272 A Box of precious Ointment : Or, 4. The true peni- tent holds up his purpofes and re- folutions to keep off from fin, and to keep clot's with God, though he be not able in e- very thing,and at times, to make good his purpofes and refolutions, &c. but he would dole it with this pafiage; Meshinks Rill Car--; thage mould be deftroyed. So when ever a penitent looks up- on his fins in his judgment, he is {till faying, Methinks thefe fins fhould be deftroyed, methinks this pride, this unbelief, this ea rt hly-mindednefs, this hypocrifie, this vain glory, & c. ih-oald be deffroyed. Fourthly, -In the purpofe and refolution of the foul,' the foul fincerely purpofing and refolving never - willingly, wil- fully or wickedly to tranfgrefs any more, Pfal. 17. 3, I have pmrpofed that my mouth (hall not tranfgrefs. The general purpofe and refolution of my heart is not to tranfgrefs, though par- ticular failings may attend me, yet my refolutions and pun- poles are firmly fixt againft evil, Tfal. 39. is I laid I will take heed to my wayes, thati fin not with my tongue : I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the vic@d are before me. David highly refolvesfo to bridle and muzzle up his mouth, that he would not break out into any- impatient or unbefeeming fpeeches, that might give the wicked any advantage to reproach Reli- t, °ion / or to blafpheme the holy One of IfrAell &c. Anfelme was a man of a 'holy refolution ; I had -rather, faith he, go to hell pure from fin, than to hedven polluted with that filth. And faith another, 1 will rather leap into a helhfire, than wilfully to fin againfl God. When Valens- the Emperor threatned Bafil with limprifonment, banifhment,,death ; Threaten, fayes he, your Boyes with fucb fray-hugs, and your purple Gallants,that give them- 1. , elves to their pleafures ; I am refolved neither menaces nor /bite- ries jhall (ilence me, or draw me to betray a good- caufe, or a giod confcience., &c. Fifthly, In the earneft and unfeigned defires, and careful endeavoursof the foul to abandon all fin, to forfake all fin, to be rid-of all fin, Rom.7. z 2,13. Now where God fees this frame of fpirit, there he will certainly pardon the failings, and pals by the'imperfe &ions of his people and be will [pare them as a man fpareth his fon that ferveth him, Mal. 3. 17. Now you know, when a prudent, tender, indulgent father fees his child to fail and come short in that which he enjoyns him to dolit
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