484 obf. of Co»verftrn, er 7arnixgnntaGe% Sac r. I7C iterWmfeeliffsittWite SERMON LXXXI. Of Tears andSorrowfor Sin; find that they mull accompanyConverfion. JO 1 L. 2. I2. Turn evenunte me, withall your Heart, andwith Failing, andwith Wee- ping, andwithMourning. TH a third part obfervable in the divihon of this Text, is the effed,or if ye will, the concomitant property ofa cordial Converfion to God t for we being not immateriali and fpirituall fubfìances, as Angels are, butcom- poundedof a fouland a body : therefore many affeftions are required of us as fo compounded, which fpirituallfubftances are not capableof: luthare thole in the Text, Fatting, Weeping, and Mourning. So that tears and bitter weeping for finne, are a good fign toevidence an hearty Converfion to God. Asfor Fatting requiredalto in theText , that isnot commanded primarily and intentionally for it fclfs fake, but as its infirumentall and fubfervient to prayer and mourning for finne; for as precious feed fown in Bogs and Quagmires, can never come toany maturity; foneither will any duty of humiliation thrive, where the body is not by falling or debafement prepared for it. What everelfe needs explication in the words, flaallbe difcufled in the Doilrine. Obf. That true andbear: Converfion to God fromfnse is to be accompauyed Withfurrow and tearsfor Axe. Its not a flighty, formall craving of forgiveneffe from God, but the foul is fowounded and pierced, and in fuch agonies, that many tears flow from it. The Scripture commands this forrow, promifeth fuck a mel. ling heart to thofe that are converted; and we have manyexamples of thofe who were hard rocks; but when converted, much water ofgodlymourning came from them. Fora command, (becaufefome have thought this aflided, mournfull fpi- rit, tobe anold Teftament- fpirir, and not befceming the tpirit of Adoption in the Gofpels) Sec it in the new Teflamcnt commanded, fames 4. 9. Be nffùtted, and mourn andweep, let your laughter be turnedinto mourning, andyour joy into heavineffe, This is requiredof Chriflians in the newTellament. And as theSpirit of God didonce move upon thewaters, fo he will Hill upon fpiritua! humiliation. This exhortation -is direßcd to thofe that were fallen into grievousfins, and there is noother way for peace,but through this fait fea of teats. Every word is em- phaticall ,aa.=or+Nb 1e, be miferable and wretched; that is, be inwardly tou. ched with a deep ferric of your fumes, which make you miferable. Oh, be that is turning to God from his funes, mull cry out of himlelf ; O miferable and wretched man that I am, what Arali I doe ? where is any cafe ? who will poure oyl in my wounds ? The other word nsvlmeazs, Mourn, isalluhve to the cuftome of mourning in the old Teftament, when theywent in Sackcloth andAfhes. Thy foul ought to befall of penlveneffe, and bitterneffe, as Tamar; was, after the hod
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