514 ,Chap. 4o. an Expo fition upon the Book of J o n. Verf. 5. acknowledging my felf (in comparifon of thee) every way vile and bafe, utterly unable tofatisfie any of thy demands. And,as Imyfelf purpofe, fo I humbly beg leave of thee, that I may be Rent, Igrant all that thou haft fail of thy owngreatnefs, and ofmy vilenefs, and I bewail my over- daring ra(hnefs : I will not defend pertinacàoufly what I have Paid unadv:(edly ; and to makeJureof that,!am refoles- ed`tofay no more ; left carryed out in heat ofjpeech, Ifhould heat my pions ; left, multiplying words, I fhould multiply my errours, and fodafh againft the fame reckagain. Fit(}, In that lob confefleth once have I fpo;len, yea twice, Note ; A good man may' fall often, Once and more than once, once and twice, yea, more than twice. We cannot limit the number, nor fay to this or that num- ber the failings or (innings of a good man may come and no fur- ther. Though it be very fad to multiply fins, yet the bell ofmen have multiplied them. From the latter words, I will proceed no further. Note, Secondly ; Though a goodman may fall often, yet a good man will not take leave to fin often, no nor once. Hewill not give himfelf,a liberty to proceed or continue in tin. When he bath finnedonce or twice,he does not fay,poffibly [may fin again, therefore what fhould I trouble my felt about it ? who knows howoften any man may fin ?no,though he knoweth not how often he mayfin,yet he will not,givehimfelf libertytofin,not only, not knowingly , but not at all, once more ;but faith,in the /trench of Chrifl, ! will proceed no further, I will do fo no more.A gra- cious heart is fo far from taking liberty to finoften, that he takes up a refolve not to fin, and will to the utmoft watch again!} and keep himfelf pure from fin, efpecially from his fpecial fin as David did, who raid (Pfal. 18. at.) I have kept my felf from mine iniquity, As if he had Paid, There dean iniquity, which dogs me,and follows me, a fin, which earlyberets me ; but 1 have kept my felf,to theutmoft ofmy power, from falling into that iniquity. And, I lay, though a good man may multiply iniquity, yet WO tochafe who
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