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sin. But to give you some reasons why there must be this piercing and wounding of souls for sin.
I Reason. Because sin is the greatest evil of the soul, and the greatest burden also, that is most grievous which is most heavy Now as there is no evil so properly and directly evil to the soul as the evil of sin is, so there is nothing that can properly do the soul good but God. Now while a sinner cannot see his sin he cannot sorrow for his sin. Now it is a godly sorrow that causes repentance unto life, as you may see in 2 Cor vii. 10 And assured'y the soul that sees not the evil of sin, shall fall by the evil of punishment:
2 Reason, Why unfeigned sorrow and contrition of heart for sin is necessary to salvation Because by sound sorrow the' soul is truly prepared and fitted for Jesus Christ, as you may see in the Prophet Jer. xi. 3. Plow up the fallen ground of your hearts, and sow not among thorns; What is it else, but to have the heart pierced with the terrors of the Lord, by a sound saving sorrow for sin. Plow up the corruptions which are the' thorns and thistles in your hearts, as the Prophet David saith, Psalm li. 27. ’Tis a broken and a contrite heart'.
