~f poattbfnlneffe. 'libcr.ty by not finning, than to g~in further preferment byconfenting to fin, this is tree .chafiity'indecd. Away then witn thofe Idle Apologies, 1 lVM urged to j.n, ltv~.< provck$d to icivdilefs, &c. Ncit~Ier m'ln nor devil can compel you to fin, unleffe you will your lf Su11dert'fb ewn fclf; .: The _df:'Vil may per}wade, emice,jitggeft, andprovok,s, but he cannot inf(Jrt;c ncq fot:,;,.,., cOJ?jfrain · nor (unle!Te your own hearts give confent) can he caufe you to fin. ~:,~~.;';;,~r< 3 .. c6nfcltc we our fins, mourn we for fin, and cfpecially labour we for hatred of P"'fl, Au~. ' fin: '7'6/fcarofthcLordistoh"'ccvil, Prov. 8. IJ. notonly to forbearit, but (as Hum. 12. : theApo!Uefpeaks) toabhoqt, Rom. 12. 9· asthe meatthat fometimeswe have !"~~ 1"""m urfeted of, our Uomack naufeateth and goeth againfl: it: fo !hould our hearts rife ,::; p:;,J~~- againfi firt; and to this purpofe confider we, 1. The foulneffc offin; it is fouler than the rtm cogendi, foulcll;Fiend in hell. 2 . . The illneffe offin; it is a greater ill than the damnation of a Idem in Pral. mans fb\Il, or than the dcllrudion of all the creatures in the world. l· The infectiouf– ~' h & •n • neffe -of-fin, it is of that pefiilential property, that it pollutes every thing it comes 1,~o~. ~ 2 ;,, near. + The pernicioufneffe of fin ; it deprives us of Gods favour, of our part and 1\om, 12. 9· portion of the blood of Chrifl:, of the providence of that bleffed Trinity, ofthe guard of Angels, of the Communion ofSaints, of heavens joys ; and it brings upon us infinite forr0ws, as blindneffe of mind, hardneffe of heart, deadneffe of Spirit, defperate thoug~ts, horrour of Confcience, vexation of Spirit, and (without repentance) all the terrours of helL 5. Chrifis fufferings for fin ; !hall we n<;>t hate him that kills our friend, brother, father? how.much IJ10re fin, that put to death the Lord of life, who is indeed our deareft Friend, Brother, Father, Saviour? Look on Chri!l: crucified, and fee '·" if this will not make us hate fin. 4· B~lieve, and by faith expect victory over our fin; yea, by that Faith in which we ·have confeffed, mourned, prayed, let us re{t perfwadcd, Tl1at fuch means !hall not be ufect ofus in vain : 0 lift we up the hand of Faith towards heaven, and by hold Qll the promi[es of pardon, on the mercy of God in Chrill Jefus. S E C T. 5· Of the """'"er of Wtttchf~<lneffe over Jpecial fins, THat we mly watch over our fpecial fins, our Dlllilah-fins, our darling-delights, ub(crvc we thcfe Rules. · · 1. E.ndeavor we the mortifying of this fin: Some one fin there is iu.every foul ofus that is moll predominant. Now it is the main work of a Chriftian, as to fall out for ever with all fin,fo efpecially to improve all his fpiritual forces and aid from heaven, utterly to demoli!h, and to beat down to the ground this hold, this bofom-fin. 2. Lay we load of deepefl:groans, and llrongcll cryes for mortifying grace againft this domineering fin: efpecially every Morning and Evening llrive with God in our l'rayers for acomfortable Conquefl: over it, enforce and enlarge that paffage with a·n extraordinary pang of fervericy, .cry we mightily to God for po\ver and Urength a– gainfl: this luU, that continually wars againft the foul. 3. Bend we our felves againll: the fpecial acts, OFcafions, and opportunities of t~is .fin; as fuppofe rajh anger, the fin which a man fifteth, and purfucth to the extirpation ofit; in this cafe, he !hould refolve with himfelf, not to fpeakh~r!hly nor to look fiercely, nor to ufe any churli!h behaviour, whethe-r his Servant difpleafe him with ne– gligence, or his Friend offend him with unfaithfulneffe, or his enemy provoke him with ill language, or fome malicious dealing. · 4· As Oft as we find any motion of this fin to llir, and !hew it felf in •Js, it will be convenient, not only to with-hold our confent, but withal to excrcife fome act of con– trary holineffe ; As fuppofe Dejire of Revenge be the fin, which llirreth up our blood, and boylethwithin~, we muft not only forbear to avenge our felves, but alfo bend our felves to pray for him that hathoffended us; and if he hunger, to feed him, if he th:rft, togi'!le him dri11k., 5. Settle we irt our felves a purpofe of heart to forbeor it for time to come: In un– dertakmg of which purpofc, it will be expedient to fct our felvcs fome !hart fpace of time, in which we may force our felves to the forbearance of it, as for a day, or a moneth, or the like; and when the prefixed time is come, we !hould then quefiion our fclves, How well we have performed? or how, or wherein we have failed ? and then begia
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