A sermon preach'd before the King, Feb. 24, 1674/5 by Ed. Stillingfleet ...
         Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
      
       
         
           1675
        
      
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             A sermon preach'd before the King, Feb. 24, 1674/5 by Ed. Stillingfleet ...
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [2], 44 p.
           
             Printed by Rob. White for Hen. Mortlock ...,
             London :
             1675.
          
           
             Marginal notes.
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- N.T. -- Hebrews III, 13 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Preach'd
           before
           the
           KING
           Feb.
           24.
           1674
           
           /
           5.
           
        
         
           BY
           ED.
           STILLINGFLEET
           D.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           MAJESTY
           .
        
         
           Printed
           by
           His
           Majesties
           special
           Command
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             Rob.
             White
          
           ,
           for
           
             Hen.
             Mortlock
          
           at
           the
           Phoenix
           in
           S
           t.
           
           Paul's
           Church-yard
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           White
           Hart
           in
           Westminster
           Hall.
           1675.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             HEB.
             iii.
             13.
             
          
           
             —
             Lest
             any
             of
             you
             be
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           WHen
           the
           
             Iewish
             Christians
          
           had
           formed
           themselves
           into
           an
           established
           Church
           ,
           and
           were
           become
           considerable
           for
           their
           number
           as
           well
           as
           for
           their
           zeal
           and
           devotion
           ,
           their
           obstinate
           Brethren
           thought
           it
           high
           time
           for
           their
           own
           security
           ,
           at
           least
           to
           weaken
           and
           divide
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           could
           not
           wholly
           suppress
           and
           destroy
           them
           .
           For
           this
           end
           ,
           they
           made
           use
           of
           different
           instruments
           and
           means
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           different
           seasons
           ,
           and
           dispositions
           of
           men
           .
           Sometimes
           ,
           when
           they
           had
           any
           encouragement
           ,
           or
           connivence
           from
           the
           Roman
           Power
           ,
           they
           set
           upon
           them
           with
           rage
           and
           fury
           ,
           
           
             spoiling
             their
             goods
          
           ,
           and
           threatning
           their
           lives
           :
           But
           this
           hard
           usage
           did
           only
           heighten
           the
           
           courage
           ,
           and
           unite
           the
           affections
           of
           the
           more
           zealous
           Christians
           .
           Sometimes
           ,
           they
           suggested
           to
           them
           the
           mighty
           veneration
           ,
           which
           their
           whole
           Nation
           alwayes
           had
           for
           Moses
           and
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           what
           an
           infinite
           scandal
           and
           dishonour
           it
           would
           be
           to
           them
           all
           ,
           to
           have
           that
           Law
           ,
           which
           was
           delivered
           by
           Angels
           ,
           confirmed
           by
           Miracles
           ,
           established
           by
           Prophets
           ,
           admired
           by
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           and
           had
           continued
           among
           them
           for
           so
           many
           Ages
           ,
           now
           of
           a
           sudden
           to
           be
           laid
           aside
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           a
           new
           institution
           ,
           that
           expressed
           no
           more
           regard
           to
           them
           than
           to
           any
           other
           Nation
           in
           the
           World.
           And
           so
           great
           was
           the
           love
           which
           the
           Iews
           had
           to
           their
           own
           Countrey
           and
           Religion
           ,
           such
           an
           opinion
           was
           generally
           received
           among
           them
           of
           the
           peculiar
           favour
           of
           God
           towards
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           could
           not
           be
           shocked
           by
           persecution
           ,
           were
           in
           danger
           of
           being
           overcome
           by
           flattery
           .
           From
           hence
           the
           Author
           of
           this
           Epistle
           make
           it
           his
           business
           to
           shew
           the
           excellency
           of
           Christ
           above
           Moses
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           institution
           above
           that
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           Priesthood
           and
           Sacrifices
           ,
           and
           
             the
             benefits
          
           which
           come
           by
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           although
           this
           
             new
             and
             living
          
           way
           were
           but
           lately
           discovered
           ,
           yet
           it
           was
           that
           which
           was
           alwayes
           designed
           by
           God
           ,
           foreseen
           by
           the
           Patriarchs
           ,
           foretold
           by
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           longed
           for
           by
           good
           men
           as
           
             the
             Consolution
             of
             Israel
          
           :
           and
           it
           could
           be
           no
           more
           disparagement
           to
           Moses
           and
           
           the
           Prophets
           to
           yield
           to
           the
           Glories
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Messias
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           to
           the
           Stars
           not
           to
           be
           seen
           when
           the
           light
           of
           the
           Sun
           appears
           .
           But
           besides
           these
           ,
           there
           were
           some
           among
           them
           capable
           of
           being
           wrought
           upon
           by
           other
           kind
           of
           arguments
           ,
           such
           I
           mean
           ,
           who
           out
           of
           a
           sudden
           transport
           of
           zeal
           ,
           and
           being
           convinced
           by
           the
           miraculous
           operations
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Ghost
          
           ,
           had
           declared
           themselves
           Christians
           ,
           but
           yet
           retained
           a
           secret
           love
           to
           their
           sins
           ,
           and
           the
           pleasures
           of
           this
           World
           :
           these
           were
           the
           Persons
           whom
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           not
           without
           reason
           ,
           expresses
           the
           greatest
           jealousie
           of
           ,
           as
           in
           danger
           of
           Apostasie
           :
           and
           therefore
           in
           many
           places
           of
           this
           Epistle
           ,
           he
           represents
           to
           them
           the
           dreadful
           consequences
           of
           such
           an
           Apostasie
           ,
           
           for
           it
           was
           no
           less
           than
           
             crucifying
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             afresh
             and
             putting
             him
             to
             an
             open
             shame
             ;
             it
             was
             counting
             the
             blood
             of
             the
             Covenant
             wherewith
             they
             were
             sanctified
             an
             unholy
             thing
             ,
             and
             doing
             despight
             unto
             the
             spirit
             of
             Grace
          
           ;
           
           nay
           it
           was
           not
           only
           
             crucifying
             ,
             but
             treading
             under
             foot
             the
             Son
             of
             God
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           bids
           them
           consider
           ,
           what
           punishment
           such
           persons
           would
           deserve
           
             at
             the
             hands
             of
             God
             into
             which
             they
             must
             fall
             ,
          
           and
           what
           hopes
           there
           could
           be
           of
           pardon
           for
           those
           who
           so
           openly
           rejected
           the
           only
           means
           of
           obtaining
           it
           ;
           
           For
           
             if
             they
             did
          
           herein
           
             sin
             wilfully
             after
             they
             had
             received
             the
             knowledge
             of
             the
             truth
             ,
             there
             remaineth
             no
             more
             sacrifice
             for
             sin
             ,
             but
             a
             certain
             fearful
             looking
             for
             
             of
             judgement
             ,
             and
             fiery
             indignation
             which
             shall
             devour
             the
             Adversaries
             .
          
           But
           he
           not
           only
           sets
           before
           them
           the
           sad
           effects
           of
           Apostasie
           ,
           but
           as
           one
           that
           loved
           their
           souls
           ,
           and
           designed
           to
           prevent
           their
           ruine
           ,
           he
           gives
           them
           the
           best
           advice
           and
           counsel
           against
           it
           :
           He
           knew
           well
           enough
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           the
           dissatisfaction
           of
           mens
           reason
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           ground
           of
           their
           infidelity
           :
           but
           ,
           as
           mens
           more
           open
           designs
           are
           governed
           by
           such
           springs
           which
           are
           least
           discovered
           ;
           so
           ,
           whatever
           these
           warping
           Christians
           might
           pretend
           ,
           as
           to
           zeal
           for
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           their
           ancient
           Religion
           ,
           the
           bottom
           of
           all
           was
           a
           principle
           of
           infidelity
           ,
           not
           arising
           from
           want
           of
           sufficient
           reason
           to
           convince
           them
           ,
           but
           from
           a
           close
           and
           secret
           love
           of
           sin
           which
           made
           them
           willing
           to
           quarrel
           with
           what
           ever
           was
           so
           repugnant
           to
           it
           ,
           as
           the
           doctrine
           of
           Christ.
           To
           this
           end
           ,
           he
           puts
           them
           in
           mind
           of
           the
           case
           of
           their
           Fore-fathers
           in
           the
           Wilderness
           ,
           who
           wanted
           no
           arguments
           to
           convince
           them
           of
           Gods
           Goodness
           and
           Providence
           ;
           yet
           nothing
           would
           satisfie
           them
           ,
           but
           they
           were
           still
           murmuring
           and
           complaining
           ,
           
           till
           at
           last
           
             God
             sware
             in
             his
             wrath
             that
             they
             should
             not
             enter
             into
             his
             rest
             .
          
           
             And
             since
             you
             all
             acknowledge
             ,
             they
             had
             reason
             enough
             to
             be
             satisfied
             ,
             but
             out
             of
             an
             obstinate
             and
             stubborn
             humour
             
               hardned
               their
               hearts
               in
               the
               day
               of
               temptation
               in
               the
               Wilderness
               ;
               take
               heed
               Brethren
               ,
            
             saith
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             
             
               lest
               there
               be
               in
               any
               of
               you
               such
               
               an
               evil
               heart
               of
               unbelief
               in
               departing
               from
               the
               living
               God
            
             ;
             and
             do
             not
             look
             upon
             this
             advice
             as
             vain
             and
             needless
             to
             you
             that
             are
             called
             the
             
               believing
               Iews
            
             ,
             but
             you
             have
             cause
             to
             be
             very
             watchful
             over
             one
             another
             ,
             especially
             in
             this
             Tempting
             Age
             ,
             
               exhorting
               one
               another
               daily
               while
               it
               is
               called
               to
               day
               ,
               lest
               any
               of
               you
               be
               hardned
               through
               the
               deceitfulness
               of
               sin
               .
            
          
           As
           though
           he
           had
           said
           to
           them
           ,
           
             You
             who
             now
             glory
             in
             the
             name
             of
             Believers
             ,
             and
             are
             hitherto
             as
             forward
             as
             any
             in
             the
             profession
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             do
             not
             think
             your selves
             to
             be
             above
             the
             need
             of
             any
             helps
             to
             confirm
             your
             faith
             ,
             and
             to
             arm
             you
             against
             the
             assaults
             of
             temptations
             ,
             for
             your
             very
             security
             may
             betray
             you
             ;
             but
             consider
             
               the
               sin
               that
               doth
               so
               easily
               beset
               you
            
             on
             every
             side
             ,
             the
             various
             artifices
             it
             makes
             use
             of
             to
             deceive
             men
             ,
             and
             when
             it
             hath
             once
             gotten
             admission
             ,
             how
             strangely
             it
             bewitches
             and
             infatuates
             the
             minds
             of
             men
             ,
             how
             unwilling
             they
             are
             to
             be
             convinced
             of
             their
             sins
             ,
             how
             much
             more
             unwilling
             to
             part
             with
             them
             ,
             and
             how
             naturally
             the
             love
             of
             sin
             brings
             men
             to
             infidelity
             ,
             and
             then
             you
             will
             see
             how
             great
             reason
             there
             is
             ,
             why
             you
             should
             be
             
               exhorting
               one
               another
               daily
               while
               it
               is
               called
               to
               day
               ,
               lest
               any
               of
               you
               be
               hardned
               through
               the
               deceitfulness
               of
               sin
               .
            
