Ver.4. search ofsin necefdry to Confolation. 2 97 ones, you are doing that which will abide with you to Age, ifnot to Eternity. This poffefíing of the fins of youth, Job calls, the writingof bitter things againft him. As indeed it is impofïible but that fin fhould be bitter one time or other. God calls it a root that bearethGall and Wormwood, Deut. 29. IS A root of bit ternefs fprìbging up into defilement, Heb. 12. 15. This then is tobe fearched out to thebottom. Ifrael will not have fuccefs nor peace whilfI there is an Achan in the Camp. Neither fuccefs inTemptation, nor confolation in believing is to be expec&ed, whilfl any Achan, any fin unre ;koned for, lyes in the confcience. Now for them who would feriotafly accomplifh a diligent fearch in this matter, which is of fuch importance unto them, let them take thefe two Dire&ions. I. Let them go over the confederation of thofe fins, and others ofthe like nature, which may be reduced yhnto the farde General heads with them, which we kid down bpe, at the fins whichgenerally calf men into depths and inta igfements. And if they find they have contraeted the guilt of any ofthem, let them not think firange that they are yet bewildred in theircon- dition, and do come fhort of a refrefhing Cent of peace with God, or an intereft in forgivenefs. Rather let them admire the riches ofPatience, Grace and forbearance, that they are not call utterly out of all hopes of a recovery. This will ('peed an end unto their trouble, according to the dire6ion given. 2. Let them raft the courfe of their times under filch heads andfeafons, as may give them the more clear and di(tintl view and apprehenfion of the pajages in them between God and their fouls, which may bave beenprovoking unto bim. As, Firft , For the ftate of their inward man, let them con- fider, Firfi, The unregenerate part of theirilives, that which was confeffedly fo, before they had any real work ofGod upon their hearts;and therein enquire after two things. r. If there were then any great and fignal eruptions of fins againff God; for offuch God requires that a deep Cede bekept onour fouls all our dales. How oftendowe find Paul calling ovex the fins oíhishfe and waies before his converfion. I was, .
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