§. Sect. 8 Confidence.
And now comfort thy selfe (O my soule) for thy God hath granted what thou hast so feruently craued. Yea, it is the end why hee would haue thee to aske, because he hath a desire to giue, and that by discouering thy beggery and pouerty, he might take occasion to discouer the riches of his bounty. He that hath inlarged thine heart with these feruent desires, hath done it purposely to this end, that hee may fill it, and satisfie them. Thou couldest not so much as aske this grace of repentance, if the Spirit * 1.1 of God did not helpe thine infirmities, and inable thee to pray with sighes and grones which cannot be vttered; and how can thy God reiect that prayer which his Spirit inditeth, and is made according to his owne will? Yea, be confident, my soule, for thou canst receiue no repulse in this suit; seeing he himselfe hath commanded thee to aske it, and promi∣sed to giue it. He, who is true of his promise, and omnipotent in perfor∣mance, hath bound himselfe by his gracious Couenant, that hee will take away thy stony heart, and giue thee an heart of flesh; that thou shalt looke vpon * 1.2 him whom thou hast pierced, and shalt mourne for him, as a man mourneth for his onely sonne, and be in bitternesse for him, as one is in bitternesse for his first∣borne. That he will write also his Law in thine heart, that louing and obeying * 1.3 it, thou maist neuer depart from him. And his Word is yea and Amen; his promises as good as present payment. Yet (my soule) to helpe thy weakenesse, he hath giuen vnto thee already some first beginnings of re∣pentance, * 1.4 as an earnest of the rest that yet is wanting. Hee hath begun this worke of grace in thee, and therefore (his gifts being without repen∣tance) he will surely perfect it. Wait vpon him then (O my soule) by faith, yea, wait vpon him, not onely with patience, but also with ioy and comfort; for he that hath promised, will come, and will not tarry, and will * 1.5 worke in thine heart such sorrow for thy sinnes, as he himselfe shall accept as sufficient; and cause thee to bring forth such plentifull fruits of new o∣bedience, as shall glorifie him, and seale vp in thine heart the assurance of thine owne election and saluation.