Of god's government, 314. Io. That therefore sin as sin is hateful to every true Chriftian, and Godlinefsas fuch lovely : And that in refpe&of this radical general Habit, every true Chrithans love to God and Good is more than his averfenefs, andhis hatred to Sin more than his loveor Inclination to the created Good for which it is loved ( For no man loveth Sin as Evil). 315. i I. That the Inferior fort ofMeans andGood, appearnot always in their worth orneceffity to the believer : Befides his Ignorance the rem- nants of Concupifcencemay pervert his Judgment fo far as to doubt of fame means whether they are abfolutely neceffary, or atleaft, mihi hic b mane. And this failingof the Intelletá may embolden the Will to fome degrees of negligence, even ofknown duties. And fo we may doubt of fome Sins whether they are Sins, and of others whether they are fo great as to beinconfiftent with Gods love and our Salvation ; and by that failing of the Intelle& tobe emboldened to commit them, while yet we adhere to Godand holinefs inthe main as fuch. And fo fmall sins are ofter committed, and with lefsrelu&ancy than greater, becaufe we think that their badnefr and danger is not fo great. And though at other times we be more fenfible of both, yet in the time of Temp- tation that apprehenfion may be altered : For the mind ofa Godly man is more mutable about the Means than about the End', and about the fmaller fort of Means and sins, than about thegreater. And when the opinionchangeth not, yet the practicaljudgment may change ; or when it is not turned, it may be fufpended : Or truth may be apprehended with lets quickening lively feeling; and then it will not fufficiently work: As a loud call doth fufcitate us to a&ion , when a negligent whifper is negle&ed. And upon fome of thefe accounts known fins when fmall may more (land with Grace and be ofter committed, and more dully repented of, thangreater. 316. s 2. And aswe mutt dittinguifh of Sins as more or lefs dreadful and dangerous, and of duty as more or lefs neceffary, at leaft in our apprehenfion ; fo alto of Sins which are more or lets within the power of a willingmind to leave them. SomeSins are fuch, as that the forfaking of them requireth littlemore than a willing mind. As tofor- fake lewd Company , Taverns, Play-houfes, Harlots, Drunkennefs, Theft, Opprefíìon, Perfecution, Perjury, Deceit, Vie. Meer will, though inftigated by lull, committeth them; And a will that is but truly bent again( them , may eafily (as to power) caft them off. Whoever committeth them , doth it becaufe he will do it. And to live in the frequent committing of thefe, is a greater fign ofwant of Holy habits, or Grace, thanof others. For thereare other Sins which betides willingnefs require great power, and care, and labour to forfake them : As tokeep ajuft order in our Thoughts ; to keep them from vain obje&s ; to keep our tongues from accuftomedvain words, to refirain ftrongpafons upon great provocations; efpecially to forfake Sins of privation andomifsion; fuch as are unbelief as mixedwith a weakFaith, and fears mixed with hopes and coldnefs of defire and prayer, and fluggifhnefr of labour and endeavour, &e. A man may be truly willing to be fironger in all Grace, and to doall duty better, and to forfake all fuch Sins as thefe, when yet through the meer weak- nefs of his Graces or Spiritual life, he cannot fo exa&ly watch, nor fo diligently labour, nor fo patiently hold out, as the cafe requireth. Though it be not a Phyfcal , but a Moral power which he wanteth, and that culpably; yet fuch Sins may more coral
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