:71Jead [. :,.,,i.J CfJrrupted., proven. ' ' g'j ·· than that, generally men chufe rather to do what the mo~ . do, , than what ·the befl do. ~. ~ ' Sthly, Who of all Adam's fons needs be taught the art_ ··of {ewing jig-le-avu togethu-, to cover · their nakedners ~ . Ge1t. iii. 'l· ·When we have· ruined ourfelves, and made ourfelves .naked, to our. fuame; we naturally feek to help · ourfelves by ourfel ves : and many poor fhifts are fallen "--upoQ, as filly and infignificant as Adanls fig-leaves. \:Vhat .pains are men at to co·ver their fin from their own confcien~ 1 -~ .ces, and to draw all the fair·colour-s upon it that they can? .{\nd when once coa-vic:tions ~re fafl:ned upon·them~ fo that · ·lhey cannot but fee themfel ves .nak~d ;' it is as natural for · ··them to attempt ·to fpin ~cover to it out of their own bow– els, as fo~ nthes to fwim in the waters, or bi~.ds to fly in l ' 'the air. Therefore the firHq~efiion of the convinced\is,l.Vhat , )hall wt. do? ·Acts ii. 2.7. How.lliall we qualify ourfelves ~ - What fuall we per form ? Not minding that the new crea– ·tare is God's own workmanfhi,P (or deed, Eph. ii. 10.) , 'more than Adam thought of being clothed \Vith ' fkins of facrifices; Gen. iii. 2 I. 9thly, Qo not //dam's children natural!y follow his foot" ., !l:eps 1 in hiding<themftlves from the pre_fo;zce of the Lord, Gen. iii. -8. We are every whit as blind in_this matter as he was, who thought t'o hide himfelf. from the prefence of God among the fhady trees of the garden . . \Ve ~ne very apt to ,p-romife ourf~lves more fecurity in a fecret fin, than 'in one that is op~nly committed. T he eye of the adulterer <Waiteth for tht /<tt..'Uight, foying, 1\To eyt jha/1 fee me, ]oil -' x xiv. I 5. And men will freely do that in fecret, which ·they would be .afhamed .to do in the prefence of achild; as· if darknefs 'co~ld hid~ from an ali~feeiog God. Are we no t ~atUTally carelefs of communion with God; ay, :1nd averfe to it? Never was tcer€ any communion 'bet,wixt God and Adam's children, where the Lord hilufelf had notrhe firll: word: If he would let them alone, they would never in-. ·: quire after him . .Ifa. lv'ii. J7. I hid me.--. Did he feek ~ifter'qa ,hiding God t Very far from it,--11( wmton in · the 'll..!ay of hiJ heart. 1 othf;·, How loth are men ~o confefs· fin, to take guilt and fhame to themfel ves ? And was it net thus in the c~fe befor.e us r Gtn. i ii, 1 o. A dam-confdfeth his 'riakednefs, · P whit~
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