          
        
         
           In
           which
           words
           ,
           are
           these
           three
           things
           considerable
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           The
           danger
           
             they
             are
             in
             of
          
           being
           hardned
           through
           the
           deceitfulness
           of
           sin
           ,
           
             who
             have
             the
             most
             powerful
          
           motives
           and
           engagements
           
             against
             it
          
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           manner
           whereby
           sin
           doth
           prevail
           upon
           men
           to
           harden
           them
           ,
           
             through
             the
             Deceitfulness
             of
             sin
          
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           care
           
             that
             all
             Christians
             ought
             to
             have
             to
             prevent
          
           being
           hardned
           through
           the
           Deceitfulness
           of
           sin
           :
           Lest
           any
           of
           you
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Danger
           men
           are
           in
           
             of
             being
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             ,
          
           though
           they
           have
           the
           most
           powerful
           Motives
           and
           Engagements
           against
           it
           .
           For
           never
           any
           Persons
           had
           greater
           arguments
           against
           returning
           to
           the
           practice
           of
           sin
           ,
           than
           these
           to
           whom
           this
           Epistle
           was
           written
           .
           They
           had
           embraced
           among
           the
           first
           principles
           of
           the
           doctrine
           of
           Christ
           ,
           
           
             the
             foundation
             of
             repentance
             from
             dead
             works
             ,
             and
             of
             faith
             towards
             God
             ,
             of
             the
             doctrine
             of
             baptisms
             and
             of
             laying
             on
             of
             hands
          
           (
           for
           the
           miraculous
           gifts
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           )
           
             and
             of
             the
             resurrection
             of
             the
             dead
             and
             of
             eternal
             judgement
             .
          
           And
           what
           can
           we
           suppose
           to
           have
           greater
           force
           and
           efficacy
           to
           restrain
           men
           from
           sin
           ,
           than
           what
           is
           contained
           in
           these
           fundamentals
           of
           Christianity
           ?
           But
           we
           shall
           find
           that
           no
           Motives
           have
           ever
           been
           great
           enough
           to
           restrain
           those
           from
           sin
           ,
           who
           have
           secretly
           loved
           it
           ,
           and
           only
           sought
           pretences
           for
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Such
           is
           the
           frame
           and
           condition
           of
           humane
           nature
           considered
           in
           it self
           ,
           so
           great
           are
           the
           
           advantages
           of
           reason
           and
           consideration
           for
           the
           government
           of
           our
           actions
           ,
           so
           much
           stronger
           are
           the
           natural
           motives
           to
           vertue
           that
           to
           vice
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           look
           no
           farther
           ,
           would
           expect
           to
           find
           the
           world
           much
           better
           than
           it
           is
           .
           For
           why
           should
           we
           suppose
           the
           generality
           of
           mankind
           to
           betray
           so
           much
           folly
           ,
           as
           to
           act
           unreasonably
           and
           against
           the
           common
           interest
           of
           their
           own
           kind
           ?
           as
           all
           those
           do
           ,
           that
           yield
           to
           the
           temptations
           of
           sin
           :
           For
           if
           we
           set
           aside
           the
           consideration
           of
           a
           Divine
           Law
           ,
           
             to
             sin
          
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           to
           act
           foolishly
           and
           inconsiderately
           .
           But
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           if
           men
           first
           look
           into
           the
           practice
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           there
           observe
           the
           strange
           prevalency
           of
           Vice
           ,
           and
           how
           willing
           men
           are
           to
           defend
           as
           well
           as
           to
           commit
           it
           ;
           they
           would
           be
           apt
           to
           imagine
           that
           either
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           Reason
           among
           men
           ,
           or
           that
           it
           hath
           very
           little
           influence
           upon
           their
           actions
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           talk
           of
           Vertue
           was
           first
           found
           out
           by
           some
           great
           enemy
           to
           the
           Felicity
           of
           Mankind
           .
           Such
           different
           apprehensions
           would
           men
           have
           from
           the
           different
           wayes
           of
           beholding
           the
           Picture
           of
           Humane
           nature
           ;
           either
           as
           it
           is
           in
           its
           own
           frame
           ,
           or
           as
           it
           is
           to
           be
           seen
           in
           the
           World.
           They
           who
           have
           with
           the
           greatest
           judgement
           and
           care
           searched
           into
           the
           nature
           and
           first
           principles
           of
           humane
           Societies
           ,
           have
           all
           agreed
           that
           the
           chief
           end
           and
           design
           of
           men
           in
           joyning
           together
           was
           ,
           for
           the
           
           mutual
           benefit
           and
           advantage
           of
           each
           other
           ;
           and
           that
           in
           order
           to
           this
           ,
           certain
           Laws
           of
           
             Iustice
             ,
             Equity
             ,
             Mercy
             ,
             Truth
             ,
             Gratitude
             ,
             Temperance
             ,
          
           as
           well
           as
           of
           Subjection
           to
           Government
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           inviolably
           observed
           by
           men
           .
           And
           since
           these
           things
           have
           the
           universal
           consent
           of
           mankind
           to
           be
           for
           their
           general
           good
           ,
           how
           comes
           it
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           men
           being
           joyned
           in
           these
           Societies
           for
           such
           ends
           ,
           make
           so
           little
           Conscience
           of
           the
           practice
           of
           them
           ?
           How
           come
           so
           many
           to
           live
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           in
           open
           defiance
           to
           these
           Fundamental
           Laws
           of
           Nature
           ?
           How
           come
           others
           ,
           only
           to
           make
           use
           of
           the
           pretence
           of
           vertue
           to
           deceive
           ,
           and
           of
           honesty
           and
           integrity
           to
           cover
           the
           deepest
           dissimulation
           ?
           If
           they
           be
           not
           good
           ,
           why
           are
           they
           pretended
           ?
           If
           they
           are
           good
           ,
           why
           are
           they
           not
           practised
           ?
           So
           that
           whether
           we
           consider
           mankind
           in
           it self
           ,
           or
           in
           Society
           ;
           we
           find
           the
           Motives
           to
           vertue
           to
           be
           much
           more
           weighty
           ,
           and
           considerable
           than
           those
           to
           sin
           ;
           and
           yet
           that
           the
           practice
           of
           men
           is
           directly
           contrary
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           may
           be
           said
           ,
           
             that
             all
             this
             might
             happen
             in
             the
             world
             for
             want
             of
             wit
             and
             education
             to
             polish
             and
             improve
             the
             natural
             Faculties
             of
             mens
             minds
             ,
             and
             to
             direct
             and
             encourage
             the
             practice
             of
             vertue
             .
          
           I
           wish
           the
           world
           had
           not
           so
           many
           instances
           that
           men
           of
           the
           greatest
           wit
           have
           not
           been
           men
           of
           the
           best
           Morals
           ;
           but
           if
           wit
           ,
           and
           education
           ,
           and
           Philosophy
           had
           been
           the
           most
           effectual
           means
           to
           reclaim
           
           men
           from
           sin
           ,
           where
           should
           we
           have
           looked
           more
           for
           the
           flourishing
           of
           vertue
           ,
           than
           in
           Greece
           and
           Rome
           ?
           And
           yet
           in
           those
           times
           ,
           when
           all
           the
           accomplishments
           of
           wit
           were
           at
           the
           highest
           in
           those
           places
           ,
           the
           manners
           of
           men
           were
           sunk
           into
           the
           greatest
           filth
           of
           debauchery
           .
           It
           would
           make
           one
           astonished
           to
           read
           the
           admirable
           discourses
           of
           their
           Philosophers
           ,
           and
           to
           consider
           the
           strange
           height
           that
           eloquence
           and
           wit
           were
           arrived
           to
           among
           their
           Orators
           and
           Poets
           ;
           and
           then
           to
           compare
           the
           account
           given
           of
           the
           manners
           of
           the
           Gentile
           World
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           their
           own
           Satyrists
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Apostles
           in
           their
           several
           Epistles
           :
           What
           a
           monstrous
           Catalogue
           of
           sins
           do
           we
           meet
           with
           in
           the
           
             first
             Chapter
          
           to
           the
           Romans
           ?
           
           of
           sins
           of
           so
           deep
           a
           dye
           ,
           and
           of
           so
           horrid
           a
           nature
           ,
           and
           such
           an
           Inventory
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Wickedness
           ,
           that
           one
           might
           imagine
           the
           Apostle
           had
           been
           rather
           describing
           some
           vision
           of
           Hell
           than
           the
           seat
           of
           the
           Roman
           Empire
           .
           To
           the
           same
           purpose
           he
           speaks
           of
           the
           Corinthians
           and
           Ephesians
           ,
           
           who
           thought
           themselves
           behind
           none
           of
           the
           Greeks
           of
           that
           Age
           in
           the
           breeding
           then
           most
           in
           Vogue
           ;
           but
           we
           need
           not
           instance
           in
           particulars
           ,
           when
           S.
           Peter
           calls
           it
           in
           general
           
             the
             will
             of
             the
             Gentiles
          
           ,
           
           
             to
             live
             in
             lasciviousness
             ,
             lusts
             ,
             excess
             of
             wine
             ,
             revellings
             and
             banquetings
             ,
          
           as
           well
           as
           
             abominable
             Idolatries
          
           ;
           and
           S.
           Iohn
           in
           short
           saith
           ,
           
             the
             whole
             world
             lyeth
             in
             wickedness
             .
          
        
         
         
           It
           might
           be
           worth
           our
           while
           to
           consider
           how
           so
           universal
           a
           degeneracy
           of
           manners
           should
           happen
           in
           those
           ages
           ,
           when
           men
           pretended
           more
           to
           Wit
           and
           Learning
           ,
           than
           they
           had
           done
           in
           any
           time
           before
           .
           And
           for
           this
           ,
           it
           were
           very
           unreasonable
           to
           assign
           any
           Cause
           that
           were
           equally
           common
           to
           all
           other
           Ages
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           corruption
           of
           human
           nature
           ;
           which
           ,
           how
           great
           soever
           it
           be
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           at
           all
           times
           ;
           neither
           do
           I
           think
           it
           reasonable
           to
           lay
           it
           wholly
           on
           the
           bad
           examples
           of
           the
           teachers
           of
           vertue
           ,
           knowing
           how
           malicious
           the
           worst
           of
           men
           are
           in
           endeavouring
           to
           make
           those
           who
           seem
           to
           be
           better
           ,
           to
           be
           as
           bad
           as
           themselves
           :
           but
           there
           are
           some
           peculiar
           reasons
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           I
           wish
           they
           had
           been
           only
           proper
           to
           those
           times
           :
           as
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           Separating
           Religion
           and
           Morality
           from
           each
           other
           .
           When
           their
           Religion
           was
           placed
           in
           some
           solemn
           Rites
           ,
           and
           pompous
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           costly
           Sacrifices
           ;
           but
           all
           the
           matters
           of
           Morality
           were
           confined
           to
           their
           Schools
           ,
           there
           to
           be
           enquired
           after
           by
           those
           that
           had
           leisure
           and
           curiosity
           for
           them
           .
           As
           though
           God
           were
           more
           concerned
           for
           the
           colour
           ,
           and
           age
           ,
           and
           pomp
           of
           their
           Sacrifices
           ,
           for
           the
           gestures
           and
           shews
           of
           their
           devotion
           ;
           than
           for
           the
           purity
           of
           their
           hearts
           ,
           the
           sincerity
           of
           their
           minds
           ,
           or
           the
           holiness
           of
           their
           lives
           .
           When
           once
           the
           people
           had
           swallowed
           that
           pernicious
           principle
           ,
           that
           Morality
           
           was
           no
           part
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           they
           had
           no
           great
           regard
           to
           the
           good
           or
           evil
           of
           their
           actions
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           a
           little
           charge
           ,
           and
           four
           looks
           ,
           and
           going
           to
           their
           Temples
           at
           certain
           times
           were
           thought
           sufficient
           to
           expiate
           their
           sins
           .
           And
           they
           were
           much
           more
           encouraged
           in
           Wickedness
           ,
           when
           the
           Gods
           they
           worshipped
           were
           represented
           on
           the
           stage
           as
           acting
           all
           manner
           of
           villanies
           :
           and
           no
           doubt
           ,
           they
           thought
           it
           a
           great
           comfort
           to
           them
           in
           their
           debaucheries
           ,
           that
           their
           Gods
           were
           as
           
             good
             fellows
          
           as
           themselves
           .
           And
           what
           could
           all
           the
           precepts
           of
           Philosophers
           ,
           or
           sayings
           of
           
             wise
             men
          
           signifie
           to
           those
           who
           were
           so
           far
           from
           looking
           on
           vertue
           as
           any
           necessary
           part
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           that
           they
           thought
           those
           fit
           to
           be
           worshipped
           for
           Gods
           ,
           whom
           they
           never
           believed
           to
           have
           been
           good
           men
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           When
           they
           had
           thus
           rendred
           vertue
           unnecessary
           ,
           by
           making
           it
           no
           part
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           the
           next
           thing
           was
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           ridiculous
           ;
           which
           was
           a
           certain
           way
           to
           make
           Fools
           out
           of
           love
           with
           it
           ;
           who
           do
           not
           consider
           ,
           what
           is
           fit
           to
           be
           laughed
           at
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           so
           .
           When
           Socrates
           at
           Athens
           undertook
           with
           many
           sharp
           and
           cutting
           Ironies
           to
           reprove
           the
           vices
           of
           his
           Age
           ;
           and
           with
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Wit
           and
           Reason
           to
           perswade
           men
           to
           the
           sober
           practice
           of
           Vertue
           ,
           the
           licentious
           people
           knew
           not
           what
           to
           do
           with
           him
           ,
           for
           they
           were
           not
           able
           to
           withstand
           the
           force
           of
           
           his
           arguments
           ;
           at
           last
           Aristophanes
           (
           having
           a
           
