682 Chap. 7. An Expof :tiew spin the Book of I O $. `7CCi. Z®. Godjpeaks better ofbit fervents then they do of thetnfelves, When God fpeaks ()flab , we find not one blot in all his char railer, all is commendation, nothingof reproof. He faith (Ch. a. v. at.) 1x this fob finned not : But for all that, job faith, I have finned : A hypocrite hath good thoughts of himfelf, and #peakes himfelffaire ; Heflatters himJèif inhit own eyes, until his iniqui- ty befound to be hateful, Pfal. 36. 2. A godly man thinks and fpeaks low of hirnfelf, he accules himfclt in his own eyes,though his integrity be found very acceptable with the Lord, Thirdly obferve, The holiefl man on earth,hatb raufe toconfefs that.he bath finned. Confcffion is the duty of the bell Chriélians.Firfl, the highefl form of beleiversin this life, is not above theac`.fings of fin though the lowefl ofbeleivers, is not under the power of it. And if the line of fininng, be as long as the line 4 living, then the line of confcTng mull be of the fame length with both. While the Ship yaks, the pumpmull not thud (till. And fo long as we gather ill humours, there will beneed of vomits and purgings. Secondly, Confiflion is a foul - humbling duty,and the bet' have need of chat, for they are in moll danger of being lifted up above meafiue. To preferve us from thofe felt.- exaltations, the Lord fomtimes fends the Md Tenger of Satan to buffet us by tempta tions and commandsus to buffet our felves often by confeflion: Thirdly, Confefhon affef sthe heart with fin, and ingages the heart againflit. Every confiIlionof the, evil we do, isa new ob- ligation not to do it any more. The belt in their wort' part, have fo much freedom-to-fn' that-they have need enoug h to be bound from it in variety of bonds. Fourthly, Confcilionof fin, thews us more clearly our needof mercy, and indears it more to us. Howgood and fweet is mercy to a foul, that hath tailed, how'evil,and how bittera thing is it to fin againfl the Lord. "How welcome, how beautiful isa pardon, when we have been viewing the uglinefs ofour own guilt ? Fifthly, Confef ion of fin, advances Chrifi inour hearts,How Both it declare the riches of Chrift, when we arc not afraid to tell' him, what infinite fums of debt we are in, which he only, and he eafily can difcharge? how dothit commend the healing vertue sf his bloo d, when we'open to him fuch mortal wounds and ftck nelíes,which he only, and oe eafily can cure?Wo be tothole who commit tin abund.udly, that grace may aboundibut it its our duty
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