A Method for Prayer01 Matthew Henry
We have grieved the holy Spirit of God, by whom we are sealed to the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.
7.6. The damage which by sin we have done to our own souls, and theirgreat interests.
By our iniquities we have sold ourselves, and in sinning against you have wronged our own souls. Isaiah 50:1. Proverbs 8:36.
Our sins have separated between us and God and have kept good things from us; and by them our minds and consciences have been defiled. Isaiah 59:2. Jeremiah 5:25. Titus 1:15.
Our own wickedness hath corrected us, and our backslidings have reproved us, and we cannot but know and see, that it is an evil thing, and bitter, that we have forsaken the Lord our God, and that his fear hath not been in us. Jeremiah 2:19.
O what fools are they that make a mock at sin! Proverbs 14-9.
8. WE MUST AGGRAVATE OUR SINS AND TAKE NOTICE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH MAKE THEM MORE HEINOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND MORE DANGEROUS TO OURSELVES.
We bewail before you all our sins, and all our transgressions in all our sins. Leviticus 16:21.
8.1. The more knowledge we have ofgoodandevil, the greater is our sin.
We have known our Master's will, but have not done it, and therefore deserve to be beaten with many stripes. Luke 12:47.
We have known the way of the Lord, and the judgments of our God, and yet have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
We have known the judgment of God, that they which do such things are worthy of death, and yet have done them, and have had pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:32.
We have taught others, and yet have not taught ourselves; and while we profess to know God, we have in works denied him.
Romans 2:21. Titus 1:16.
8.2. Thegreaterprofession we have made ofreligion, thegreater hath been our sin.
We call ourselves of the holy city, and stay ourselves upon the God of Israel, and make mention of his name, but not in truth and righteousness. For we have dishonored that worthy name by which we are called and given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Isaiah 48:2, 1. James 2:7, 23.
We have named the name of Christ, and yet have not departed from iniquity.
8.3. The more mercies we have receivedfrom God, thegreater hath been our sin.
You have nourished and brought us up as children, but we have rebelled against you. Isaiah 1:2.
We have ill requited you, O Lord, as foolish people and unwise: Though you are our Father that has made us, and bought us, and established us, yet our spot has not been the spot of your children.
We have not rendered again according to the benefit done unto us.
8.4. Thefairer warning, we have hadfrom the word of God, and from our own consciences, concerning our danger of sin, and danger by sin, thegreater is the sin ifwego on in it.
We have been often reproved, and yet have hardened our neck; and have gone on frowardly in the way of our heart. Proverbs 29:1.
You have sent to us, saying, O do not this abominable thing which I hate; but we have not hearkened, nor inclined our ear. Jeremiah
The word of God hath been to us, precept upon precept, and line upon line; and though we have beheld our natural faces in the glass ofit, yetwe have gone away, and straightway forgot what manner of men we were. Isaiah 28:13. James 1:23, 24.
8.5. Thegreater afflictions we have been underfor sin, thegreater is the sin if we go on in it.
You have stricken us, but we have not grieved, we have refused to receive correction and have made our faces harder than a rock; and