choice ,Bed of Spices. 2 81 No perfon on earth can thew fuch a promife,that when aChri- ftian has been thus or thus troubled, grieved, humbled or melted for his fins, that then God will affuredly preferve him from ever falling into the fame fins again. The fight of fuch a promife under God's own hand, would be as life from the dead to all real Chriftians, who fear nothing more than the In of backfliding. Certainly, there is no fuch power or infinite vertue in the greateft horrors or terrors, troubles or forrows that the foal can be under for fin, mor in the falleft, fweeteft or choice} difooveries of God's rich grace and free love to the foul, as for ever to fence.and fecure the foul from relapfing into the fame fin again and again. Though grace be a glorious creature, yet 'tis but a creature ; grace is but a created habit, that may be prevailed againft by Satans temp- tatiorr, and by the ftrong, fecret, and fubtile workings of fin in our hearts. But this muff be carefully -minded and re- membred, that though the Saints may and do fometimes re- lapfe, yet they do not relapfe fuch a .manner as wicked men do relapfe, For, Firff, They do not relapfe voluntarily, but involuntarily. Involuntary relapfes, are when the refolution and full bent of the heart is againft fin, when the foul ftrives with all its might againft fin, by fighs and-groans,by prayers and tears,and yet by force invincible weaknefs is forced to fall back into fin again, becaufe there is not fpiritual ftrength enough to overcome. Secondly, They do not relapfe oat of choice, as wicked men do, /fa. 66. 3, Thirdly, They don't relapfe out of any delight that they take in relapfing ; witnefs their fad complaints their great lamentations, and their bitter mournings over their relapfes. Relapfes into difeafes, and relapfes into fins, are more trou- blefom and dangerous than they are any wayes delightful, to all that are in their wits. Fourthly, They don't relapfe out of any fetled purpofe or refoJution of heart to relapfe, as wicked men do, Jar. 2 5- All the relapfes of a Saint, are againft the fetled bent, byafs and refolution of his foul, Fifthly;
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