             Comical
             Wit
          
           whereby
           he
           was
           able
           to
           make
           any
           thing
           seem
           ridiculous
           although
           he
           knew
           very
           well
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Learning
           of
           Socrates
           ;
           yet
           )
           to
           please
           and
           humour
           the
           people
           ,
           he
           brings
           him
           upon
           the
           Stage
           ,
           and
           represents
           his
           grave
           instructions
           after
           such
           a
           manner
           ,
           as
           turn'd
           all
           into
           a
           matter
           of
           laughter
           to
           the
           people
           of
           Athens
           :
           which
           did
           more
           mischief
           to
           the
           reputation
           of
           Vertue
           among
           them
           ,
           than
           the
           taking
           away
           his
           life
           did
           .
           For
           ,
           his
           dying
           convinced
           the
           people
           he
           was
           in
           good
           earnest
           ,
           and
           brought
           a
           great
           veneration
           to
           his
           memory
           ;
           whereas
           the
           other
           exposed
           him
           only
           to
           scorn
           and
           contempt
           ;
           and
           the
           people
           were
           made
           judges
           whether
           it
           were
           with
           cause
           or
           no
           :
           who
           besides
           their
           ignorance
           and
           want
           of
           judgement
           ,
           were
           too
           much
           parties
           to
           be
           Judges
           .
           This
           is
           the
           method
           which
           men
           take
           ,
           when
           they
           set
           their
           wits
           against
           vertue
           and
           Goodness
           ;
           they
           know
           it
           is
           impossible
           to
           argue
           men
           out
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           very
           easie
           by
           ridiculous
           postures
           ,
           and
           mimical
           gestures
           ,
           and
           profane
           similitudes
           ,
           to
           put
           so
           grave
           and
           modest
           a
           thing
           as
           vertue
           is
           out
           of
           Countenance
           ,
           among
           those
           who
           are
           sure
           to
           laugh
           on
           the
           other
           side
           .
           I
           do
           not
           think
           such
           things
           can
           signifie
           any
           thing
           to
           Wise
           men
           ;
           but
           when
           was
           the
           world
           made
           up
           of
           such
           ?
           and
           therefore
           it
           signifies
           very
           much
           to
           the
           mischief
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           the
           courage
           to
           love
           
             despised
             vertue
          
           ;
           
           nor
           to
           defend
           a
           Cause
           that
           is
           
             laughed
             down
          
           .
           And
           to
           these
           I
           may
           now
           add
           ,
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           
             bad
             examples
          
           of
           others
           ,
           especially
           of
           those
           to
           whom
           it
           belonged
           to
           
             teach
             and
             encourage
             vertue
          
           ,
           above
           others
           .
           No
           man
           will
           pretend
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           ground
           enough
           for
           him
           to
           do
           a
           thing
           meerly
           because
           he
           sees
           another
           do
           it
           ;
           yet
           in
           all
           Ages
           men
           have
           seen
           and
           complained
           that
           the
           power
           of
           examples
           hath
           outdone
           that
           of
           Laws
           .
           Some
           that
           think
           themselves
           more
           subtle
           than
           others
           ,
           question
           whether
           those
           mean
           what
           they
           say
           ,
           who
           speak
           one
           thing
           and
           do
           another
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           will
           do
           what
           they
           think
           the
           others
           mean
           ;
           which
           were
           a
           good
           plea
           if
           their
           actions
           were
           better
           than
           their
           words
           .
           Others
           think
           ,
           that
           all
           discourses
           of
           vertue
           ,
           and
           honesty
           ,
           and
           true
           Honour
           ,
           are
           meer
           matter
           of
           talk
           for
           men
           to
           entertain
           some
           idle
           hours
           with
           ,
           and
           that
           men
           are
           universally
           agreed
           in
           nothing
           but
           in
           speaking
           well
           and
           doing
           ill
           .
           These
           look
           on
           vertue
           as
           a
           kind
           of
           Phoenix
           ,
           a
           thing
           often
           talked
           of
           ,
           and
           believed
           by
           some
           ,
           but
           never
           seen
           by
           any
           :
           but
           such
           find
           all
           things
           so
           very
           bad
           at
           home
           ,
           that
           out
           of
           charity
           to
           themselves
           ,
           they
           believe
           the
           whole
           World
           to
           be
           like
           them
           .
           Others
           have
           so
           much
           natural
           modesty
           and
           sense
           of
           shame
           that
           they
           have
           not
           the
           courage
           to
           commit
           a
           great
           wickedness
           ,
           unless
           they
           were
           hardned
           to
           it
           by
           the
           example
           of
           greater
           sinners
           before
           them
           .
           But
           the
           most
           common
           
           reason
           of
           the
           prevalency
           of
           example
           is
           ,
           that
           men
           find
           in
           themselves
           a
           strong
           propensity
           and
           inclination
           to
           do
           evil
           ,
           and
           are
           willing
           to
           meet
           with
           such
           a
           pretence
           for
           committing
           it
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           but
           as
           others
           do
           ;
           and
           therefore
           I
           cannot
           think
           that
           bare
           example
           were
           enough
           to
           corrupt
           the
           World
           if
           there
           were
           not
           some
           antecedent
           inclination
           in
           humane
           nature
           to
           the
           practice
           of
           evil
           .
           For
           since
           there
           is
           less
           reason
           to
           follow
           bad
           examples
           than
           good
           ,
           why
           should
           one
           prevail
           more
           than
           the
           other
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           nothing
           but
           the
           bare
           example
           to
           move
           ?
           But
           that
           inclination
           being
           considered
           ,
           we
           may
           easily
           give
           an
           account
           of
           the
           ill
           consequence
           which
           the
           bad
           examples
           of
           those
           who
           are
           to
           direct
           and
           encourage
           others
           in
           vertue
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           of
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           mankind
           .
           
           Xenophon
           was
           not
           without
           reason
           so
           much
           displeased
           ,
           when
           he
           saw
           some
           of
           the
           best
           of
           Socrates
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           make
           their
           Court
           to
           Dionysius
           in
           Sicilie
           ;
           knowing
           how
           inconsistent
           the
           reputation
           of
           vertue
           is
           ,
           with
           the
           very
           suspicion
           of
           Flattery
           :
           and
           that
           nothing
           makes
           great
           men
           more
           suspicious
           of
           vertue
           ,
           than
           when
           they
           see
           Philosophers
           become
           Flatterers
           ,
           and
           carrying
           on
           the
           restless
           designs
           of
           ambition
           under
           the
           pretence
           of
           teaching
           the
           art
           of
           contentment
           to
           others
           .
           It
           was
           this
           which
           made
           the
           very
           name
           of
           them
           become
           so
           odious
           at
           Rome
           ,
           that
           even
           vertue
           it self
           was
           hated
           for
           their
           sakes
           :
           
           so
           that
           the
           very
           teachers
           of
           vertue
           contributed
           to
           the
           increase
           of
           vice
           .
           Especially
           ,
           when
           by
           their
           endless
           disputes
           &
           wranglings
           about
           words
           &
           terms
           of
           art
           ,
           they
           made
           the
           people
           suspect
           they
           did
           but
           play
           prizes
           before
           them
           ;
           and
           only
           pretended
           to
           quarrel
           ,
           but
           were
           well
           enough
           agreed
           to
           cheat
           and
           deceive
           them
           .
           Upon
           such
           grounds
           as
           these
           ,
           all
           the
           Motives
           to
           vertue
           contained
           in
           the
           Writings
           and
           instructions
           of
           Philosophers
           lost
           their
           due
           force
           and
           efficacy
           on
           the
           minds
           of
           the
           people
           ,
           who
           were
           rather
           more
           
             hardned
             in
             their
             sins
          
           by
           these
           disadvantages
           which
           attended
           the
           means
           that
           were
           used
           to
           reclaim
           them
           from
           the
           practice
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           when
           all
           other
           motives
           proved
           ineffectual
           by
           these
           disadvantages
           ,
           what
           could
           be
           more
           reasonably
           expected
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           motives
           of
           the
           Gospel
           should
           prevail
           with
           men
           ,
           being
           of
           so
           great
           weight
           in
           themselves
           ,
           and
           recommended
           with
           so
           much
           advantage
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           by
           the
           examples
           of
           those
           who
           delivered
           them
           ?
           The
           great
           arguments
           of
           Christianity
           against
           the
           practice
           of
           sin
           are
           not
           drawn
           from
           any
           uncertain
           Topicks
           ,
           or
           nice
           and
           curious
           speculations
           ;
           but
           from
           the
           influence
           mens
           good
           or
           evil
           actions
           in
           this
           World
           will
           have
           upon
           their
           happiness
           or
           misery
           in
           another
           .
           And
           what
           concerns
           another
           state
           is
           revealed
           with
           much
           more
           clearness
           ,
           and
           confirmed
           by
           stronger
           evidence
           ,
           and
           enforced
           by
           more
           moving
           
           considerations
           ,
           than
           ever
           it
           was
           before
           among
           the
           best
           and
           wisest
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           .
           The
           doctrine
           of
           Christianity
           is
           plain
           and
           peremptory
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           
           
             that
             God
             will
             render
             to
             every
             man
             according
             to
             his
             Works
             :
          
           and
           
             that
             the
             wrath
             of
             God
             is
             revealed
             from
             Heaven
             against
             all
             ungodliness
             and
             unrighteousness
             of
             men
             .
          
           And
           however
           prone
           men
           
             are
             to
             be
             deceived
             with
             vain
             words
             ,
          
           yet
           let
           them
           look
           to
           themselves
           ,
           
           
             God
             will
             not
             be
             mocked
          
           ,
           (
           however
           men
           may
           be
           )
           
             for
             because
             of
             these
             things
             the
             wrath
             of
             God
             will
             come
             upon
             the
             Children
             of
             disobedience
             .
          
           
           No
           Sacrifices
           ,
           no
           prayers
           ,
           no
           penances
           ,
           no
           vows
           and
           promises
           will
           keep
           off
           this
           wrath
           of
           God
           without
           a
           hearty
           repentance
           and
           timely
           reformation
           .
           Never
           any
           Religion
           or
           institution
           in
           the
           World
           made
           it
           so
           much
           its
           business
           to
           keep
           men
           from
           doing
           evil
           ,
           and
           to
           perswade
           them
           to
           do
           good
           ,
           as
           the
           Christian
           doth
           .
           The
           Apostles
           thought
           it
           the
           greatest
           contradiction
           to
           their
           profession
           ,
           for
           any
           men
           to
           be
           called
           Christians
           ,
           and
           to
           live
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           their
           former
           sins
           ,
           
           
             Let
             the
             time
             past
             of
             your
             life
             suffice
             you
             ,
          
           saith
           S.
           
