282 A Box of precious Ointment : 5 . 1 - Fifthly, They don't relapfe out of any love or longing to relapfe, as wicked men do, who long and love to ret,urn to the flefh-pots of Egypt. 6, Sixthly, They don't relapfe into enormities, as wicked men do (for 'tis not ufual with God to leave his people fre- quently to relapfe into enormities ; for by his fpirit arid grace, by his fmiles and frowns, by his word and rod he Both commonly preferve his people from a common, a frequent relapfing into enormities,into grofs wickednefles.)The com- mon and ordinary relapfes of the people of God, are relap- fes into infirmities, as idle words, pall-ion, haftinefs, rath- mfs, vain thoughts, Scc. and thefe God pardons in courfe ; but the common and ordinary relapfes of wicked men, are relapfes into enormities, into grofs impieties. 7. Seventhlv, They don't relapfe habitually, coni+antly, as wicked men do 3 their relapfes are tranfient, not perma- nent, they are not of courfe. A Sheep may fall into the mire, but a twine wallows in the mire, &c. But fecondly, .1 anfwer affirmatively, That notwithfland- ing all this, yet a true penitential turning from fin, is a con- tinued and ftedfait turning from fin, and that in thefe five re- fpeOis. Fa, In refpea of his habitual purpofe and refolution, not to fin, Pfal. 3 9. 1 . I Paid I will take heed to my wayes, that I fin not with my tongue ; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while see my Treatifc , . . - , ,. , ran hoXinef:s, page the wicked w before m,. David refolves to lay a Law of refiraint 5412 $08) 109, upon his tongue, and to clftp a muzzle upon his mouth, whilfl he was in the pretence of the wicked, who did lye at the catch to enfnare him, and trapan him ; come health, come fick- nefs, come honour, come reproach, come poverty, come plenty, corneliberty, come rearaint, come lite, come death, the true penitent is fiked in his purpofe and refolution not to fin. jerom writes of a brave woman, that being upon. the wrack, told her perfecutors,rthat,they might do their yvorft, for the was firmly re,i:old rattier to dye than lye.
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