ON HOSEA XIV. -VERSE 8. 259 Prov. xxviii. 13. he who chooseth to hold fast sin, Both by his own election forsake mercy : for the goodness of God leads to repentance, Rom. ii. 4. God's mercy is a holy mercy, it will pardon sin for- saken, but it will not protect sin retained. Again, when they pray for grace, they pray against their own will, for that which they themselves would not have. It is impossible that a man should formerly will the holding fast and continuing in sin, (as every impenitent man doth,) and with the same will should truly desire the receiving of grace, which is destruc- tive to the continuance of sin : and if a wicked man do truly will the grace of God when he prays for it, why Both he refuse the same grace when he heareth it in the ministry of the word offered unto him ? If God offer it, and he desire it, how comes it not to be received ? Certainly there is not any thing in the corrupt heart of man by nature which can willingly close with any sanctifying grace of the spirit of Christ. Self- denial is a concomitant in all acts of grace, and self - seeking in all acts of lust ; and therefore where there is nothing but lust, there can be no real volition of grace which is so contrary unto it. This teacheth us to have penitent resolutions, and spiritual aims in all our prayers, if' we would have them prevail at the throne of grace. We are now suffering under heavy calamities : and very desirous we are that they should be removed ; we suffer, and languish, and fret, and pine away, and we -complain every where of want, and violence. But who set themselves to cry mightily to God, and call upon their soul as the mariners upon Jonah, " O thou sleeper, what meanest thou, arise, call upon God ?" Haply we go so far, we pray too, and yet receive no answer, because we ask amiss, Jam. iv. 1 -3. we are troubled
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