42 The Lift of Faith. back again to Egypt. The great caufe of mens finning, and yielding to the temptations of forbidden pleafures, is becaufe they axe negligent to live upon the pleafures of Believers. aired. r a. Take heed of the beginnings, if ever you would escape the (in. No man becometh stark nought at the firfi flep. He that beginneth to take one plcafìng unprofitable cup or bit, intendethnot drunkennefs and gluttony in the groffefl fenfi But he hath let fire in the thatch, though he did not intend to burnhis houle , and it will be harder to quench it, than to have foiborn at fiat. He that beginneth but with lafcivious dalliance, fpeeches or embraces, thinketh not to proceed to filthy fornication : But hemight better have fecund his corn fcience, jibe had never medial fo far with fin. Fewruinating damning fins, began any orherwife than with fuch (mall ap- proachcs, as feemed to have little harm ordanger. Direct. 1 a. IF ever you will (cape fin, keep offfrom ffrone temptations andopportunities. He that will be 11111 neer the fire or water, may be burnt or drowned at latl. No man is long Cafe in the midft ofdanger, and at the next fhep to ruine. He that liveth in a Tavern or Ale - houle, hadneed to be very averle to tipling. And he that fitteth at Dives table, had need to be very averfe to gulofity : And he that is In the leaf} dan- ger ofthe fire oflull, mull keep at a fuffscicnt diflance, not on- ly from the bed, and from immodeft aims, but from ferret com- panyand opportunities of fin, and from a licentious ungoverned eye and imagination. This caufcd Chrifl to fay, How hard it is for the Rich to be faved ? becaufe they have a fironger flefh- ly intereft to keep them fromChrift and godlinefs,which mutt be denyed ; and becaufe their fin hath plentiful provifion, and the fire of concupifcence wanteth no lewd, and it is a very tafie thing to them(till to fin, and alwaies a hard thing to avoid it : And mans fluggith nature will hardly long either bold on in that which is hardly done, orforbear that which is (fill bard to forbear. Good mufi be made tweet and eafxe to us, or die we flail never be conffant in it. Dire&. 13.1fyoufindany difficulty in forfaking any difgrace- fulfin, cberi(19 it not by fecrecy, hut 1. Plainly confeß it to your bofomfriend : And 2. If that will not ferve, to others alfo, drat you may have thegreater engagements to forbear° 'know
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