368 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING your might against your pride, worldliness, and sensuality, your unpeaceableness and want of love and tenderness to your brethren and whatever other sin your conscience is acquainted with. I pray you tell me, ifyou had gravel in your shoe, in your travel, would it not be more wisdomto sit down and takeoff your shoe, and cast it out, than to stand still, or go complaining, and tell every one you meet ofyour soreness ? If you have a thorn in your foot, will you go on halting and lamenting? or will you pull it out? Truly sin is the thorn in your conscience ; and those that,would not have such troubled, consciences told of their sins for fear of increasing their distress, are unskillful comforters, and will continue the trou- ble while the thorn is in. As ever you world have peace, then, resolve against sin to the utmost of your power. Never excuse it, or cherishit, or favor it more. Confess it freely. Thank those that reprove you for it. Desire those about you to watch over you, and to tell you of it, though it be notevident. And ifyou do not see so much pride, worldliness, unpeaceableness, or other sins in yourself, as your friends think they see in you, yet let their judg- ment make you jealous of your heart, seeing self-love Both oft so blind us that we cannot see that evil in ourselves which others see in us; nay, which all the town may take notice of. And be sure to engage your friends that they shall not smooth over your faults, or mince them, and tell you ofthem in extenuating language, which may hinder conviction and repentance, much less silence them, for fear ofdispleasing you ; but that they will deal freely and faithful- ly with you. And see that you distaste them not, and discounte- nance not their plain dealing, lest you discourage them, and de- prive your soul of so great a benefit. Think best of those as your greatest friends, who are least friends to your sin, and do most for your recovery from it. If you say, ` Alas l I am not able to mor- tify my sins. It is not in my power,' I answer, 1. I speak not of a perfect conquest ; nor of a freedom from every passion or infir- mity. 2. Take heed of pretending disability when it is unwilling- ness. Ifyou were heartily willing, you would be able to do much, and God would strengthen you. Cannot you resist pride, world- liness, and sensuality, if you be willing? Cannot you forbear most of the actual sins you commit, and perform the duties that you omit, ifyou be willing? '(though not so well as you would per- form them.) Yea, let me say thus much, lest I endanger you by sparing you. Many a miserable hypocrite cloth live in trouble of mind and complaining, and after all perish for their willful dis- obedience. Did not the rich young man go far 'before he would break off with Christ? And when he did leave him, he went away sorrowful. And what was the cause of his sorrow? Why, the matter was, that he could not be saved without selling all, and
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