Gojpel (kernifsion. thy foul be rent from that fin as well as from ally other,thou un- derftandefl not the way of God in the difpenfing of his grace to the foul, if thou thinkefl: God will pardon fome fins, and give thee liberty in others : thou fottifh foul, know that when thou goeft to God for pardon of fin,thou muft go with a heart refign- ed up fromevery fin, or elfe thou lofeft all thy labour , and art held in the chains of them all. 3. Yhofe that never lookafter their Prayers to call it intoQ e- fl'ion what anfwer they have had ; I have prayed to God, but have I got any anfwer in my own heart, or hash God come in, in any Ordinance,and fealed to me mypardon? thus the foul fhould look after pardon in Prayer, and all other means ; Many pray, but never look after their Prayers whether God hear or no,Pfal. 85.8. Iwill hear and hear n what the LordGod will fpeak; thus the Pfalmiß, and thus it would be with thee,ifthou didfl not dally with God ; after thou haft cryed for pardon, thou wouldtl be líftning at Heavensgates, and looking towards God ; What anfwer doth God give ? I have prayed and there comes no an- fwer, the foul that lets it felf in a folid and ferious way to Peek for pardon, will be often lookingout, and remain much trou- bled till an anfwer come : Many cry for pardon, but are not troubled till Godgive anfwer, they deal with God as Pilate did with Chrift, askt himWhat isTruth ? but never flayed to have an anfwer, but went his way : fo we do but dally with God in our Prayers andPetitions, whenwe ask for forgtvenefs of fin, and neglec$ to look after ananfwer. 4.As thofe that look,not after the anfwer of their Prayers dai- ly with God,fo thofe that follow not their Prayers with anfwera- ble indeavdth s : they Petition that God would be merciful unto them ., but what are the indeavours of your fouls after your Pe- titioning ? iftherebe not indeavours to attend upon the means of grace that Godufes to fpeak peace to fouls in, all your Prayers are nothing ; but of this I (hall fpeak afterwards, you are to fearch into the Covenant, and enquire after the Saints what courfe they have taken, andwhat means they have ufed.to oh- tainpardon. 5.Thofe that prayfor pardon,yet arefatisfied withother things; as thus, they pray for pardon, but ifthe world come in they are fatisfied ;. 95
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