304 íSertnon 2. when they are told, that they muff forgive fuch wrong rebore fuch things as they have unjuftly taken and de- tained, that they muff deny themfelves, &c. they are at a ffand : Hence force will give very fair and pertinent ad- vices and dire&ions to others, in reference to the Rudy of holinefs ; and even force very profane men will fome- times commend the fear of God to their children, while yet, in their own praEfice, they lay no weight on it, nor regard it ; becaufe they confider it not in itfelf, but as it is complicated with the apparent necefíity of parting with, and lofing of fuch and fuch particular things, that they have no will to forego. idly, We would diffinguiíh be- twixt a willingnefs that is by fits, and is but force acci- dental motion (to fpeak fo) and a willingnefs that is de- liberate, refolute, fixed and habitual; the former may be under convi&ions, challenges, and fears, as appears in many of thefe fpoken of, Exod. 19. and Deut. 5. 27: who readily fay, under a fit of convi&ion and of fear, All that the Lord has commanded us we will do; and in many perlons in their afili&ions, and on their Fick -beds, who will fay, If they had their health again, and were deli- vered from fuch and fuch a trouble and diftrefs, they would ffudy to be better men ; but, fo foon as they reco- ver health, and fuch a tempeft of trouble is over, they return with the dog to the vomit, Their goodneft is like the morning- cloud and early dew that goeth away, as it is, Hof. 6. 4. 'Tis not this willingnefs that we fpeak of, but 'tis an habitual fixed willingnefs, a fettled defign as to fuch a thing ; as thefe words, ,45fs 24.16. hold forth, Herein do I exercife nayfelf, always to have a Confcience void of of- fence : 'Tis not to have a willingnefs this or that day or hour, and then to lay it quite by ; but 'tis in all our converfation to be willing to live honeffly, as the apoftle bath it, Rom. 7. To will is prefent with me ; this willing- nefs is always in fome meafure prefent with ferious Chri- $ians, it waits Rill on them; 'tis a confiant habitual in- clination and propenfion to fuch a thing. 4thly, We would diftinguifh betwixt a crooked willingnefs to holi- nefs, out of force by- refpe& ; and an outright and ífraight willingnefs, when holinefs is willed and loved on an honef account, or for a ffraight end The crook- ed,
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