Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

37° 1. We muff be adorned with humi- lity, Duties refpeaing the fifth petition in our lives-. There remaineth,that we pray with perfeverance, never ceafing day by day to call upon God for the forgiveneffe of our finnes, Alining certificate of the ho- ly Spirit r us thereof,untill the Lord fay unto our fouls, Ion y our falvation, and f hed abroad his love in our hearts. Neither are we then to ceafe from this prayer : but as we finne daily , fo are we daily to crave forgivenefl'e; and as our faith is weak and mixt with doubting, fo daily to defire the increafe there - of, &c. Duties to be performedin our lives. If we would make this prayer with upright hearts, or would either hope to obtein this requefi or afhurance that our prayer is heard, I. We muff be adorned with humility, z . Pet. 5. 5. whereby we mull acknowledge our felves fo deeply indebted unto the Lord by reafon of our manifold finnes, that he may mofi jufilyglorifie his name in our end - leffe confufion, and that in refpea thereof we are not worthy to look up unto heaven, or to breathe in the aire, or to live upon the earth: and that there- fore it is the great mercy of the Lord that we are not confirmed. For if we have humble and contrite hearts, the Lord will be ready to heare our prayer and to pardon our finnes.The Lord refifieth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble, Jam.4.6. t.Pet.5.5. The facrifrces of God are a contrite f irit: a contrite and &c. Pfal.5 i.I 7. Pfal.34. i 8. Example, in the hum- bled Publicane, Luke i 8.14. For Chrifl came not to call the righteous but fanners to repentance,Matth.9. 13. Luke 4.18. Matth. i 1.28. Whom doth he call with promife to eafi them of the burden of finne, but thofe