The daily practice of devotion, or, The hours of prayer fitted to the main uses of a Christian life also lamentations and prayers for the peaceful re-settlement of this church and state / by the late pious and reverend H.H., D.D.

OF SOLEMN REPENTANCE.

NOW beside this daily and ordinary Confession and Repentacne, it were good to set apart some particular times, once a week (on Fridays) or at least once a month, for a more solemn Humiliation.

In which you may proceed by these several steps.

I. Take an exect survey of the state of your Soul: Examine your self strictly, and search into eve∣ry corner of your heart.

Recollect and reckon up parti∣cularly,

as far as you can remem∣ber, all the several sins and abo∣minations of your past life, espe∣cially since your last solemn Ac∣count.

Represent every one in his own colours, with all the several cir∣cumstances of aggravation and odiousness you can call to mind.

II. Labour to get a true and through sight and sense of the vile∣ness and misery of your conditi∣on.

Consider in what a dangerous and deplorable state you had been, if God, should have taken you away in this course without Repentance.

And hereupon you cannot but acknowledge and magnifie his mercy and long-suffering; that notwithstanding all these provo∣cations he hath yet forborn you thus long, and now by his good∣ness leads you to Repentance, Rom. 2. 4.

III. Strive to be seriously affected with a true and hearty sorrow for having so hainously offended so good and gracious a God.

Stedfastly resolve to forsake all these abominations, wherewith you have thus grieved his holy Spirit.

But be sure this be done sincere∣ly, withou reserving to your self any other darling sin.

Though it seem never so small, though it be never so dear to you, yet spare it not for any respect.

Though it be to you as your right hand, or your right eye, yet pluck it out, or cut it o••••, and cast it from you, Mat. 5. 29, 30.

It is better for you to enter into life halt or maimed, than to be cast whole into everlasting fire, Mat. 18. 8. Mat. 9. 43. 45. 47.

God will have all or none; he will not be content with a part, though never so great a part.

IV. Apply your self to God by a lively faith in his promises, of mer∣cy and pardon in the bloud of Je∣sus Christ.

Pour out your soul before him in an humble Confession of all your sins and abominations.

Beseech and importune him for the grace of godly sorrow, which may work in you true Repen∣tance, 2 Cor. 7. 10.

Implore his mercy and pardon in the merits and satisfaction of his dear Son Jesus Christ.

V. Offer up your self wholly into his hands with a promise and vow of new life, and more diligent performance of your duty.

And desire the gracious in flu∣ence of his Holy Spirit, as well for a seal of your Pardon, as to excite, and assist, and enable you to perform his will for the fu∣ture.

VI. And though it be impossible for you to make restitution or satisfa∣ction to God for the wrongs and affronts which in every single sin you have offered to his Glory; yet to shew the sincerity and rea∣diness of your will according to your Power, set your self with most diligence to the perfor∣mance of those Duties wherein you have been most defective.

And act a kind of holy revenge upon those sins of which you have been most gulity, by setting your self most zealously to the practice of the contrary vertues.

VII. And this your reconciliation to God it will be fit (I may say necessary) to make your peace with the world:

By making restitution and satis∣faction to all that you have wronged; by desiring pardon of those you have offended; and

likewise by freely Pardoning all that have offended or injured you.

And if all this be done sincerely and uprightly, as is required, on your part, doubt∣less,* 1.1 God is faithful that hath promised,* 1.2 and will not fail in the perfor∣mance of his part.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cor. 10. 13.
• * 1.2

  Heb. 20. 23.