The Life of Faith. I know wifdom mull be of d in fuch conf, (lions, and they mull be avoided when the hurt will prove gre:ter than the good. But flefhly wifdommutt be no councellor, and il.fhly interefl mutt not prevail. Secrecy is the nett offin, where it is kept warm, and hidden from disgrace : Turn it out of this Heft, and it will the sooner perish. Gods eye and knowledge f auldleaveturn; but when it will not, let man know it alto, and turn one fin againtt another, and let the love of Reputation help to fubdue the love ofbuff. Opening a fin (yea or a firong temptati n to a fin) doth lay an engagement in point ofcom- mon credit in the world, upon them that were before under thedivine engagements only. It will be a double fhame to fin when once it's known. And as Chrifi fpeakcthof a right hand, or eye, fo may I ofyour honour in this cafe ; it is better go to Heavenwith the shame of a penitent confe!on, than too keep your honour till you are in Hell. The lofs ofmens good opinion is an eafie price, to prevent the lofs of your falvation,. Prov. 28. t 3. He that coveretb hie finsJhallnotprofper; but who- fo cenfeffetb and forfaketb themHull have mercy; So 1 John 9, to. James 5.15,16. Dircd. t4. Especially take heedof heinous fins, calledmortal, . becaufe inconfifient with frncerity. Direct. 15. Andtake heed of tbofe fists which your feints or others thatfear God are in greateft danger of: Of which I will (peak a little more difiinetly. 42I CHAP. XIII. What fins the bet fbouldmoll watchfully avoid ? andwherein the infirmities ofthe upright elP r from mortal fins ? Q10. j ]'Hat fns are religious people whofear fin, molt in- // danger of ? and where muff they Jet the strong. efiA watch ? Anfw. t. They are much in danger of thole fins, the tem- ptations towhich are veer, and importunate, andconlfant, and for which they have the greaten opportunities : Theyhavefettles andappetites as well as others : And if the bait be great, and Ogg ;. alwaies
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=