created us, and that Virtue and Religion, and walking by the Laws of God, were altogether preferable to the Ways of Sin and Satan; for that the Ways of Virtue are Ways of Pleaſantneſs, and all their Paths are Peace,
Prov. 3. 17.
But what you could not learn from God’s Word, by reaſon of your careleſly, or but ſuperficially conſidering the ſame, I hope the Courſe of his Providence, and the preſent Afflictions that he hath laid upon you, hath now convinced you of the ſame: For however in your ſeeming Proſperity you might make a Mock at your Sins
Prov. 3. 17. yet now that you ſee that God’s Hand hath reached you, and brought you to publick Juſtice, I hope your preſent unhappy Circumſtances hath made you ſeriouſly reflect upon your paſt Actions and Courſe of Life; and that you are now ſenſible of the Greatneſs of your Sins, and that you find the Burden of them is intolerable.
And that therefore being thus labouring, and heavy laden with Sin,
Mat. 11. 28. you will eſteem that as the moſt valuable Knowledge, that can ſhew you how you can be reconciled to that Supreme God that you have ſo highly offended; and that can reveal to you Him who is not only the powerful Advocate with the Father for you,
1 John 2. 1. but alſo who hath paid that Debt that is due for your Sins by his own Death upon the Croſs for you; and thereby made full Satisfaction for the Juſtice of God. And this is to be found no where but in God’s Word, which diſcovers to us that Lamb of God which takes away the Sins of the World,
John 1. 29. which is Christ the Son of God: For this know, and be aſſured, that there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be ſaved
, Acts 4. 12. but only by the Name of the Lord Jeſus.
