4 5o Chap. 3 3. An Expofrtion upan the Boob, of J a B. Verf. 27. conceale or hide any fin, and will not bring it forth in confeffon, we cannot, in faith, exile& the pardon of it. . Againe , Confider the time or feafon when the Lord looked for this confellìon ; It was a time of trouble and affliaion,of Paine and forrow, the man:was rick, or but in.a way of recovery out of his ficknels. Hence note. Times ofaffliftion arefjoesiall timesof confeffionand repentance, Confeffon of fin mutt not be omitted(efpecially not negledted) in our moft comfortable dayes , much lette in ,a day of trouble. A fad and troubled flare calls us aloud to a gracious fadnefs of heart, to the fearchof our hearts and lives, which are preparato- ry to repentance and Godly forrow. Ufually in profperity men will not be at leifure to fearch their hearts, and take notice of their fins. Therefore the Lord drawerh them to confeffion by drawing them from the world, by laying them upon their fick beds, or by bringing them into finites. And as when aftiiátion is upon perfons or families, then is a fpeciall time to confeffe per- fonall and family fins ; fo to confelfe national fins, is molt feafona- sole when ail3i lion. bath feized upon kingdomes and nations. The want and neglea of that publicke confeffon and forrow in fuch a day is mightily aggravated, and molt feverely threatned (Ifa: 22. 12,13, t+)God looketh and loveth to heare every man, laying, and a whole nation, as one man, Paying in a day of forrow and trouble, I have finned, andperverted that which was right. From the latter words, Ibave perverted that which was right, or theLaw. Note, Firft: The law of God is the rule of righteoufnefs ; a right rule. All rightnefs and righteoufnefs iscomprehended in it , anal meafured by it. Secondly, Learne. Sin is a perverting of that which' H right; Every ( the leaft)fin is fo in force degree, thoughhere, poi- My,fun are intended of any,, even o£ the higheft degree. The, Aporfle
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