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And thus the ftate of fin is mistaken for a state of grace; and the imperfections of obedience are mifcalled the affections and neceffities of nature, that they may feem to be incurable, and the perfons therefore apt for an excuse, because for nature there is no abfolute cure.

But let it be confidered, that they who fin habitually, that is, conftantly, periodically, at the revolution of a temptation, certainly as yet remain in the state of fin and death; their intervals of piety are but preparations to a state of grace, unto which they may at laft arrive, when they fhall not go about to countenance or excufe the fin, or to flatter the perfon. But if the intermediate resolutions of amendment (though they never go beyond the next affault of paffion or defire) be taken for a state of grace, blended with the infirmities of nature; they become destructive of all those purposes, through our mistake, which they might have promoted, if they had been rightly understood.

ANOTHER

ANOTHER principle of temptation, fruitful of fin, is a weaker pretence, which lefs wary and credulous perfons abufe themselves withal, pretending, as a ground for their confidence and incorrigible purfuance of their courfes, that they have a good meaning; that they intend fometimes well, and sometimes not ill; and this they think fufficient to fanctify their actions, and to hallow their fin. And this is of worfe malice, when religion is the colour for a war, and the prefervation of faith made the warrant for deftruction of charity, and a zeal for God made the falfe light to lead us to disobedience to man. For the end may indeed fanctify an indifferent action, but can never make ftreight one that is crooked and irregular. It is true, God requires to be honoured; but it must be in the ways of his own appointment. If we, in our zeal for God, do what he hath forbidden us; in that cafe we do not conform to his religion, but make a religion unto ourfelves. And every fin committed for religion, is just such a violence done toit, as itself is intended to prevent or remedy. Let us therefore

therefore ferve God, as he hath prescribed the way; for all our acceffes to him, being acts of his free conceffion and grace, must be by his own defignation and appointment. We might as well have chofen what shape our bodies should be of, as of what inftances the fubftance of our religion should confist,

ANOTHER principle of temptation is, an opinion of performing actions of civility and complaifance, to the ftraining a point of piety and stricter duty. And good na tures, perfons of humane and fweeter difpofitions, are too apt to dafh upon this rock of offence.

There are fome evils that by cuftom become fashionable and reputable, and it is accounted almost impoffible not to do as others do in the like cafes,

But thefe inconveniences rely only upon falfe opinions and vain fancies; having no greater foundation than the foolish difcourfes of ignorant and ungodly perfons; and they have no peculiar and appropriate remedy, but a refolute feverity of man

ners,

ners, and a confideration what is required of us as Chriftians, to confront against thofe unreasonable expectations from us, as we engage in the bufineffes and concerns of the world.

To which purpose we must be careful not to venture too freely in loofer company, never without business or unavoid able accidents; and when we mingle in affairs, it will concern our fafety to watch, left multitude of difcourfe, goodness and eafinefs of nature, the delight of company, and the freedom and ill-customed civilities, do by degrees draw us away from our guards and retirement of spirit. For in these cafes, every degree of diffolution difarms us of our ftrength; and if we give way fo far as we think it tolerable, we inftantly and undifcernibly pass into that which is unlawful and criminal. But our beft defences are depofited in a severe and prudent understanding, and difcerning the fordidnefs of thofe principles, which reprefent vice in civil language, and propound a crime to us under the cover of kindness; remembering always, that the scripture

scripture represents to us the friendship of the world, as enmity with God.

AND thus having confidered, in what efpects we are more particularly liable to temptation; I proceed,

IIdly, To shew, What may be the remedies thereof.

And, first, Let every man abstain from all occafions of fin, as much as his condition will permit. It is easier to prevent a mischief, than to cure it. To recover from a fin, is none of the eafieft labours that concern the fons of men and therefore it behoves them rather not to enter into difficulties, from which they can never draw back without lofs or danger. If God pleases to try us, he means us no hurt, and he doth it with great reason and great mercy; but if we go to try ourfelves, we may mean well, but not wisely: For as it is unlawful for weak perfons to feek a temptation; fo, for the more perfect, it is dangerous.

-But to ferve this, and all other ends, in the refifting and fubduing a tempta

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