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only mercy must prevent, or the soul is damned. O miserable news, the soul committed sin. But to give you some reasons why there must be this piercing wounding of souls for sin.
1 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 causeth repentance unto life, as yon may see in 2 Cor. vii. 10. And assuredly 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, hut to have the heart pierced with the terrors of the Lord, by a sound saying, sorrow for sin. 'Plow up the corruptions
