Geeralr' direltionsfar a your ofbringing againe his beloved finne in his bofome to the Communion , after fo many caulfull provocations of Divine Iullice; obfervation of fome remarkeable vengeance, feized upon his fellow-delinquent; orfenlible fmart of fome terrible blowfrom Gods vi&inghand in onekinde orother : illy, upon fome fuch occalion , bee may for a time forbeare his bloody oathes, ufury, drunkenneffe,- gaming, PIay-houfe haunting, felfe- polluting, walking in the black,: andddarke night after the ftrange Woman, or what other finne foeves doth reigne inhim, and retaine him ftrongliefl in the Divels Ilavery. But becaufe it is not the worke of theWord, hum- blinghim foundly under Gods mighty hand, planting faith, and infufìng mortifying power, hee is not able to hold out long ; but the ancleane f jürit returnes,and rules inhimagaine farre more imperioully, and fenfually, out of indignation of its difcontinuance,andproportionably to the parties new colleeced ftrength, and eagerneffe, to recommit it, after his extraordinary and impatient forbearance. Iknow, it is notimpoflìble, but that a man, after his converfion, by the fudden furprizall of fome violent temptation , andcunning traineof Satan, may be hailed backe to commit his fweet finne againe; efpecially if it be of fomenature, ( though it be avery heavy cafe, and tobe lamented, if it werepoflible, with teares of blood;) yet he never doth , nor can returne towallow init againe,or allow it. After fuch adreadfull re lapfe, his heartbleeds- afrelhwith extraordinary bitternefl'e of penitent remorfe , he abhorres himfelfe in duff andallies, as exceedinglyvile,cries more mightily untoGod in a dayOf humiliation , for the returne of his pleated countenance, re- paires and fortifies the breachwith ftronger refolution , and more invincible watchfulneífe, againit futureaflaalts, and all affayes of re-entry. But now the temporary I talkeof, after his formali enforced forbearance , engulphshimrifelfe againe, with more greedinefle, into the pleafures and fenfuality of his bofome finne, dyes,and delights init againe, as thevery life ofhis life, and hardenshimfelfe more obltinately in it, as a thing impolfible to leave ; and live With any confort.
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