             Peter
             ,
             to
             have
             wrought
             the
             will
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
          
           i.
           e.
           that
           time
           past
           when
           you
           were
           no
           Christians
           .
           To
           be
           a
           Christian
           then
           was
           all
           one
           as
           of
           a
           loose
           ,
           profane
           ,
           dissolute
           person
           to
           become
           sober
           ,
           religious
           ,
           exact
           in
           his
           conversation
           
             To
             put
             on
             Christ
          
           ,
           
           was
           but
           another
           phrase
           ,
           
             for
             making
             no
             provision
             for
             the
             flesh
             to
             fulfil
             the
             lusts
             thereof
             ;
             To
             learn
             Christ
             ,
          
           was
           all
           one
           as
           
             to
             put
             off
             as
             concerning
             the
             former
             
             conversation
             the
             old
             man
             ,
          
           
           
             which
             is
             corrupt
             according
             to
             the
             deceitful
             lusts
             ;
             and
             to
             put
             on
             the
             new
             man
             ,
             which
             after
             God
             is
             created
             in
             righteousness
             and
             true
             holiness
             .
          
           Those
           were
           the
           blessed
           dayes
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           no
           hard
           matter
           to
           understand
           what
           it
           was
           to
           be
           a
           Christian
           ;
           when
           the
           niceties
           of
           disputes
           ,
           and
           the
           subtle
           artifices
           of
           men
           of
           corrupt
           minds
           had
           not
           yet
           debauched
           the
           notion
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           reconcile
           it
           with
           the
           lusts
           of
           men
           .
           To
           be
           a
           Christian
           then
           ,
           was
           not
           to
           be
           versed
           in
           the
           subtilties
           of
           the
           Schools
           ;
           or
           to
           be
           able
           to
           swallow
           contradictions
           without
           chewing
           them
           ;
           or
           to
           be
           as
           fierce
           and
           earnest
           for
           every
           doubtful
           opinion
           and
           uncertain
           custome
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           substance
           of
           Christianity
           were
           like
           Epicurus
           his
           World
           made
           up
           of
           a
           great
           number
           of
           very
           small
           and
           restless
           Atomes
           .
           To
           be
           a
           Christian
           ,
           was
           not
           to
           fight
           for
           the
           Faith
           ,
           but
           to
           live
           by
           it
           ;
           not
           to
           quarrel
           for
           good
           Works
           ,
           but
           to
           practise
           them
           ;
           In
           short
           ,
           to
           be
           a
           Christian
           was
           
             to
             depart
             from
             iniquity
             and
             to
             do
             good
             ,
          
           to
           be
           meek
           ,
           and
           humble
           ,
           and
           patient
           ,
           and
           peaceable
           towards
           all
           men
           ;
           to
           be
           charitable
           ,
           and
           kind
           ;
           to
           be
           sober
           and
           
             temperate
             in
             all
             things
          
           ,
           to
           be
           holy
           ,
           sincere
           ,
           and
           innocent
           in
           his
           actions
           towards
           God
           and
           men
           .
           This
           is
           the
           true
           Idea
           of
           a
           Christian
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           meer
           Idea
           ;
           but
           such
           as
           every
           one
           that
           owns
           himself
           to
           be
           a
           Christian
           is
           bound
           by
           the
           most
           Sacred
           vow
           of
           Christianity
           in
           Baptism
           to
           be
           like
           ;
           so
           that
           if
           either
           the
           consideration
           
           of
           their
           own
           eternal
           welfare
           ,
           or
           the
           nature
           ,
           design
           ,
           or
           honour
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           or
           their
           own
           most
           solemn
           engagements
           can
           restrain
           men
           from
           the
           practice
           of
           sin
           ,
           we
           see
           that
           those
           who
           are
           Christians
           ,
           are
           under
           the
           most
           powerful
           motives
           and
           engagements
           against
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           yet
           such
           there
           have
           been
           (
           I
           wish
           I
           could
           not
           say
           such
           there
           are
           )
           who
           have
           broken
           through
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           
             have
             been
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
           One
           might
           have
           thought
           ,
           if
           any
           persons
           had
           been
           out
           of
           this
           danger
           ,
           they
           had
           been
           such
           as
           the
           Apostle
           makes
           this
           exhortation
           to
           ;
           who
           had
           seen
           the
           
             miraculous
             operations
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             for
          
           confirming
           the
           doctrine
           and
           Motives
           of
           Christianity
           ;
           nay
           who
           had
           themselves
           been
           
             made
             partakers
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             had
             tasted
             of
             this
             Heavenly
             gift
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             good
             word
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             powers
             of
             the
             world
             to
             come
             :
          
           Who
           had
           testified
           their
           repentance
           for
           their
           former
           sins
           in
           the
           most
           publick
           and
           solemn
           manner
           ,
           and
           had
           entred
           into
           the
           most
           Sacred
           Vow
           of
           Baptism
           ,
           never
           to
           return
           more
           to
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           :
           who
           had
           done
           this
           in
           the
           heat
           of
           persecution
           ,
           which
           they
           endured
           with
           courage
           and
           rejoycing
           ;
           yet
           after
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           the
           Apostle
           expresses
           a
           more
           than
           ordinary
           jealousie
           lest
           any
           of
           them
           
             should
             fall
             away
          
           ,
           and
           
             their
             hearts
             be
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
           When
           Critias
           and
           Alcibiades
           had
           forsaken
           the
           paths
           of
           vertue
           ,
           which
           they
           seemed
           very
           forward
           
           in
           ,
           while
           they
           continued
           under
           the
           instructions
           of
           Socrates
           ,
           
           Xenophon
           saith
           ,
           
             there
             were
             some
             that
             contended
             that
             they
             never
             had
             any
             vertue
             at
             all
             ,
             because
             those
             who
             once
             had
             it
             could
             never
             lose
             it
             :
             but
             for
             his
             part
             ,
          
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             he
             was
             by
             no
             means
             satisfied
             with
             their
             opinion
             :
             for
             as
             men
             by
             discontinuing
             bodily
             exercises
             make
             themselves
             uncapable
             of
             doing
             those
             things
             which
             they
             were
             most
             expert
             in
             before
             ;
             so
             men
             by
             the
             neglect
             of
             improving
             their
             minds
             in
             vertue
             ;
             and
             giving
             way
             to
             the
             temptations
             of
             honour
             and
             pleasure
          
           (
           which
           was
           the
           case
           of
           Critias
           and
           
             Alcibiades
             )
             may
             by
             degrees
             lose
             the
             force
             of
             all
             the
             Motives
             to
             vertue
             and
             consequently
             the
             vertue
             it self
             .
          
           It
           is
           agreed
           by
           all
           men
           who
           understand
           any
           thing
           in
           these
           matters
           ,
           that
           even
           Grace
           ,
           although
           it
           be
           the
           effect
           of
           a
           divine
           power
           on
           the
           minds
           of
           men
           ,
           is
           of
           it self
           capable
           of
           being
           lost
           ;
           the
           great
           dispute
           is
           ,
           whether
           it
           may
           be
           lost
           past
           all
           recovery
           ?
           But
           as
           we
           have
           no
           more
           reason
           to
           set
           any
           bounds
           to
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           in
           mens
           Recovery
           ,
           than
           as
           to
           their
           first
           Repentance
           ;
           so
           we
           ought
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           such
           
             a
             falling
             away
          
           mentioned
           by
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           of
           
             those
             who
             have
             been
             once
             enlightned
             ,
          
           
           
             of
             which
          
           ,
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             it
             is
             impossible
             to
             renew
             them
             again
             to
             repentance
             :
          
           and
           that
           Scripture
           deals
           with
           all
           persons
           in
           its
           exhortations
           ,
           and
           adomonitions
           ,
           and
           threatnings
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           capable
           of
           falling
           to
           the
           utmost
           degree
           :
           and
           to
           suppose
           that
           thing
           impossible
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           which
           the
           gravest
           counsels
           ,
           and
           the
           
           most
           vehement
           perswasions
           are
           used
           to
           keep
           men
           from
           the
           doing
           of
           ,
           is
           to
           make
           a
           severe
           reflection
           on
           the
           wisdom
           of
           them
           that
           give
           them
           .
           And
           the
           Apostle
           here
           leaves
           none
           of
           them
           out
           ;
           but
           bids
           the
           most
           
             forward
             believers
          
           beware
           of
           an
           
             evil
             heart
             of
             unbelief
          
           ;
           and
           those
           who
           had
           been
           most
           softned
           by
           repentance
           ,
           take
           heed
           of
           
             being
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
           So
           that
           we
           see
           ,
           how
           powerful
           soever
           the
           motives
           to
           Vertue
           are
           ;
           how
           great
           soever
           the
           engagements
           against
           Sin
           ;
           yet
           the
           Apostle
           thought
           it
           needful
           to
           give
           them
           warning
           against
           the
           
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
          
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           what
           kind
           of
           deceitfulness
           is
           this
           in
           sin
           ,
           that
           the
           best
           and
           wisest
           men
           are
           so
           much
           caution'd
           against
           it
           ?
           What
           irresistible
           charms
           doth
           it
           use
           to
           draw
           men
           into
           its
           snares
           ?
           with
           what
           infusion
           doth
           it
           so
           far
           intoxicate
           mankind
           to
           make
           them
           dote
           upon
           it
           ,
           against
           the
           convictions
           of
           Reason
           ,
           and
           dictates
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           the
           power
           of
           perswasion
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           solemn
           and
           repeated
           Vows
           and
           Promises
           against
           it
           ?
           nay
           to
           make
           men
           pursue
           it
           ,
           to
           such
           a
           degree
           as
           rather
           to
           be
           damned
           for
           it
           than
           forsake
           it
           ?
           If
           we
           were
           to
           consider
           this
           only
           by
           Reason
           ,
           we
           could
           imagine
           nothing
           less
           than
           that
           sin
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           hath
           laid
           such
           a
           mighty
           obligation
           on
           mankind
           ,
           that
           rather
           than
           part
           with
           it
           ,
           the
           greater
           part
           of
           men
           ,
           out
           of
           meer
           gratitude
           ,
           would
           be
           content
           to
           suffer
           for
           ever
           with
           it
           :
           or
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           thing
           so
           
           absolutely
           necessary
           to
           the
           comfort
           of
           mens
           lives
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           live
           one
           good
           day
           without
           it
           :
           Whereas
           in
           truth
           ,
           the
           whole
           race
           of
           mankind
           hath
           suffered
           extreamly
           and
           continually
           by
           it
           :
           and
           it
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           necessary
           to
           the
           comfort
           of
           mens
           lives
           ,
           that
           the
           greatest
           troubles
           and
           vexations
           of
           life
           have
           risen
           from
           it
           ;
           and
           men
           may
           enjoy
           far
           greater
           satisfaction
           ,
           and
           more
           real
           contentment
           ;
           and
           more
           noble
           ,
           and
           solid
           ,
           and
           lasting
           pleasures
           if
           they
           did
           utterly
           renounce
           and
           forsake
           it
           .
           But
           this
           still
           makes
           the
           difficulty
           so
           much
           the
           greater
           ,
           how
           it
           should
           so
           far
           be
           witch
           and
           infatuate
           the
           far
           greatest
           part
           of
           mankind
           ;
           and
           of
           those
           who
           know
           how
           dearly
           they
           must
           suffer
           for
           it
           in
           another
           World
           ?
           And
           yet
           to
           assoil
           this
           difficulty
           ,
           we
           have
           only
           two
           Accounts
           to
           give
           how
           sin
           comes
           to
           deceive
           mankind
           so
           generally
           ,
           so
           fatally
           ;
           and
           those
           are
           1.
           
           By
           subtle
           insinuations
           ;
           2.
           
           By
           false
           reasonings
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             By
             subtle
             insinuations
          
           .
           The
           great
           Masters
           of
           pleading
           in
           ancient
           times
           have
           told
           us
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           some
           Causes
           which
           are
           never
           to
           be
           managed
           by
           plain
           and
           downright
           reasonings
           ,
           (
           because
           they
           are
           too
           weak
           to
           bear
           that
           method
           of
           handling
           )
           and
           then
           they
           bid
           men
           have
           a
           care
           in
           their
           beginning
           ,
           of
           coming
           close
           to
           the
           business
           ;
           but
           they
           must
           fetch
           a
           compass
           about
           ,
           and
           by
           secret
           arts
           and
           degrees
           insinuate
           
           themselves
           into
           the
           good
           opinion
           of
           the
           Judges
           before
           they
           are
           aware
           of
           it
           .
           This
           is
           the
           very
           method
           which
           is
           made
           use
           of
           
             by
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             Sin
          
           ;
           it
           dares
           not
           stand
           the
           examination
           of
           any
           close
           reasoning
           ,
           for
           all
           its
           artifices
           would
           presently
           be
           discover'd
           then
           ;
           but
           it
           makes
           use
           of
           these
           arts
           of
           insinuation
           .
           1.
           
