofe to turn unto God..I acknowledge, chefe valleys arenot Warmlyas the mounrains;difcourage- ments anddejedions notfofrequent, as prefumptious; More are fondlyper- fwadedof the eafinefs to turn to God, then the difficulty : which is clearly evi- denced, by the fecure andnegligent difpotitionóf molt, that though theyheat- never fo much about thisduty of turning to God, yet never confideror apply, never make any matter, whether they are turned unto God of not. I willnot be too long in enumeration of the ttfual dejedions in chis kinde ; I (hall in- Ranceinoneortwo, which will ineEfet ferve for the reft : And Fiat, There arefome who fay, They have many purpofes anddefies to turn to God, the y havefrequently re f olved to f or f a e their fins; but then the f e quickly P eri r h r. Di[coutaé- again, andfo they thinbit is in vain to try any more : They do but as theman, that inents in g Come is rolliuga greatflone upon the hill, which prefently teturnethWith the greater Teens (pi,ia, force: They areas a man ftriving and rowing.hard againft the ftream, bur ira- hin tig tf,em mediately is forced as much backward, as ever he got forward : And I cannot fom ` °' °ing but think, that this is a fad objedion upon many meus hearts, who have their uutoGoe Ti timesofrelenting,ofmuch forrow and trouble,and then take up high refo(utions, ten refolve,huc They will never live, or beas they have been; in the minde they are in, all the Code uopones temptations in the worldfhall neverprevail over them anymore. Now to help to turn. filch out of their difconfolatenefs ; Confider Firlt, Thatit maybe thefepurpofe.o they have, are not hearty, real, and_(.eely con- guering theheart : They are but a kinde Of wifhes and defires, filch as _Salaams, Heipa. Oh, that I might dye thedeath of the Righteous : They are but faint wifhing and woulding, as we fay, and this will never do any good : They are fuch defires as the Sluggard is Paid to have, which yet loth fcarce draw his hand out of his boforn tohelp himfelf : Its not as thephrafe is, To cleave to the Lord with full purpofe ofheart ; asPaul Paid inanother cafe, IcouldWith'to bemade an Anathema, fo thou couldeflwifb tobefeparated f-om thy lulls, thou cculdfl defire to be a new convert ; but thefeare loch languifhingmotions, that they are like thofe living Creatutc
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