For as Satan follows such now with charges and
applications of guilt, so he may follow them with interrogatories
and appeals; for he can tell how by appeals, as well as by charging
of sin, to sink and drown the sinner whose soul he has leave to
engage. Suppose, therefore, that some distressed man or woman should
after this way be engaged, and Satan should with his interrogatories
and appeals be busy with them, to drive them to desperation; the
text last mentioned, Eph. 3: 18,19, to say nothing of the subject of
our discourse, yields plenty of help for the relief of such a one.
Says Satan, Dost thou not know that thou hast horribly sinned? Yes,
says the soul, I do. Says Satan, Dost thou not know that thou art
one of the vilest in all the pack of professors? Yes, says the soul,
I do. Says Satan, Doth not thy conscience tell thee that thou art
and hast been more base than any of thy fellows can imagine thee to
be? Yes, says the soul, my conscience tells me so. Well, saith
Satan, now will I come upon thee with my appeals. Art thou not a
graceless wretch? Yes. Hast thou a heart to be sorry for this
wickedness? No, not as I should. And albeit, saith Satan, thou
prayest sometimes, yet is not thy heart possessed with a belief that
God will not regard thee? Yes, says the sinner.
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