           It
           endeavours
           to
           raise
           a
           good
           opinion
           of
           it self
           by
           false
           colours
           and
           representations
           of
           things
           .
           2.
           
           When
           it
           hath
           done
           that
           ,
           it
           draws
           men
           on
           by
           degrees
           to
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           .
           3.
           
           When
           men
           are
           engaged
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           sin
           ,
           then
           it
           represents
           to
           them
           how
           much
           it
           is
           their
           own
           interest
           to
           defend
           it
           ,
           and
           so
           brings
           them
           from
           
             the
             counsel
             of
             the
             ungodly
             ,
             and
             the
             way
             of
             sinners
             ,
             to
             the
             seat
             of
             the
             scornful
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           It
           endeavours
           to
           raise
           a
           good
           opinion
           of
           it self
           by
           
             false
             colours
          
           and
           representations
           of
           things
           .
           The
           first
           precept
           of
           insinuation
           is
           to
           remove
           prejudice
           ;
           for
           while
           that
           continues
           ,
           all
           that
           can
           be
           said
           will
           be
           of
           no
           force
           .
           While
           men
           look
           on
           sin
           as
           vile
           ,
           and
           loathsome
           ;
           as
           mean
           and
           unworthy
           of
           a
           man
           ;
           as
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           peace
           and
           contentment
           of
           their
           minds
           ,
           so
           long
           temptations
           are
           easily
           resisted
           :
           all
           arts
           must
           therefore
           be
           used
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           with
           all
           the
           address
           and
           flattery
           which
           is
           most
           apt
           to
           entice
           a
           poor
           deluded
           sinner
           .
           Then
           ,
           the
           fetters
           and
           shackles
           which
           it
           brings
           to
           enslave
           men
           with
           ,
           must
           be
           looked
           on
           and
           admired
           as
           ornaments
           ;
           
           it
           s
           most
           sordid
           and
           filthy
           pleasures
           must
           be
           thought
           great
           and
           manly
           ;
           and
           a
           little
           present
           honour
           and
           advantage
           appear
           more
           valuable
           than
           an
           eternal
           state
           of
           Happiness
           and
           Glory
           .
           These
           are
           things
           we
           should
           think
           it
           very
           hard
           for
           men
           to
           be
           deceived
           with
           ;
           and
           yet
           every
           day
           we
           find
           they
           are
           so
           ;
           and
           which
           is
           far
           more
           ,
           they
           are
           ready
           to
           take
           it
           very
           ill
           of
           those
           who
           go
           about
           to
           undeceive
           them
           .
           In
           other
           cases
           ,
           if
           a
           man
           tells
           another
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           like
           to
           be
           deceived
           with
           a
           false
           and
           counterfeit
           Jewel
           instead
           of
           a
           true
           one
           ;
           or
           to
           buy
           a
           bad
           Title
           to
           an
           Estate
           instead
           of
           a
           good
           one
           ,
           he
           thinks
           himself
           very
           much
           obliged
           to
           him
           for
           his
           fidelity
           and
           kindness
           ;
           only
           in
           the
           case
           of
           mans
           beloved
           sins
           ,
           although
           they
           will
           prove
           the
           greatest
           cheats
           in
           the
           World
           to
           him
           ,
           yet
           he
           cannot
           well
           endure
           to
           be
           told
           so
           ;
           but
           his
           blood
           is
           apt
           to
           fire
           and
           enflame
           him
           into
           a
           passion
           against
           him
           that
           doth
           it
           ;
           and
           although
           it
           be
           meant
           with
           the
           greatest
           innocency
           and
           kindness
           ,
           it
           is
           ready
           to
           be
           interpreted
           to
           be
           only
           the
           effect
           of
           malice
           and
           ill
           will.
           For
           now
           sin
           hath
           insinuated
           it self
           so
           far
           into
           him
           ,
           that
           no
           one
           can
           be
           thought
           a
           friend
           to
           the
           person
           ,
           who
           is
           not
           so
           to
           his
           sins
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           then
           come
           to
           that
           height
           of
           friendship
           and
           community
           of
           interests
           ,
           to
           have
           common
           friends
           and
           common
           enemies
           .
           Now
           all
           the
           discourses
           of
           the
           freedom
           ,
           and
           
           pleasure
           ,
           and
           satisfaction
           of
           a
           mans
           mind
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           vertue
           appear
           very
           dull
           and
           insipid
           things
           ;
           and
           fit
           only
           for
           
             Learned
             Fools
          
           or
           Philosophers
           to
           talk
           of
           .
        
         
           Nothing
           deserves
           the
           name
           of
           Liberty
           with
           them
           ,
           but
           a
           power
           of
           doing
           what
           they
           please
           .
           What
           nonsense
           and
           contradiction
           doth
           it
           seem
           to
           them
           for
           those
           to
           be
           accounted
           free
           ,
           who
           are
           under
           any
           bonds
           or
           restraints
           ?
           No
           matter
           to
           them
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           from
           God
           ,
           or
           Nature
           ,
           from
           Reason
           or
           Conscience
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           they
           are
           restraints
           ,
           they
           look
           on
           them
           as
           inconsistent
           with
           their
           notion
           of
           liberty
           .
           And
           next
           to
           those
           who
           threaten
           men
           with
           punishments
           in
           another
           World
           for
           what
           they
           do
           amiss
           in
           this
           ,
           they
           account
           those
           the
           greatest
           Fools
           that
           first
           found
           out
           the
           distinction
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           ,
           and
           just
           and
           unjust
           in
           the
           actions
           of
           men
           ,
           
             What
             Fools
             (
             say
             they
             )
             were
             they
             to
             fasten
             dishonourable
             and
             reproachful
             names
             on
             some
             of
             the
             most
             pleasant
             and
             beneficial
             actions
             of
             life
             ?
             For
             thus
             a
             man
             is
             debarred
             that
             noble
             and
             manly
             Vice
             of
             Drunkenness
             for
             fear
             of
             losing
             the
             reputation
             of
             Sobriety
             ;
             and
             the
             extravagancies
             of
             Lust
             ,
             for
             fear
             of
             doing
             injury
             to
             his
             neighbours
             Bed
             ;
             and
             supposing
             a
             man
             hath
             never
             so
             much
             advantages
             in
             his
             hands
             to
             enrich
             himself
             by
             defrauding
             another
             ,
             yet
             he
             must
             not
             do
             it
             ,
             because
             although
             
             an
             estate
             be
             in
             the
             keeping
             of
             a
             Fool
             ,
             yet
             another
             must
             not
             be
             a
             Knave
             to
             get
             it
             from
             him
             .
          
        
         
           Thus
           do
           these
           miserable
           Slaves
           to
           Vice
           pitty
           the
           weakness
           of
           those
           who
           have
           so
           little
           wit
           (
           as
           they
           think
           )
           not
           to
           understand
           the
           Liberty
           they
           enjoy
           :
           But
           thus
           do
           mad
           men
           pitty
           the
           dulness
           of
           those
           that
           are
           in
           their
           wits
           ,
           that
           do
           not
           sing
           ,
           and
           rant
           ,
           and
           despise
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           :
           and
           fancy
           themselves
           to
           be
           Kings
           and
           Princes
           ,
           while
           they
           are
           tyed
           fast
           in
           their
           chains
           ,
           and
           lye
           in
           Straw
           .
           And
           upon
           such
           grounds
           as
           these
           ,
           the
           most
           rude
           and
           barbarous
           Indians
           did
           better
           understand
           the
           liberty
           of
           mankind
           ,
           than
           the
           most
           civilized
           Nations
           .
           For
           all
           civility
           is
           a
           debarring
           men
           of
           some
           part
           of
           this
           natural
           liberty
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           of
           those
           things
           which
           men
           have
           a
           power
           to
           do
           ;
           and
           upon
           this
           ground
           all
           antient
           Law-givers
           and
           Wise
           men
           ,
           who
           by
           degrees
           brought
           several
           Nations
           to
           Order
           and
           Government
           ,
           and
           to
           live
           by
           Laws
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           hated
           as
           the
           greatest
           Tyrants
           and
           Usurpers
           upon
           the
           liberties
           of
           mankind
           :
           and
           the
           natural
           consequence
           of
           this
           would
           be
           the
           overthrow
           of
           all
           Laws
           ,
           and
           Order
           ,
           and
           Government
           in
           the
           World.
           But
           if
           there
           must
           be
           some
           restraints
           upon
           men
           ,
           then
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           what
           restraints
           are
           just
           and
           reasonable
           ,
           within
           whose
           bounds
           we
           are
           to
           contain
           our selves
           ;
           and
           whatever
           tends
           to
           the
           dishonour
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           the
           injury
           of
           others
           ,
           or
           to
           
           our
           own
           destruction
           ,
           it
           is
           all
           the
           reason
           in
           the
           World
           we
           should
           abstain
           from
           .
           And
           if
           men
           would
           but
           do
           this
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           kept
           from
           the
           practice
           of
           sin
           :
           And
           so
           this
           imaginary
           notion
           of
           a
           boundless
           liberty
           will
           appear
           to
           be
           only
           one
           of
           the
           
             false
             colours
          
           that
           sin
           puts
           upon
           evil
           actions
           ,
           on
           purpose
           to
           tempt
           men
           to
           the
           commission
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           is
           another
           Poison
           which
           more
           subtilly
           and
           dangerously
           insinuates
           it self
           into
           the
           hearts
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           by
           which
           sin
           gets
           the
           possession
           there
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           the
           love
           of
           pleasure
           ;
           I
           do
           not
           mean
           the
           pleasure
           of
           the
           mind
           ,
           or
           the
           pleasure
           of
           a
           good
           conscience
           ,
           for
           there
           is
           no
           danger
           in
           these
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           the
           love
           of
           sensual
           pleasure
           which
           is
           most
           apt
           to
           ensnare
           men
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           sin
           .
           It
           is
           under
           this
           representation
           chiefly
           ,
           that
           sin
           deceives
           ,
           betrayes
           ,
           entangles
           ,
           bewitches
           ,
           destroyes
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           :
           It
           is
           this
           which
           fills
           the
           imagination
           ,
           and
           darkens
           the
           understanding
           with
           filthy
           steams
           and
           vapours
           ,
           and
           hurries
           a
           man
           on
           with
           the
           impetuous
           violence
           of
           passions
           ,
           without
           considering
           the
           mischievous
           consequence
           which
           attends
           it
           ,
           either
           as
           to
           his
           honour
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           or
           his
           salvation
           in
           another
           .
           
           This
           danger
           which
           attends
           the
           pleasures
           of
           sin
           was
           well
           represented
           in
           one
           of
           the
           
             Eastern
             Parables
             ,
             of
             a
             man
             violently
             pursued
             by
             Wild
             Beasts
             to
             the
             top
             of
             a
             Precipice
             ,
             where
             there
             was
             a
             Tree
             
             growing
             on
             the
             side
             of
             a
             great
             lake
             ,
             and
             at
             the
             foot
             of
             it
             a
             prodigious
             Serpent
             lying
             ready
             to
             devour
             him
             ;
             the
             man
             being
             in
             this
             astonishment
             gets
             upon
             the
             first
             branch
             of
             the
             tree
             he
             could
             reach
             ;
             but
             he
             was
             no
             sooner
             there
             ,
             but
             his
             horrour
             increased
             at
             the
             apprehension
             of
             his
             danger
             on
             every
             side
             of
             him
             ;
             and
             that
             which
             added
             the
             most
             to
             his
             consternation
             was
             that
             the
             very
             branch
             on
             which
             he
             stood
             was
             almost
             eaten
             off
             ;
             while
             he
             was
             in
             this
             terrible
             fright
             ,
             he
             looks
             up
             to
             the
             top
             of
             the
             tree
             ,
             and
             there
             sees
             some
             wild
             honey
             trickling
             down
             the
             body
             of
             the
             tree
             ,
             which
             he
             was
             so
             taken
             with
             ,
             and
             so
             pleased
             with
             the
             sweetness
             of
             it
             ,
             that
             he
             forgets
             his
             danger
             ,
             till
             of
             a
             sudden
             the
             branch
             breaks
             ,
             and
             down
             he
             drops
             into
             the
             lake
             without
             recovery
             .
          
