say this is to reject God 1 Sam. 8 4 5. what follows v. 7. take heed of rejecting the Lord. 3. You would not willingly partake with the wicked in their torments why then will you partake with them in their sins these two cannot be separated 18. Rev. 4. 11. Sin hath one piece of policy more to keep possession and if it see you get the better in all the rest yet if you have not a great care it will worst you here 'T is this sin will promise you to be gon of its own accord O saith sin let me alone and you shall not need to trouble your selves I will be gon time enough there be but few that do understand this Mystery of sin hence it is that many People never think of repenting and reforming but let sin alone in hope it will wear away of it self and therefore to advise you herein take these particulars 1. Consider that you may be deceived herein you may think your sin is gone and hath left you when 't is nothing so many a man may think sin hath left his heart when yet sin is there still 't is hid in some hole or corner I will shew you this in a few particulars 1. Some think that their sin is gon because they have not been tempted to it as formerly O Brethren this is no sign the reason of this may be for want of an object or by reason of many businesses that have drawn away your thoughts another ways or perhaps you are now removed into such Places or Families where you have not the liberty you had when ever you meet with these circumstances look then for the temptation again 2 Chron. 24. 2 17 18. v. 2. Some think that their sin is gon because they have not committed it for a great while O Brethren sin may be in your hearts for all that sin is like a King will keep its State will not be seen every day abroad many deal with sin as David with Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 38 39. And 2 of Sam. 14. 1. Absalom you see ran away out of his Fathers Kingdom but still abroad in his Fathers heart so sin may seem to be gon and we have left committing it for a while yet we love it as much as ever and keep it in our hearts see an example of this in Judas what he was in 12. John. 6. O Judas might think this sin had left him all the while he followed Christ but though he did not openly steal as others yet for all this the Text saith he was a Thief that is a Thief in his heart so is it with many sin we think is gon but it lies in the heart still 3. Some think their sin is gon because they are turned professors and make a great profession which formerly they did not O sin will deceive you here we have a clear example in Simon Magus 8. Acts 13. yet sin was still in his heart as you may read at the 21 22 23. v. O Brethren sin will lurk and lye hid under an Holy Profession like Goliah's Sword behind a Linnen Ephod 2 Tim. 3. 5. 't is not a man's Baptism receiving the Sacrament being of a gathered Church which People account so much of now-a-days will clear the heart of sin sin may deceive you for all that I might instance in more particulars but these are enough to shew the truth of it 2. Consider that some mens sins do really leave them and yet for all this they do not leave their sins as for example a Drunkard when all his money is spent can't go to the Ale-house the Whore-master when his body is decayed cannot do as formerly the Swearer is struck dumb he doth not Swear as formerly c. these men have not left their sins but their sins have left them and what have they left them to but the Judgment of God for all this is far from Repentance or Reformation No thank to a man that he doth not sin when he cannot sin O Brethren have a care of this do you leave sin first before sin leave you 3. Consider if you leave it to sin when it will be gon you will never be rid of it sin will put us off from time to time but once more and then once more and so to Eternity if we let it alone and do not thrust it out of our hearts Observe but this if you once begin to set a time for Repentance hereafter you will never repent do it presently or you will never do it And thus you see the great Mystery of sin working into our hearts and in our hearts how many ways it hath to get in and also how many tricks and policies to keep in sin you see is loath to part with us God grant we be not as loath to part with our sins 2. The deceitfulness of the heart in joining with this sin You have heard how loath sin is to part with us now you shall hear how loath our hearts are to part with sin sin is not more cunning in getting into our hearts nor more politick in keeping possession there when once 't is in then our hearts our own deceitful hearts are in contriving all ways and means possibly to keep it there when Saul would have killed David Jonathan Sauls own Son that came out of his bowels hides him and secures him so when we go about to slay our own Iniquities then our Jonathans our hearts in our own bosoms they hide the sin and secure it O Brethren Jonathan never loved a David better than a carnal heart loves sin And many a cunning shift do our own deceitful hearts make use off to deceive us and to keep sin from being turned out of doors Now I will shew you some of them in these following particulars 1. Our hearts are very apt to deceive us thus in telling us what sins and what lusts and corruptions we have subdued already and they will perswade us that now we have done enough what need we trouble our selves any further this is but one single sin let it alone and there be but few that have done as much as you have done against most sins This was the deceit of the young man in the Gospel that came to Christ whereby his heart deceived him O he had done all things but one and that one thing could he by no means perswade his heart unto you shall find it 19. Mat. 16. 22. O his heart deceived him in that one thing every thing else his heart could yield to but not to that one thing he thought himself a very brag fellow that could boast of doing so much all these have I kept c. so Herod did many things but one thing he would not do he would not put away his Herodias O Brethren let us take heed that our hearts do not deceive us here in thinking that we have done enough in putting away many sins when as we have not put away every sin therefore
