94 Gófpel ferrii1siori. come to confefs fin, as in Solemn Dayes of Humiliation, men will rip up all their fins, but before another day come, they have made work for another and another day ; and this is the reafon when men come to confefs their fins before God, oftheir trifling with h:m,and were it not that God is a God ofinfinite patience, he could not bear it ; might not he fay to you, you came feven years ago, and told me ofyour Pride, Paffion, Earthly-minded_ nefs, and the like ; anddo you now come and tell me the fame again ? were not God infinitely patient, he could never bear this dallying withhim,for the truth is, it is noth;ng elfe but infi- nite dallying withGod,Jer. 3.5. Wilt thou notfrom this time cry unto me,my Fatber,thou art theguide ofmyyouth ? they feemed to cry to God;O thou art my Father and the guide ofmy youth, thereare but therewords named, but it is like they opened their fins beforeGod,and cryed for mercy ; O (ayes God unto them, Thou haftfpoken,and cryed out of the Anger of mine that isgone out againfyoufor your fins, andyet thou haflfpoken and done evil as thou couldf ; this is an evil thing, and heavy to be laid to the charge of any man, to confefs tin, and pray for pardon, and yet commit it again ; know this day you that have been confeffing fin, andyet go on in fin ; know this thing, I tell you it is but dallyingwith God : many men and women do ravel out their Prayers this way ; theymake excellent Prayers, and when they have done they ravel all again by filling into the fame fin. 2. Afécond fort are thofe thatfeel¿, earnefily thepardon of Tomefins, andyet ffill keep the lave offume otherfi.,, andyet think toobtain pardonofthem, this is but dallying aid trifling with God about this bufinefs you never fet your felves yet Teri- oully about it ; when youcryagainft force fins that are againfl the Light of Nature, and itmay be your Confciences fly in your faces, and the Word of God hath ftricken you for them but there is force other fecret hauntsof villanies, that your h;earts clofe withal , and yet you think to obtainof God forgivenefs of the other,and.go on there :O thou vain foul,thouvain man,know that though thou fhouldft c`ry thy heart out for the forgiventl's of one or more fins, yet if thy heart fecretly dolewith foire other fin that thou haft fecret haunts-after , the bonds of the guilt of that fin will hold thy foul in chains eternally ; except thy
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