           This
           is
           the
           true
           representation
           of
           the
           pleasures
           of
           sin
           ,
           which
           men
           are
           so
           much
           entertained
           with
           ,
           that
           they
           never
           consider
           the
           hazard
           they
           run
           ,
           and
           scarce
           think
           of
           their
           danger
           till
           they
           drop
           into
           that
           state
           of
           misery
           from
           whence
           there
           is
           no
           redemption
           .
        
         
           But
           besides
           these
           soft
           and
           voluptuous
           sinners
           ,
           (
           who
           are
           easily
           deceived
           and
           hardly
           drawn
           out
           of
           the
           snares
           they
           fall
           into
           )
           there
           are
           others
           of
           a
           more
           busie
           ,
           restless
           ,
           and
           designing
           temper
           ,
           and
           to
           these
           sin
           appears
           under
           another
           shape
           to
           deceive
           them
           ,
           with
           all
           the
           advantages
           of
           external
           Splendour
           and
           Greatness
           .
           And
           thus
           they
           who
           possibly
           might
           escape
           the
           baits
           of
           pleasure
           ,
           are
           carryed
           away
           by
           the
           more
           plausible
           temptations
           of
           Riches
           and
           Honour
           .
           It
           is
           supposed
           by
           
           some
           ,
           that
           when
           the
           Devil
           tempted
           Christ
           with
           the
           offers
           of
           
             the
             Kingdoms
             of
             this
             world
          
           ,
           
           
             if
             he
             would
             fall
             down
             and
             worship
             him
             ,
          
           he
           did
           not
           know
           ,
           who
           he
           was
           ,
           but
           had
           a
           mind
           to
           try
           him
           by
           the
           most
           probable
           way
           of
           discovering
           what
           was
           within
           him
           :
           But
           surely
           the
           Devil
           thought
           him
           some
           extraordinary
           person
           ,
           or
           else
           he
           would
           never
           have
           made
           so
           large
           an
           offer
           at
           first
           ,
           viz.
           of
           no
           less
           
             than
             all
             the
             Kingdoms
             of
             the
             World
             ,
          
           whereas
           very
           much
           less
           than
           one
           of
           these
           hath
           served
           to
           corrupt
           and
           debauch
           the
           minds
           of
           many
           who
           have
           been
           great
           pretenders
           to
           Piety
           and
           Vertue
           .
           It
           was
           indeed
           somewhat
           a
           hard
           condition
           the
           Devil
           joyned
           with
           his
           offer
           ,
           
             to
             fall
             down
             and
             Worship
             him
             ,
          
           because
           he
           then
           designed
           not
           only
           a
           Victory
           but
           a
           Triumph
           ;
           but
           with
           others
           he
           conceals
           the
           condition
           and
           draws
           them
           on
           by
           degrees
           ,
           still
           rising
           higher
           and
           higher
           in
           his
           temptations
           ,
           thereby
           feeding
           and
           enlarging
           their
           desires
           ;
           till
           the
           love
           of
           this
           World
           hath
           gotten
           such
           an
           entire
           possession
           of
           their
           hearts
           ,
           that
           they
           scarce
           ever
           in
           good
           earnest
           think
           of
           another
           till
           their
           souls
           are
           passing
           into
           it
           .
           And
           then
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           they
           sadly
           reflect
           on
           their
           own
           folly
           ,
           in
           that
           they
           have
           preferred
           the
           deluding
           scenes
           and
           pompous
           shews
           of
           worldly
           greatness
           ,
           before
           the
           compleat
           and
           endless
           felicity
           of
           another
           life
           .
           But
           it
           very
           often
           happens
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           so
           long
           ,
           as
           till
           their
           leaving
           this
           World
           ,
           that
           men
           come
           
           to
           understand
           the
           restless
           folly
           of
           ambition
           .
           For
           the
           things
           of
           this
           World
           are
           like
           Epicurus
           his
           Atoms
           ,
           alwayes
           moving
           and
           justling
           one
           against
           another
           ;
           and
           one
           mans
           ambition
           serves
           to
           supplant
           anothers
           ,
           and
           they
           who
           cannot
           raise
           themselves
           may
           yet
           help
           to
           ruine
           others
           ;
           and
           oft-times
           those
           very
           designs
           by
           which
           they
           most
           hoped
           to
           advance
           themselves
           ,
           prove
           the
           occasion
           of
           their
           fall
           and
           destruction
           .
           The
           Mahumetans
           have
           a
           story
           to
           this
           purpose
           ;
           
           
             In
             the
             time
             of
             Iesus
             three
             men
             in
             a
             journey
             hapned
             to
             find
             a
             Treasure
             ;
             but
             being
             hungry
             ,
             they
             sent
             one
             of
             their
             number
             to
             buy
             provisions
             ;
             he
             consults
             how
             he
             might
             get
             this
             treasure
             to
             himself
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             end
             resolves
             to
             poison
             their
             meat
             ,
             the
             other
             two
             agreed
             to
             share
             it
             between
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             kill
             the
             third
             assoon
             as
             he
             returned
             ;
             which
             they
             did
             ,
             and
             themselves
             soon
             after
             dyed
             of
             the
             poisoned
             meat
             .
             Iesus
             passing
             by
             with
             his
             disciples
             ,
             said
             ,
             This
             is
             the
             condition
             of
             this
             world
             !
             see
             what
             the
             love
             of
             it
             hath
             brought
             these
             men
             to
             !
             Wo
             be
             to
             him
             that
             looks
             for
             any
             other
             usage
             from
             it
             .
          
           This
           is
           the
           first
           way
           whereby
           sin
           doth
           insinuate
           into
           the
           minds
           of
           them
           ;
           viz.
           by
           false
           colours
           and
           representations
           of
           things
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           when
           sin
           hath
           so
           far
           insinuated
           it self
           to
           bring
           men
           to
           a
           better
           opinion
           of
           it
           ,
           it
           doth
           not
           presently
           hurry
           them
           on
           to
           the
           greatest
           height
           of
           wickedness
           ;
           but
           leads
           them
           gently
           and
           by
           easie
           steps
           and
           degrees
           ,
           lest
           they
           should
           start
           back
           presently
           with
           the
           fright
           of
           some
           dreadful
           
           sin
           .
           Which
           will
           appear
           if
           we
           consider
           ,
           how
           one
           comes
           to
           be
           corrupted
           by
           sin
           that
           hath
           had
           the
           advantage
           of
           a
           modest
           and
           vertuous
           education
           :
           if
           those
           who
           design
           to
           debauch
           him
           speak
           out
           at
           first
           in
           plain
           words
           what
           they
           aim
           at
           ,
           a
           sudden
           horrour
           seizes
           upon
           him
           at
           the
           apprehension
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           it
           may
           be
           he
           hates
           their
           company
           for
           ever
           after
           .
           But
           there
           is
           so
           much
           a
           sense
           of
           shame
           left
           in
           humane
           nature
           ,
           that
           men
           dare
           not
           tempt
           others
           to
           sin
           ,
           at
           least
           at
           first
           ,
           in
           plain
           terms
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           temptation
           which
           being
           represented
           one
           way
           would
           affright
           ,
           appearing
           with
           greater
           art
           and
           dissimulation
           may
           easily
           prevail
           .
           And
           sin
           is
           a
           thing
           ,
           that
           men
           hate
           to
           be
           forced
           ,
           but
           too
           much
           love
           to
           be
           cheated
           into
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           .
           How
           doth
           a
           young
           sinner
           struggle
           with
           himself
           ,
           and
           would
           if
           it
           were
           possible
           get
           out
           of
           the
           noise
           of
           his
           own
           Conscience
           ,
           when
           he
           hath
           offered
           force
           and
           violence
           to
           it
           !
           He
           is
           very
           uneasie
           to
           himself
           ,
           and
           wisheth
           a
           thousand
           times
           he
           had
           never
           committed
           the
           sin
           ,
           rather
           than
           to
           feel
           such
           horrour
           and
           disquiet
           in
           his
           mind
           ,
           upon
           the
           sense
           of
           it
           .
           But
           if
           this
           doth
           not
           make
           him
           presently
           repent
           ,
           and
           resolve
           never
           to
           be
           guilty
           again
           of
           the
           same
           folly
           ,
           (
           as
           in
           all
           reason
           it
           ought
           to
           do
           )
           then
           by
           time
           and
           company
           he
           wears
           off
           the
           impression
           of
           his
           guilt
           ,
           and
           the
           next
           occasion
           of
           sinning
           makes
           him
           forget
           the
           wounds
           of
           his
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           the
           smart
           
           he
           endured
           before
           ;
           and
           the
           fresh
           temptation
           revives
           the
           sense
           of
           his
           former
           pleasure
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           is
           able
           to
           withstand
           no
           longer
           ;
           and
           thus
           by
           repeating
           the
           same
           acts
           ,
           by
           degrees
           he
           becomes
           a
           very
           hopeful
           sinner
           ,
           and
           the
           reports
           of
           his
           Conscience
           are
           but
           like
           that
           of
           sounds
           at
           a
           greater
           distance
           ;
           they
           lessen
           still
           more
           and
           more
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           they
           cannot
           be
           heard
           at
           all
           .
           And
           when
           he
           hath
           thus
           mastered
           his
           Conscience
           ,
           as
           to
           any
           one
           sin
           ,
           which
           at
           first
           he
           was
           fearful
           of
           committing
           ,
           and
           hath
           found
           such
           an
           Ice
           upon
           his
           Conscience
           as
           will
           bear
           him
           ,
           he
           goes
           on
           still
           farther
           and
           farther
           ,
           till
           nothing
           be
           too
           hard
           for
           him
           .
           He
           that
           at
           first
           started
           and
           trembled
           at
           the
           hearing
           of
           an
           horrid
           oath
           ,
           now
           can
           hear
           whole
           volleys
           of
           them
           discharged
           without
           shrinking
           ;
           and
           can
           bear
           his
           part
           in
           that
           hellish
           Concert
           :
           and
           he
           that
           was
           so
           hardly
           brought
           to
           be
           wicked
           himself
           ,
           may
           in
           a
           little
           time
           (
           as
           some
           men
           are
           strange
           proficients
           in
           wickedness
           )
           tempt
           and
           encourage
           others
           to
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           And
           when
           men
           are
           arrived
           to
           an
           habitual
           continuance
           in
           sin
           ,
           then
           for
           their
           present
           ease
           and
           security
           ,
           they
           cast
           about
           for
           any
           wayes
           to
           defend
           it
           .
           For
           whatever
           is
           become
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           they
           may
           have
           such
           a
           sense
           of
           reputation
           left
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           not
           be
           thought
           Fools
           ,
           and
           be
           contemned
           and
           despised
           by
           others
           .
           But
           although
           
