ola
December 27th 07, 04:17 PM
in no wise help themselves, and that God would be wholly just and
righteous in rejecting them and all that they do, and in casting them
off for ever. There is however a vast variety as to the manner and
distinctness of such convictions.
As they are gradually more and more convinced of the corruption and
wickedness of their hearts, they seem to themselves to grow worse and
worse, harder and blinder, and more desperately wicked, instead of
growing better. They are ready to be discouraged by it, and oftentimes
never think themselves so far off from good as when they are nearest.
Under the sense which the Spirit of God gives them of their sinfulness,
they often think that they differ from all others; their hearts are
ready to sink with the thought that they are the worst of all, and that
none ever obtained mercy who were so wicked as they.
When awakenings first begin, their consciences are commonly most
exercised about their outward vicious course, or other acts of sin; but
afterwards are much more burdened with a sense of heart-sins, the
dreadful corruption of their nature, their enmity against God, the pride
of their hearts, their unbelief, their rejection of Christ, the
stubbornness and obstinacy of their wills; and the like. In many, God
makes much use of their own experience, in the course of their
awakenings and endeavors after saving good, to convince them of their
own vile emptiness and universal depravity.
Very often, under first awakenings, when they are brought to reflect on
the sin of their past lives, and have something of a terrifying sense of
God's anger, they set themselves to walk more strictly, and confess
their sins, and perform many religious duties, with a secret hope of
appeasing God's anger, and making up for the sins they have committed.
And oftentimes, at first setting out, their affections are so moved,
that they are full of tears, in their confessions and prayers; which
they are ready to make very much of, as though they were s
righteous in rejecting them and all that they do, and in casting them
off for ever. There is however a vast variety as to the manner and
distinctness of such convictions.
As they are gradually more and more convinced of the corruption and
wickedness of their hearts, they seem to themselves to grow worse and
worse, harder and blinder, and more desperately wicked, instead of
growing better. They are ready to be discouraged by it, and oftentimes
never think themselves so far off from good as when they are nearest.
Under the sense which the Spirit of God gives them of their sinfulness,
they often think that they differ from all others; their hearts are
ready to sink with the thought that they are the worst of all, and that
none ever obtained mercy who were so wicked as they.
When awakenings first begin, their consciences are commonly most
exercised about their outward vicious course, or other acts of sin; but
afterwards are much more burdened with a sense of heart-sins, the
dreadful corruption of their nature, their enmity against God, the pride
of their hearts, their unbelief, their rejection of Christ, the
stubbornness and obstinacy of their wills; and the like. In many, God
makes much use of their own experience, in the course of their
awakenings and endeavors after saving good, to convince them of their
own vile emptiness and universal depravity.
Very often, under first awakenings, when they are brought to reflect on
the sin of their past lives, and have something of a terrifying sense of
God's anger, they set themselves to walk more strictly, and confess
their sins, and perform many religious duties, with a secret hope of
appeasing God's anger, and making up for the sins they have committed.
And oftentimes, at first setting out, their affections are so moved,
that they are full of tears, in their confessions and prayers; which
they are ready to make very much of, as though they were s