34 The Shamefulnefs of Sin, Vol. IL I. It is evident that fotüeSins are plainly mifchievous to the temporal Intereft of Men, as tending either to the disturbance of theirMinds, or the endangeringof their Healthand Lives, or to the prejudice of their Eftates, or the blafting of them in their Reputation and good Name. e. That there are other Sins, which tho' they are not fo vifibly burdened and attended with mifchievousConfequences, yet are they plainly unprofitable, and bring no manner ofreal Advantage to Men, either in refped ofgain or pleafure; fuch are the Sins of Profanenefs, and cuftomary Swearing in common Conver- fation. 3. That even thole Sins and Vices, which make the faireft pretence to be of Advantage to us, when all Accounts are caft up, and all Circumftances duly weigh'dand confider'd, will be found to be but pretenders, and in no degree able to perform and make good what they fo largely promifebefore hand, when they tempt us to the commiffton of them. There are Come Vices, which pretend to bring in great profit, and tempt worldly-mindedMen, whole minds are difpofed to catch at that bait; fuch are the Sins ofCovetoufnefs andOppreffion, ofFraud and Falfhood and Perfidioufnefs. And there are others which pretend to bring pleafure along with them, which is almoft an irrefiftable temptation to voluptu- ous and fenfual Men ; fuch are the Sins of Revenge, and Intemperance, and Luft. But upon a particular examinationofeach of thefe, it will evidently appear, that there is no fuch profit or pleafure in any of thefe Vices, as can be a reafonable temptation to any Manto fall inlove with them, and to engage in the Commif- lion andPraûice of them. But I (hall not now inlarge uponany of thefe, having lately difcours'd upon them from another Text. I (hall therefore proceed to the II. Inconvenience which I mentioned of a finful and vicious Courfe, via. that the reflect ion upon our Sins afterwards, is caufe of great Shame and Confufion to us. Whatfruit had you then in thofe things, whereofyou are now afhamed ? And Preacyd this is a very proper Argument for this Seafon*; becaufe the Paffon of Shame, inLent. as it is a natural and ufualconfequent of Sin, fo it is a Difpofition neceffarily re- quired to a true Repentance. Mott Men when they commit a known Fault areapt to be afhamed, and ready to bluth whenever they are put in mind ofit, and charged with it. Some Perfons indeed have gone fo far in Sin, and have waded fo deep in a vicious courfe, as to be confirmed and harden'd in their Wickednefs to that degree, as to be paft all Shame, and almoft all fenfe of their Faults; efpecially in regard of the more common and ordinary Vices, which are in vogue and fafhion, and in the commit fion whereof they are countenanc'd and encourag'd by Company and Example. Such were thofe of whom the Prophet fpeaks, jet. 6. 15. Were they *anted, when they had committed abomination ? nay, they were not afhamed, neither could :hèy blu(h. But yet even thefePerfons, when they come to be fenfible of their guilt, foas tobe brought to Repentance, they cannot then but be afhamedof what they have done. For what face foever Men may fet upon their Vices, Sin is fhameful in it felf, and fo apt to fill Men with confufion offace, when they ferioufly refiett upon it, that they cannot harden their Foreheads againtt all fenfe of Shame. And what- ever Men may declare to the contrary, this is tacitly acknowledged by the gene- rality of Men, in that they are fo folichous and careful to conceal their Faults front the Eyes ofothers, and tokeep them as fecret as they can ; and whenever they are difcovered and laid open, 'tis matter ofgreat Trouble and Confufion to them ; and if any one happen to upbraid and twit themwith their Mifcarriages of any kind, they cannot bear with Patience to hear of them. There are indeed fome few fuch Prodigies and Montters ofMen, as are able after great Itruglings with theirConfciences, to force themfelves toboati impudently of their Wickednefs, and to glory in their fhame; not becaufe they do really and in.. wardly believe their Vices to be an Honour and Glory to them, but becaufe con- fcìous to themfelves that theyhave done fhameful things, andbelieving that others know it, they put on a Whore's Forehead, and think to prevent the upbraiding of others,
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