           it
           be
           impossible
           for
           such
           to
           avoid
           scorn
           and
           contempt
           among
           all
           those
           who
           have
           any
           true
           regard
           to
           Vertue
           or
           Honour
           ,
           yet
           they
           will
           endeavour
           rather
           to
           defend
           themselves
           in
           doing
           ill
           ,
           than
           recover
           their
           reputation
           by
           repentance
           .
           And
           because
           it
           would
           puzzle
           the
           wits
           of
           the
           most
           subtle
           and
           concerned
           persons
           to
           find
           out
           pretences
           and
           excuses
           for
           some
           kinds
           of
           sins
           ;
           therefore
           the
           easiest
           way
           is
           to
           represent
           all
           the
           World
           as
           alike
           bad
           ,
           although
           not
           alike
           cunning
           ;
           and
           although
           it
           may
           be
           not
           in
           the
           same
           way
           ,
           yet
           in
           something
           as
           ill
           in
           it self
           ,
           but
           more
           agreeable
           to
           their
           Age
           ,
           temper
           ,
           and
           condition
           of
           life
           .
           Thus
           the
           greatest
           sinners
           love
           to
           herd
           themselves
           in
           a
           croud
           ,
           and
           think
           it
           some
           poor
           defence
           for
           their
           sins
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           have
           others
           believed
           to
           be
           as
           bad
           as
           they
           :
           as
           though
           a
           man
           were
           in
           the
           less
           danger
           by
           the
           plague
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           a
           general
           contagion
           .
           But
           if
           it
           happen
           that
           some
           persons
           in
           the
           World
           should
           have
           any
           reputation
           for
           Vertue
           among
           them
           ,
           then
           all
           the
           weaknesses
           ,
           and
           indiscretions
           of
           such
           ,
           are
           sure
           to
           be
           enquired
           after
           ,
           that
           so
           what
           is
           accounted
           vertue
           ,
           may
           be
           thought
           only
           natural
           sourness
           of
           temper
           ,
           or
           want
           of
           wit
           to
           be
           otherwise
           .
           But
           if
           any
           such
           should
           be
           found
           in
           a
           miscarriage
           ,
           what
           Joy
           and
           Triumph
           doth
           this
           make
           ?
           what
           load
           of
           circumstances
           and
           aggravations
           do
           they
           lay
           upon
           them
           ;
           as
           though
           one
           single
           miscarriage
           of
           such
           persons
           
           were
           to
           weigh
           down
           a
           thousand
           enormities
           of
           theirs
           .
           And
           because
           it
           is
           impossible
           to
           defend
           their
           extravagant
           courses
           by
           Reason
           ,
           the
           only
           way
           left
           for
           them
           is
           to
           make
           
             Satyrical
             Invectives
          
           against
           Reason
           ;
           as
           though
           it
           were
           the
           most
           uncertain
           ,
           foolish
           and
           (
           I
           had
           almost
           said
           )
           unreasonable
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           :
           and
           yet
           they
           pretend
           to
           shew
           it
           in
           arguing
           against
           it
           :
           but
           it
           is
           pitty
           such
           had
           not
           their
           wish
           ,
           
             to
             have
             been
             Beasts
             rather
             than
             men
             ,
          
           (
           if
           any
           men
           can
           make
           such
           a
           wish
           that
           have
           it
           not
           already
           )
           that
           they
           might
           have
           been
           less
           capable
           of
           doing
           mischief
           among
           mankind
           ;
           by
           representing
           all
           the
           excellencies
           of
           humane
           nature
           ,
           which
           are
           Reason
           ,
           and
           Vertue
           ,
           and
           Religion
           ,
           but
           as
           more
           grave
           and
           solemn
           fopperies
           .
           But
           how
           hard
           are
           such
           men
           put
           to
           defend
           their
           vices
           ,
           that
           cannot
           do
           it
           ,
           without
           trampling
           under
           foot
           the
           most
           noble
           perfections
           of
           their
           own
           nature
           !
        
         
           These
           however
           are
           the
           more
           ingenuous
           sort
           of
           sinners
           ,
           that
           yield
           Reason
           and
           Religion
           to
           be
           of
           Vertues
           side
           ;
           but
           there
           are
           others
           that
           make
           use
           of
           some
           shallow
           pretences
           of
           Reason
           to
           excuse
           themselves
           in
           their
           sins
           :
           which
           is
           the
           second
           way
           whereby
           sin
           deceives
           men
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           
             By
             false
             Reasonings
          
           :
           and
           those
           taken
           either
           ,
           1.
           
           From
           their
           Present
           impunity
           :
           2.
           
           Or
           from
           their
           Future
           Repentance
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           From
           their
           
             present
             impunity
          
           in
           sinning
           ,
           men
           
           are
           apt
           to
           deceive
           themselves
           into
           a
           continuance
           in
           it
           .
           This
           is
           the
           account
           the
           Wise
           man
           hath
           long
           since
           given
           of
           mens
           being
           hardned
           in
           sin
           ;
           
           
             Because
             sentence
             against
             an
             evil
             work
             is
             not
             executed
             speedily
             ;
             therefore
             the
             hearts
             of
             the
             sons
             of
             men
             is
             fully
             set
             in
             them
             to
             do
             evil
             .
          
           It
           seems
           somewhat
           hard
           to
           understand
           the
           consequence
           ,
           why
           men
           should
           grow
           more
           desperately
           wicked
           ,
           because
           God
           gives
           them
           a
           space
           to
           repent
           ?
           Is
           it
           necessary
           that
           if
           God
           doth
           punish
           at
           all
           ,
           he
           must
           do
           it
           presently
           ?
           that
           would
           seem
           to
           be
           rage
           and
           fury
           ,
           or
           a
           necessity
           of
           nature
           ,
           and
           not
           justice
           .
           Cannot
           judgement
           be
           duly
           executed
           ,
           unless
           the
           Judge
           break
           open
           the
           Prison
           doors
           ,
           and
           torment
           the
           Malefactor
           in
           his
           chains
           ?
           Why
           may
           not
           God
           respite
           the
           punishment
           of
           sinners
           ,
           when
           he
           pleases
           ,
           to
           another
           state
           ,
           since
           he
           hath
           declared
           
             that
             he
             hath
             appointed
             a
             day
             wherein
             he
             will
             judge
             the
             World
             in
             righteousness
             ?
          
           
           What
           incongruity
           is
           there
           in
           this
           to
           any
           principle
           of
           reason
           or
           justice
           ?
           Will
           not
           this
           time
           of
           Gods
           patience
           ,
           be
           a
           sufficient
           vindication
           of
           his
           lenity
           and
           goodness
           in
           order
           to
           the
           drawing
           men
           to
           repentance
           ?
           And
           will
           not
           the
           day
           of
           his
           future
           judgement
           be
           a
           full
           vindication
           of
           his
           justice
           ?
           Will
           not
           the
           insupportable
           honours
           of
           a
           miserable
           eternity
           discover
           far
           more
           Gods
           abhorrence
           of
           sin
           ,
           than
           present
           sufferings
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           which
           ,
           the
           greater
           they
           are
           ,
           the
           less
           they
           continue
           ?
           But
           all
           this
           
           false
           way
           of
           reasoning
           ariseth
           from
           that
           gross
           piece
           of
           self-flattery
           that
           such
           do
           imagine
           God
           to
           be
           like
           themselves
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           as
           cruel
           and
           revengeful
           as
           they
           are
           :
           and
           they
           presently
           think
           ,
           if
           any
           persons
           did
           offend
           them
           at
           the
           rate
           that
           sinners
           are
           said
           to
           offend
           God
           ,
           and
           they
           had
           so
           much
           power
           in
           their
           hands
           to
           punish
           them
           as
           he
           has
           ,
           without
           any
           fear
           of
           revenge
           upon
           themselves
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           sure
           to
           dispatch
           them
           presently
           ;
           but
           because
           they
           see
           God
           doth
           it
           not
           ,
           therefore
           they
           conclude
           that
           all
           the
           talk
           of
           Gods
           anger
           and
           hatred
           against
           sin
           is
           without
           ground
           :
           and
           from
           hence
           they
           take
           encouragement
           to
           sin
           .
           So
           the
           Psalmist
           saith
           in
           Gods
           name
           ,
           
           
             These
             things
             thou
             didst
             and
             I
             kept
             silence
          
           ;
           and
           they
           presently
           took
           his
           silence
           for
           consent
           ;
           for
           it
           follows
           ,
           and
           
             thou
             thoughtest
             that
             I
             was
             altogether
             such
             a
             one
             as
             thy self
             :
          
           but
           the
           Psalmist
           adds
           ,
           how
           ill
           he
           took
           this
           at
           mens
           hands
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           would
           one
           day
           make
           them
           know
           the
           difference
           between
           the
           forbearance
           of
           sinners
           ,
           and
           the
           love
           of
           their
           sins
           ;
           
             but
             I
             will
             reprove
             thee
             ,
             and
             set
             them
             in
             order
             before
             thee
             .
          
           And
           therefore
           he
           bids
           them
           be
           better
           advised
           ,
           and
           
             consider
             this
             while
             they
             forget
             God
             ,
          
           
           
             lest
             he
             tear
             them
             in
             pieces
             ,
             and
             there
             be
             none
             to
             deliver
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           Men
           are
           hardned
           by
           the
           deceitfulness
           of
           sin
           ,
           from
           the
           hopes
           of
           their
           
             future
             repentance
          
           .
           For
           that
           is
           one
           of
           the
           great
           cheats
           of
           sin
           ,
           that
           every
           one
           thinks
           he
           can
           repent
           and
           shake
           off
           
           his
           sins
           when
           he
           hath
           a
           mind
           to
           do
           it
           .
           Sin
           doth
           not
           lye
           like
           a
           heavy
           weight
           upon
           their
           backs
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           feel
           the
           load
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           think
           it
           is
           easily
           removed
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           set
           themselves
           to
           it
           .
           Most
           of
           those
           that
           believe
           a
           God
           and
           a
           judgement
           to
           come
           ,
           and
           yet
           continue
           in
           sin
           ,
           do
           it
           upon
           this
           presumption
           ,
           that
           one
           time
           or
           other
           ,
           they
           shall
           leave
           their
           sins
           ,
           and
           change
           the
           course
           of
           their
           lives
           before
           they
           go
           out
           of
           this
           world
           .
           They
           have
           not
           only
           thoughts
           of
           repentance
           ,
           but
           general
           purposes
           of
           doing
           the
           acts
           of
           it
           at
           one
           time
           ,
           or
           other
           ;
           but
           that
           time
           is
           not
           come
           ,
           and
           God
           knows
           whether
           it
           ever
           will
           or
           no.
           For
           sin
           entices
           them
           and
           draws
           them
           on
           still
           ;
           and
           when
           any
           motions
           towards
           repentance
           come
           into
           their
           minds
           ,
           that
           presently
           suggests
           ,
           
             It
             is
             time
             enough
             yet
             ;
             why
             so
             much
             haste
             ?
             there
             will
             be
             trouble
             enough
             in
             it
             when
             you
             must
             do
             it
             ,
             what
             need
             you
             bring
             it
             so
             fast
             upon
             you
             ?
             Are
             not
             you
             likely
             to
             hold
             out
             a
             great
             many
             years
             yet
             ?
             what
             pitty
             it
             is
             to
             lose
             so
             much
             of
             the
             pleasure
             of
             life
             ,
             while
             you
             are
             capable
             of
             enjoying
             it
             ?
             There
             is
             old
             Age
             coming
             ,
             and
             when
             you
             will
             be
             good
             for
             nothing
             else
             ,
             then
             will
             be
             time
             enough
             to
             grow
             wise
             and
             to
             repent
             .
          
           But
           O
           foolish
           sinner
           ,
           who
           hath
           bewitched
           thee
           to
           hearken
           to
           such
           unreasonable
           suggestions
           as
           these
           are
           !
           For
        
         
           3.
           
           In
           the
           last
           place
           ,
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           our
           present
           ,
           our
           constant
           ,
           our
           greatest
           care
           to
           prevent
           being
           
           
             hardned
             by
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
           For
           to
           this
           end
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           enough
           to
           consider
           of
           it
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           in
           our
           lives
           ,
           but
           we
           must
           be
           
             exhorting
             one
             another
             daily
             ,
             while
             it
             is
             called
             to
             day
             ,
             lest
             any
             of
             us
             be
             hardned
             through
             the
             witchcraft
             and
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             :
          
           And
           if
           it
           be
           so
           much
           the
           duty
           of
           others
           to
           shew
           that
           regard
           to
           one
           anothers
           souls
           ;
           how
           much
           more
           doth
           it
           become
           us
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           who
           expect
           to
           be
           called
           to
           an
           account
           at
           the
           great
           day
           for
           the
           discharge
           of
           our
           trust
           in
           this
           matter
           ?
           It
           is
           a
           dreadful
           passage
           we
           read
           of
           in
           the
           
             Prophet
             Ezekiel
          
           ,
           and
           enough
           to
           make
           our
           ears
           to
           tingle
           at
           the
           repeating
           it
           ,
           
           
             When
             I
             say
             unto
             the
             wicked
             ,
             O
             wicked
             man
             thou
             shalt
             surely
             dye
             ,
             if
             thou
             dost
             not
             speak
             to
             warn
             the
             wicked
             from
             his
             way
             ,
             that
             wicked
             man
             shall
             dye
             in
             his
             iniquity
             ,
             but
             his
             blood
             will
             I
             require
             at
             thine
             hand
             .
          
