Verf. 2 ì. the fixtb Chapter to the R ó M A N s. 13-9 firft degree of fpiritual Wifdom, i Cor. 3. 18. If any man among :you fiem to be mil in this world, let him become a fool , that he may be wife: he cometh to himfelf again, and when fenfible of his filthinefs and loathfomnefs, it is a figs he hath.fome love and liking to the pure and holy ways of God : as there is more light and love infúfed into the heart, fo do men more loath themfelves for their filthinefs, Ezek. 36. 31. Then All ye remember your own evil ways and doings that were not good, and "sail loath your laves in your own fight for your iniquities' and abominations. To be truly and really ashamed of fin is the effe& of laving Grace , Ezra 9. 6. I ant afhanied and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God. There are two forts of Shame, the shame of a gtiiltÿ fformy Confcience, and the (flame of a tender Confcience: there is a confounding flume, and a penitential shame : the one breedeth trouble of Spirit , and is the fruit of Sin; the other an holy Self - loathing, and is the fruit of Grace : the first may be in carnal men ; the other is only in Gods Chil- dren. The differences between thefe two forts of shame may be these: r. The Penitential Shame continueth and inCreafeth under the greateft affurance of Forgivenefs, and dieth not, when we think we are out of danger : the other is prefently after the commifsìon of fin,and while the guilt reinaïneth.As David grew shy of God,Pfal. 32. after he got his difcharge and his fins were pardoned, Ezek ¡6.63. That tfioeomayef# remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becaufe of thy fhame,when I am pacified towards thee , for all that thou h sf1 done , faith the Lord God. There is à diflike of fin, when they are upon the fureft Termswith God. 2. The first fort of Shame confidereth Sin , as it damneth or deftroyeth , riot as it de- fileth; but the fecond , as it is an att of Filthinefs, and Folly ; of Folly, as David, Pfal: 73.22. So foolifh.wao I and ignorant, I was as a beafi before thee ; of Filthinefs, Ezra 9.6. O my God , I am ashamed, and blush to lift sep my face to thee , my God for our iniquities bave increafed over our head , and our trefp tfs is grown up unto the heavens. They loath fin as fin, becaufe they loive.Holinefs as Holinefs, Pfal. x19. 140. Thy word is very pure, therefore thy fervant loveth it. Confcience keepeth its own Court, medleth not but fór . moral evils, is ashamed not of calamities and infelicities , but crimes or fins, which are hateful to God , and therefore to the new Creature ; for it hateth and loveth on Gods grounds and reafons. 3. The fiat fort of Shame is accompanied with (lavish fear , fliunneth the pretence of God, as Adam did, Gen. 3. t0. I heard thy voice in the garden, and 1 Ma afraid , becauf I was naked , and I hid my feelfsor David, Pfal. 32. 3, 4. When 1 kept [fence, my bones waxed old, &c. The other is accompanied with Love, and caufeth the Godly to come into Gods pretence, but with felfIoathing and reverence, Prov. 30.2. Surely I am mare brutish than any man, and have not the underflanding of a man. Luke 18. /3. The Pub- lican fiandeng afar off, would not lift up fo much as his eyes unto heaven, but (mote on his breafi, faying, God be merciful to me a linnet. The one caufeth us to hate God, the other to loath our felves for our unkindnefs to him, and unworthy dealing with him. The one is our torment, the other our cure. 4. The trouble and (hame of Hypocrites is becaufe of the World, the (hame of the Godly is becaufe of God. Saul was not ashamed of his fin , but affianced that Samuel should reprove him before the people, ¡ Sam. t 5.30. So the thief is ashamed when he isfound, Jer. 2. 26. But a Child of God is afbamed before God, and of fins which the world cannot fee, Pfd. 69.5, 6. 0 God, thou knoweff my foolifhnefs, and my fns are not Arid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, 0 Lord God of hops, be afliamed for my fake; let not thole that Peek thee be confounded for my fake, O God of Israel : As if he had (aid, Sure I have just caufe to be ashamed, &c. 5. The effelt theweth a difference, the true (hame quickeneth the Soul to more re- folution , vigilance, earnest firiving against fin; fo that our Life, Trade, and principal Bufinefs in the World is to avoid it, Pfal. 119. 6. Then fhall I not be ashamed , when I have refpelt unto all thy commandments. But in the other it prevaileth no further, than that they may avoid the prefent trouble, and get a little ease. The lieafons and Caufes of this Shame. t. A new and heavenly Light to fee thofe things which others fee not, and which themfelves law not before, Jer. 31.19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented, and after I was infirulled, I fixate upon my thigh, 1 was ashamed, yea even confounded, becaufe 1 did bear the reproach of my youth. Rom. 7. 9. 1 was alive without the commandment once, but when the commandment came, fin revived, and I died. They fee more of fin, and more evil in fin than ever they taw before, as light discovers what lay hid before in the dark. Sffff 2 2. A
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=