you know was Davids beloved Son and Absalom strives to take away Davids Kingdom and also his Life well for all this David loves him still and was too fond over him for all this and was loath to part with him and when he was killed see how he mourns for him in the 2 Sam. 18. 33. so here this sin is your Absalom the sin you are so fond off the sin you love so well and do you not know that this sin will take from you like Absalom the Kingdom of Heaven and the life of your Souls and yet all this will not take off your love from it as David said of Absalom would to God I had dyed for thee so you are willing to dye Eternally and go to Hell rather than part with it O Friends if you love your Souls have a care of that sin which you love most and keep yonr selves from it 2. Because this sin hath the more power over us and can do with us what it pleaseth If a man love his Wife too much he makes her his Mistress so if a man love any one sin too much he makes that sin his Mistress the Queen regent of the Soul and when it comes once to this he cannot leave that sin no if he would give a World all the Sermons in the World can do such a man no good you hear a good Sermon telling you if you desire to be saved you must do so and so oh but first of all you must ask leave of this sin whether you may do it or no if this sin forbid you to Pray you must not Pray nay when a man is at Prayers and would confess such and such miscarriages of his life this sin this Master sin often forbids him so much as to name them This sin will not let a man repent nor turn to Christ like Dalilah it binds the strongest Sampson and keeps many a great professor from turning a true real Christian mark the Apostles exhortation in the 6 th of the Rom. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O let not sin be King in your Souls O therefore have a care of this sin it will be aut Caesar aut nullus if you let it alone to get the upper hand of you you will hardly ever get rid of it Methinks the Apostle in that 6 th of the Rom. 12. alludes to a forreigner that hath got to a Kingdom he displaceth all the native Inhabitants from all places of honour and trust brings in his own Countrymen makes them Lords and Governors of the Land so if sin comes to be King in the Soul down goes every good thought every good word all goodness in that Soul sin sets up new lusts and corruptions to reign and command there so the Apostle if sin be King you must look then to obey all its lusts 3. If we can but keep our selves from this sin we shall with ease keep our selves from all other sins 1 Sam. 17. 51. So here kill but this Goliah and you may easily conquer all the multitude of other sins and therefore the best way to endeavour to convert a man is to mark what is his own sin his own Iniquity kill that and you may save his Soul alive shew him but the evil of this sin and he will never like sin any more And therefore Junius and Tremellius render the words of the Text thus caveo mihi ne quid inique agam tho they be not an exact Translation according to the Original yet may serve for a good comment upon the Text he that keeps himself from this sin will keep himself from all sins when Christ converted Paul he begins with his great sin shews him the evil of that Paul tells us what his great sin was in the 1 of the Cor. 15. 9. And every where Paul bemoans himself for this sin this was the sin that Paul was most proud off and was never well but when he was committing and acting of it 8. Acts 3. 9. Acts 1. Well Christ he begins with this sin 9. Acts 4 5. Assoon as Paul saw the evil of this sin he presently forsook every sin Brethren I know this if Ministers would deal faithfully with you they must tell you of your own sins but then you will fly in their faces this is no pleasing Doctrin we may Preach before a company of Drunkards against Covetousness against Deceit against Fornication against Bribery and Injustice why all is well but if we come to speak against Drunkenness there we drive the nail to the quick it will not be endured O but Friends if you love your Souls be willing to hear the evil of your own sins as well as other mens sins till you leave this you will leave none if you can but keep your selves from this you may keep your selves from all others 4. Because this sin stands most in competition with Christ for the heart Other sins will be content with a mean entertainment but this sin must have the best this sin must be served before Christ look upon a man whose sin is Covetousness any little thing as a cold morning will keep him from a Sermon but rain snow or blow he will to the Market Covetousness that must be served or else he is sick though Christ he thinks may be contented with once a moneth O Friends do not you cry out upon the Jews and be worse than the Jews your selves 18. John 39 40. do you not deal worse with Christ for a lust or you that can part with Christ for a pleasure do you think that sin deserves your hearts better than Christ why then can you not be perswaded to leave sin and follow Christ but you chuse to follow your sins and leave Christ every one that loves this sin cries up Barabbas and denies Christ you bid Christ be gon as the Jews away with this Fellow As the Jews could not save Christ and Barabbas both together so neither can we keep this sin and Christ both in one heart all that entertain this sin shut Christ out of their hearts 5. Because this sin continually besets us 't is the sin as I told you that lies down with you that riseth up with you that keeps at home with you that goes abroad with you as the Covetous man is Covetous at all times and in all places even when he is at Church then his heart is set on his Covetousness a Drunkard is so at all times thinking of it at Church and continuing it a bed Now if it be so we had need be the more careful of it A man that is subject upon the taking of any little cold to get an ague had need always to keep himself very warm In dangerous times when men lye at the catch for any word a man had need consider well before he speak O Brethren sin is the greatest trapanner in all the World it lies at the catch continually to deceive our Souls oh we had need be careful and
