24. OfConfeffion, and Sorrowfor Sin. Vol. II. miferable Mate, beyond all Imagination, and pall all Remedy, God of bis in- finite Goodnefs deliver us all, for Jefsr Chrifl his fake. To whom, &c. ó'Añ_d SERMON III- wednef- day,ióay. Theunprofitablenefs of Sin in this Life, an Argu- ment for Repentance. J o B XXXIII. 27, 28. He lool¿eth upon nzen, andif any fay, I have finned, andpervertedthat which was right, and it profited me not ; He will deliver his foul from going into thepit, andhis life (hall fee the light. THE great Folly and Perverfenefsof humane Nature is in nothing more ap- parent than in this, that when in all other things Men are generally led and governed by their InterefIs, and can hardly be impofed upon by any Art, or perfwaded by any Solicitation, to a& plainly contrary to it ; yet in matter of their Sin and Duty, that is, in that which of all other is of greaten concern- ment to them, they have little or no regard to it; but are fo blinded and be- witched with deceitfrslnefs offin, as not to confider the infiniteDangerand Difad- vantage ofit ; and at the fame time, to can the Commandments of God, and the confederationof their own Happinefs behind their backs. And of this every Sinner, when he comes to himfelf, and confiders what he bath done, is abundantly convinced ; as appears by the Confeffion and Acknowledg- ment, which is here in the Text put into the Mouth of a true Penitent; I have finned, andperverted that which is right, and it profited me not, &c. In which Words here is a great Bleffing andBenefit promifed onGod's part, and the Condition required on our part. Firfl, The Bleffing or Benefit promifed on God's part, which is Deliverance from the ill Confequences and Punifhment of Sin ; hewill deliver his foul fromgo- ing into the pit, and his life /hall fee the light ; that is, he will deliver him from Death and Damnation. And tho' perhaps temporal Death be here immediately intended, yet that is a Type of our Deliverance from eternal Death; which is exprefly promifed in the Gofpel. Secondly, Here is the Condition required on our part ; if any fay, I have fin- ned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not. In which Words there are contained, I. A penitent Confeflion of our Sins to God ; for he looketh upon men, and ifa- nyfay, Ihave finned, that is, make a penitent Confeffion of his Sin to God. H. A true Contrition for our Sin, not only for fear of the pernicious Conic - quences ofSin, and the Punifhment that will follow it, implyed in there Words, and it profited me not, this is but a very imperfe& Contrition : but from a jun fenfe of theevil nature of Sin, and the Fault andOffence of it againn God, that we have done contrary to Right and our Duty. If any fay, I have finned, and perverted that was which right. Here you fee that true and perfe&Contrition for our Sins, is made a necefiary Condition of the Bleffing and Benefit here pro- mifed, via. Deliverance from the Punifhment due to them. III. Here
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