16 SERMON CXV The Nature and Neceflity ofHoly Refolution. Jo B XXXIV. 31, 32. The third Surely it is meet to befaidunto God, Ihave born chaftifement, I will Sermon on this Text. . not offend any more : That which I fee not, teach thou me ; if I have done Iniquity, Iwill do no more. THE SE words are a Defcriptionof the temper and behaviour of a true Pe- nitent, his Confeflion of Sins, and Refolution of Amendment. Concer- ning Refolution I {have (hewn what it is in general : What is the fpecial Obje& or Matter ofthis kindof Refolution : What is implied in a fincere Refolutionof leaving our Sins, and returning to God and our Duty : That in this Refolution the very Effence and formalNature of RepentanceBoth confi(t : And have offer'd force Confiderations, to convince men of the neceffity and fitnefs of this Refo- lotion, and to keep them ftedfaft to it. As, 1. That this Refolution is nothing but what under the influence of God's Grace is inour Power. 2. The things themfelves, which we are to refolve upon, are the ftrongeft Ar- guments that can be for fuch a Refolution. 3. How unreafonableit is for men to be unrefolved in a Cafe of fo great mo- ment. 4. Howmuch this Refolution will tend to the fettling of our Minds, and ma- king our Lives comfortable. I proceed to the Confiderations which remain. g. Then bepleafed to confider, that a ftrong and vigorous Refolution would make the whole Work of Religion eafie to us, it would conquer all difficulties which attend a Holy and Religious Courfe of Life, efpecially at our firft entrance into it: Becaufe Refolution brings our Minds to a Point, and unites all the ftrength and force of our Souls in one great Deign, and makes us vigorous and firm, courageous and confiant in the Profecution of it; and withoutthis it is im- poflible to hold out long, and to refift the ftrongPropenfions and Inclinations of our corrupt Nature, which if we be not firmly refòlved, will return and by de- grees gain upon us ; it will be impoffible tobreak through Temptations, and to gain-fay the importunity of them; when the Devil and the World folicit us, we (hall not be able to fay them nay, but (hall be apt to yield to them. There are many, whohave had faint wifhes and cold delires, and half pur- poles of leading a new and better Life : but having not taken up a firm Refolu- tion in the Cafe, having not determined themfelvesby a revere purpofe, a little thing fways them, and brings them back to their former Courfe; 'his no hard matter to divert them and engage them another way ; they are fhaken with every windof Temptation, every little blaft of Oppofition and Perfecution turns them back, and carries them to the ways of Sin : whereas Refolution fixeth a Man's Spirit, and makes it molt (tedfaft and unmoveable, and lets him upon a Rock, which, when the winds blow, and the rain falls, and the floods come, abides firm; againft all impreffions. IfI would give the molt probable and ufeful advice to engage and continue a Man in a good Courfe, I would commend tohim a deliberate and firm Refolution. David proved this way with very happy fuccefs, Pfal. 119. io6. Ihave floor's (lays he) and willperform it, that Iwill keep thy righteous Judgments. This was a fecurity to him againftall a(haults, and nothing could turn bim from his Courre afterwards; not the dangers hewasexpofed to, v. 109. Myfoul is continually in my
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