Scriptures and hear Sermons keep up duties in our Families and good orders and frequent the Ordinances surely we are purged from our Iniquities none under the power of sin do as we do Answer 1. In the words of our Saviour what do you more than others do not even the Hypocrites the same they run to Sermons they thrust themselves to Sacraments they read Chapters and pray in their Families they keep a clean outside Hypocrites are as much in these duties as any and the reasons of it are these 1. That they may have somewhat to boast of and therefore this is always an Hypocrites note to boast of his duties I fast twice in the Week c. and I do so or so whereas a true Saint is even ashamed of his best duties and flings them away as rags the Hypocrite he seeks his own glory in duties a true Saint seeks only God's Glory and that 's the reason he performs duties at all 2. That they may by these outward duties cloak and cover their inward lusts and corruptions hide their beloved sins hence our Saviour calls them guilded and painted Sepulchres 30. Prov. 20. so the Hypocrite after he hath slily committed a sin then he wipes his mouth with some Heavenly Speeches or Prayers or the like and O then he passeth for a Saint whereas a sincere heart he performs duties to get rid of sin the Hypocrite he performs duties thereby to keep his sins 3. That they may have somewhat to trust unto and to rest upon All the hope and confidence in the Hypocrite is in what he hath done whereas a true Saints confidence is only in what Christ hath done for him you shall see both these what doth the Hypocrite plead at the day of Judgment see 13. Luke 26. his duties But what is a true Saints confidence then only Christ's merits and righteousness 3. Phil. 8 9. 2. A man may do all these duties and yet live under the power of sin A man may pray against sin and yet delight in sin Are there not many among us too many that say over the Lords Prayer every day yea some many times in a day Hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy will be done yet continue to be Swearers Drunkards scoffers at Holiness and Sabbaoth-breakers yea and delight in these sins and what more contrary Again some will speak against those very sins that they love best 2 Sam. 15. 3 4. while Absalom was there railing against injustice he was then plotting the greatest peace of wrong and injustice in taking away his Fathers Kingdom from him As our Ranters that will sit drinking of healths so long till they have quite drank away their own health so many do even harden themselves in their sins by their holy duties when they do pray one ways and their hearts are set the other ways O how loath are they that God should hear their Prayers Saint Austin confesseth that before his conversion he prayed for chastity yet was afraid as he writes of himself least God should hear his Prayers too soon for he was not yet willing to part with his lusts so do many perform duties only out of formality and custom not that they have any desire to be rid of their sins 3. Duties performed where the life is not reformed will but harden a man's heart the more in sin Tundens pectus non corrigens vitia illa consolidat Aug. Hence is that of our Saviour 21. Mat. 31. latter part these Persons are the furthest of from Conversion therefore 4. That you may not on the one side be discouraged from Holy Duties nor on the other side be deceived and deluded by them labour after the power of Godliness in your hearts set your selves to be Christians indeed and then these duties will be great helps to you Do not make these duties all your Religion but only means to further you in the ways of Holiness labour for a pure heart then will God accept of your duties say of all these duties as Haman of all his honours 5. Esther 11 12 13. I am one that injoy great priviledges am Baptized into the name of Christ partake of the Ordinances of Christ sit under the means of grace perform all Holy Duties but what will all this avail me as long as I see this Mordecai my own Iniquity sitting in my heart and ruling there O Beloved this is the duty of duties the main duty of all to purge out sin labour for a sincere heart else all your duties will be to no purpose 66. Psalm 18. and then 5. And lastly a word to those that perform no duties at all that have no Praying or Reading the Scriptures in their Families no frequenting the Ordinances and flighting the means of grace if there be many that do these things that shall go to Hell O what will become of you that come far short of them that come short of Heaven 1 Pet. 4. 18. if they that have the form of Godliness must to Hell where shall your place think ye be in Hell that are the very pictures of Atheism and Profaneness O think of this and labour to be better and to do better O you that call your selves Christians do not live like so many swine in their sties only to eat and drink and sleep but live to God and honour God and serve God in your houses and then the blessing of God shall be upon your Families 5. Plea. O but say some we have reformed our selves and have left many of our sins and of our evil courses and we are now more out with sin than ever we were in our lives Answer 1. You say you are reformed but how why you have left many sins Is it so that 's a good beginning but you must not stay and rest there your work is not done This is just as if a man whose arm is gangrened cuts off all his fingers that will not save his life for the gangrene is higher up in his arm so for a man to leave only some sins and to suffer the domineering heart rotting sin still to abide this will not keep that man out of Hell. Herod did many things yet a Reprobate Agrippae was almost persuaded to be a Christian yet a cast-away you may do the like and be in their condition and therefore I will lay down a few particulars to be considered by you 1. There is no sinner in the World but abstains from some sins yea hates some sins go to the Covetous man and ask him to go to the Tavern and there to revel it and spend his money O he will tell you he cannot endure this drinking and tipling 't is an offence to God to spend and waste our Estates so vainly go to the Drunkard and tell him of Covetousness O he cannot endure this hoarding up of money he loves to spend it freely 2. Rom. 22. latter part Judas a covetous Wretch he pleads for Charity to the Poor 12. John