mond, in

I Fo. 3. 8.

many Infirmities, he fhould not be caft down fo, as to conclude himself utterly unfit for the Communion; because it is not in any Man's Power to be abfolutely perfect in this world. And befides, there is a great deal of difference between Infirmities and Sins, if we fpeak properly, and according to the Language and Senfe of the Holy Scriptures. For, as our Learned Dr. Ham- Paraphraft hath well obferved, to Sin, and to commit Sin, and the like Phrafes, denote a Deliberate, Prefumptuous, Commiffion of Sin; not to every Sin of Ignorance, incogitancy, or frailty; but Sins after deliberation, and advised Commiffion of it. This is that which is meant, by letting Sin Reign in ones Body, by obeying it in the Lufts thereof, by yielding up ones Members as Inftruments of Unrighteoufness, by being the Servant of Sin, by fulfilling the Lufts of the Flesh, by walking after the Flesh, and the like Expreffions, which fignifie, 'not acts of Humane Infirmity, but Wickedness done with an high hand, and a ftiff neck, and contrary to the Dictates of a Snubbing and Clamorous Conscience, with the full Confent and Approbation of a Froward Will. Such a courfe as this, every one is bound at his peril fo to Repent of, as to relinquifh and forfake it utterly, (as I fhall fhew hereafter.) Eut this is not

the

the Cafe of a Good Man, who flips by Reason of meer Weakness, and who Labours and Groans under the Senfe of his manifold weakneffes, and ftrives daily to overcome them. His fincere endeavours are accepted, although he cannot perfectly and totally overcome them.

4

2. TO fpeak now more particularly in. reference to thofe feveral forts of Infirmities, which I have mentioned and dif courfed of before: Though they are but Infirmities, and fuch too as are more or lefs unavoidable, yet 'tis to be remembred, that they are Sinful Infirmities; Sinful materially, and in fome degree; and therefore are not to be paft by, without a fuitable Repentance,

1. And firft for that Sinfub Inclination, which is in our common Nature: However it was propagated and derived to us without our confent, it must not remain in us with our liking or approbation; much lefs muft it be ferved with our willing compliance. No, our Repentance in this cafe must confift in two things. 1. There must be a true Sorrow and Grief of Heart for this Evil Inclination, as the unhappy Original of all actual Sin. 2. This Sorrow must be improved into a striving and strugling against our very felves; fo that fincere endeavours be used to check this byals of I 2 Nature,

Nature, which continually bends towards the wrong way. This may be done by feveral ways; as, by Reading of good Books, efpecially the Holy Scriptures, and particularly our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount, and the fad Hiftory of his Sufferings, enough of it felf, to correct a Man's Proneness to thofe Sins, which did coft the Redeemer of our Souls fo dear: So likewife, by conftant Prayer, by frequent Communion, by ferious and Godly Meditations, by the diverfions of an Honest and Profitable Converfation; by having the Promises of God often in ones thoughts; by Contemplating daily upon the Glories and endless Felicities of another World; by due reflections upon the Nobleness of Virtue, and upon the Folly as well as Foulness of a bafe Action; by thinking upon ones latter end; and I must not omit to fay too, by furnishing ones Mind with found and Virtuous Principles. For there are many Principles in the World, which ferve to Debauch, even the Depraved Nature of Mankind, rendring the Practice of Subftantial Religion altogether unnecef-. fary, making Sin Venial, and turning Piety, the Gravest thing in the World, into a meer empty Formality, I had almoît faid, into a ludicrous piece of Craft and Traffick. Such Principles are fo far from

mending

mending Nature, that they make it worse than they found it, and raise Mens inclinations into a Career and Greediness after Vice, and into Luxurious Satisfactions in it; fo that too great care cannot be taken of seasoning the Heart with wholfom and found Doctrine, as St. Paul speaks, 2 Tim. 4. That is, with fuch Principles as are Sanatary of Nature, and Restoratives. of Virtue, wherein the Life of Religion doth confift. Now if a Man be diligent and careful to act after this manner, it is enough as to this point; for though he cannot wholly Conquer his Inclinations, yet by these methods he will by degrees fubdue them in a very great measure; fo that though they ftill continue within him, they fhall not hurt him, because he doth all that is in his power to do; and he may be fure, that what he cannot help, God will certainly Pardon.

2. MUCH to the fame purpose we may say of those Evil Thoughts, which are apt to break out upon the Mind infenfibly, and unawares; they are fo to be Repented of, as to be bewail'd and stifled with all poffible Speed. For if they be morofæ delectationes, (as Cafuifts are wont to speak) cheriff'd and indulged for fome Pleasure they bring along with them,

13

.

then

then they become fomewhat more than Infirmities. Though they are Involuntary in refpect of their first starting, yet they grow into Wilful Sins by that Continuance which is confented to, and usually prove fatal in their Confequence, and Iffue; because many times they are a Prelude to dishonesty, when opportunity ferves: As Adultery in the Heart often breaks out into Adultery in the Eye; fo that a Wife Man' muft deal with his Evil Thoughts, as a vigilant Governour doth with Rebels, Supprefs and Diffipate them as foon as poffibly he can. The Methods I have mentioned, already are very proper in this Cafe alfo and if a Man doth fedulously apply himself to the use of them, though he will meet with fome ftruglings and difficulties in the Conflict, yet by degrees he will be a Conquerour: To be fure, his hearty Refiftance will be rewarded as an act of Fortitude and Virtue. 'Tis this Refiftance of our own Evil Thoughts, that the God of Purity regards; and when the first motions of them are thus refifted, the malignity of them is gone, because they are unwilful acts, that proceed from an invincible debility of Nature; nay many times from fome inveterate Diftemper in ones Body, which as naturally cafteth up

ugly