           We
           would
           fain
           believe
           this
           to
           have
           been
           some
           particular
           and
           extraordinary
           commission
           given
           to
           the
           Prophet
           by
           God
           himself
           ,
           which
           doth
           not
           concern
           us
           ;
           for
           what
           will
           become
           of
           us
           ,
           if
           not
           only
           our
           own
           faults
           (
           which
           God
           knows
           are
           too
           many
           )
           but
           other
           mens
           shall
           be
           charged
           upon
           us
           ?
           when
           either
           through
           neglect
           ,
           or
           flattery
           ,
           or
           fear
           of
           displeasing
           ,
           or
           for
           any
           mean
           and
           unworthy
           ends
           ,
           we
           betray
           our
           trust
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           preventing
           prove
           the
           occasion
           of
           mens
           being
           too
           much
           
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
           But
           although
           we
           neither
           pretend
           to
           be
           Prophets
           ,
           nor
           Apostles
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           
           our
           Office
           to
           take
           care
           of
           the
           Souls
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           can
           we
           discharge
           that
           ,
           as
           we
           ought
           to
           do
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           with
           all
           faithfulness
           warn
           men
           of
           the
           danger
           they
           run
           into
           
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
          
           ?
           It
           were
           happy
           for
           us
           if
           we
           could
           say
           ,
           
             that
             all
             the
             Lords
             people
             are
             holy
          
           ;
           for
           then
           we
           should
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           ,
           but
           to
           praise
           and
           commend
           their
           Vertues
           ,
           which
           were
           an
           easie
           and
           a
           delightful
           task
           :
           but
           what
           pleasure
           is
           it
           to
           rake
           into
           the
           sores
           ,
           or
           to
           reprove
           the
           Vices
           of
           a
           degenerate
           age
           ?
           to
           be
           thought
           troublesome
           and
           impertinent
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           our
           duty
           ;
           and
           men
           of
           no
           conscience
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           it
           not
           ?
           But
           our
           work
           is
           neither
           to
           libel
           our
           Auditors
           ,
           nor
           to
           flatter
           them
           ;
           neither
           to
           represent
           them
           as
           better
           ,
           nor
           worse
           than
           they
           are
           ;
           nor
           to
           charge
           them
           with
           more
           guilt
           than
           their
           own
           consciences
           do
           charge
           them
           with
           :
           but
           our
           business
           is
           ,
           to
           beseech
           and
           exhort
           them
           by
           the
           mercies
           of
           God
           ,
           by
           the
           sufferings
           of
           Christ
           ,
           by
           the
           love
           and
           tenderness
           they
           have
           for
           their
           immortal
           souls
           ,
           that
           they
           
             would
             to
             day
             ,
             while
             it
             is
             called
             to
             day
             ,
             take
             heed
             lest
             they
             be
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
           And
           that
           will
           appear
           to
           be
           very
           reasonable
           on
           these
           considerations
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           none
           are
           out
           of
           the
           danger
           of
           it
           ,
           while
           they
           live
           in
           this
           tempting
           World.
           What
           need
           have
           we
           to
           take
           care
           of
           being
           deceived
           by
           that
           ,
           which
           hath
           been
           too
           hard
           for
           the
           best
           ,
           the
           wisest
           ,
           
           and
           the
           greatest
           of
           men
           ?
           Man
           in
           his
           best
           state
           ,
           even
           that
           of
           Innocency
           ,
           was
           deceived
           by
           the
           insinuations
           of
           sin
           :
           when
           there
           was
           no
           matter
           within
           for
           the
           temptation
           to
           work
           upon
           ,
           no
           reason
           suggested
           that
           could
           move
           a
           common
           understanding
           ,
           no
           interest
           or
           advantage
           that
           could
           sway
           him
           ;
           no
           other
           moving
           cause
           appears
           to
           us
           of
           that
           fatal
           Apostasie
           of
           Adam
           ,
           but
           either
           the
           imagination
           of
           some
           unknown
           pleasure
           ,
           or
           the
           bare
           curiosity
           of
           trying
           an
           experiment
           what
           the
           effects
           would
           be
           of
           tasting
           
             the
             forbidden
             fruit
          
           .
           And
           ever
           since
           so
           general
           hath
           the
           corruption
           of
           mankind
           been
           ,
           so
           successful
           have
           the
           artifices
           and
           deceits
           of
           sin
           been
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           the
           best
           of
           men
           have
           not
           wholly
           escaped
           them
           ;
           but
           have
           sometimes
           fallen
           in
           those
           very
           Graces
           which
           have
           been
           most
           remarkable
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           Abraham
           in
           his
           trust
           in
           God
           ,
           Moses
           in
           his
           meekness
           ,
           Iob
           in
           his
           patience
           ,
           Peter
           in
           his
           zeal
           for
           Christ.
           What
           cause
           then
           have
           others
           to
           look
           to
           themselvs
           !
        
         
           If
           wisdom
           and
           experience
           would
           have
           secured
           men
           ,
           we
           should
           have
           thought
           ,
           of
           all
           men
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           Solomon
           the
           least
           in
           danger
           of
           being
           deceived
           by
           the
           insinuations
           of
           sin
           ,
           who
           had
           given
           such
           excellent
           cautions
           against
           those
           very
           snares
           he
           fell
           into
           himself
           ;
           and
           that
           to
           such
           a
           degree
           ,
           that
           his
           case
           is
           left
           disputable
           to
           this
           day
           ,
           whether
           he
           ever
           recovered
           by
           repentance
           or
           no.
           What
           numbers
           are
           there
           upon
           
           record
           of
           those
           mighty
           men
           ,
           who
           have
           made
           the
           earth
           to
           tremble
           at
           the
           noise
           of
           their
           Armies
           ;
           who
           have
           led
           Kings
           in
           chains
           after
           their
           Triumphal
           Chariots
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           served
           by
           those
           whom
           others
           have
           adored
           ;
           yet
           have
           ,
           notwithstanding
           all
           this
           ,
           been
           enslaved
           themselves
           by
           some
           mean
           lust
           ,
           and
           destroyed
           by
           the
           power
           of
           an
           effeminate
           passion
           ?
           What
           can
           be
           strong
           enough
           to
           resist
           those
           charms
           ,
           which
           neither
           innocency
           ,
           nor
           wisdom
           ,
           nor
           power
           are
           sufficient
           security
           against
           ?
           Nothing
           ,
           but
           the
           
             Grace
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           continual
           care
           of
           our selves
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           less
           men
           suspect
           their
           danger
           ,
           the
           more
           cause
           they
           have
           to
           be
           afraid
           of
           it
           .
           None
           are
           more
           fatally
           deceived
           by
           sin
           ,
           than
           those
           who
           apprehend
           no
           danger
           in
           it
           ,
           or
           think
           they
           can
           escape
           it
           when
           they
           please
           .
           How
           strangely
           infatuated
           are
           those
           through
           
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
          
           ,
           who
           think
           with
           themselves
           ,
           that
           after
           they
           have
           spent
           their
           lives
           in
           sin
           ,
           they
           shall
           make
           God
           amends
           by
           a
           few
           dying
           groans
           ,
           and
           such
           a
           repentance
           as
           can
           have
           
             no
             amendment
             of
             life
          
           ?
           Most
           men
           ,
           who
           are
           the
           greatest
           slaves
           to
           their
           sins
           ,
           are
           so
           much
           deceived
           by
           them
           ,
           as
           to
           think
           they
           have
           them
           wholly
           at
           their
           command
           ,
           and
           can
           when
           they
           please
           cast
           them
           off
           :
           and
           such
           imaginations
           keep
           them
           faster
           in
           subjection
           to
           them
           .
           For
           if
           they
           did
           apprehend
           themselves
           under
           such
           slavery
           ,
           as
           really
           they
           are
           ,
           they
           
           would
           grow
           weary
           and
           impatient
           of
           the
           yoak
           ;
           whereas
           now
           because
           they
           are
           not
           forced
           to
           commit
           their
           sins
           ,
           they
           suppose
           they
           can
           with
           ease
           forsake
           them
           .
           But
           none
           are
           such
           incurable
           Fools
           ,
           as
           they
           that
           think
           themselves
           Wise
           ;
           and
           none
           are
           so
           miserably
           deceived
           as
           they
           that
           think
           themselves
           too
           cunning
           for
           their
           sins
           .
           If
           it
           be
           so
           easie
           to
           shake
           off
           your
           sins
           ,
           remember
           that
           your
           condemnation
           will
           be
           so
           much
           more
           just
           ,
           if
           you
           do
           it
           not
           ;
           for
           God
           required
           no
           hard
           thing
           for
           you
           to
           do
           :
           and
           if
           it
           be
           so
           easie
           ,
           why
           is
           it
           not
           hitherto
           done
           ?
           Why
           do
           you
           mock
           God
           so
           often
           ,
           and
           pretend
           every
           year
           to
           repent
           ,
           and
           yet
           are
           every
           year
           as
           bad
           ,
           if
           not
           worse
           than
           other
           ?
           Why
           are
           not
           
             the
             fruits
             of
             repentance
          
           seen
           in
           the
           amendment
           of
           life
           for
           one
           year
           ,
           or
           a
           moneth
           ,
           or
           one
           bare
           week
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           worth
           while
           to
           do
           so
           little
           for
           him
           ,
           that
           hath
           done
           so
           much
           for
           you
           ?
           Methinks
           ,
           common
           ingenuity
           might
           prevail
           with
           men
           ,
           at
           least
           to
           let
           God
           have
           some
           part
           of
           their
           lives
           entire
           to
           himself
           ,
           without
           interfering
           with
           the
           Devil
           .
           But
           therein
           lyes
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
          
           ,
           that
           it
           falls
           out
           here
           ,
           as
           in
           some
           malignant
           Diseases
           ,
           men
           seldom
           understand
           their
           danger
           ,
           till
           they
           are
           almost
           past
           recovery
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           None
           are
           so
           likely
           to
           be
           hardned
           in
           sin
           ,
           as
           those
           who
           delay
           and
           put
           off
           their
           repentance
           .
           For
           the
           very
           putting
           it
           off
           is
           a
           sign
           that
           sin
           
           hath
           a
           greater
           power
           ,
           than
           the
           convictions
           of
           Conscience
           :
           for
           why
           should
           men
           ever
           intend
           to
           repent
           ,
           if
           they
           did
           not
           think
           it
           necessary
           ?
           and
           if
           they
           think
           it
           necessary
           and
           yet
           do
           it
           not
           ,
           it
           is
           plain
           there
           is
           something
           within
           them
           stronger
           than
           Conscience
           ,
           which
           keeps
           them
           from
           it
           .
           So
           that
           he
           that
           intends
           to
           repent
           ,
           and
           yet
           lives
           in
           sin
           ,
           hath
           that
           aggravation
           of
           sin
           above
           others
           ,
           that
           he
           sins
           against
           his
           Conscience
           all
           that
           time
           .
           Tell
           me
           then
           ,
           O
           thou
           subtle
           sinner
           ,
           that
           hopest
           to
           be
           too
           hard
           for
           God
           and
           for
           sin
           too
           ,
           by
           enjoying
           thy
           sins
           as
           long
           as
           thou
           canst
           ,
           and
           then
           repenting
           at
           last
           ,
           to
           escape
           the
           vengeance
           of
           God
           :
           dost
           thou
           in
           good
           earnest
           intend
           ever
           to
           repent
           or
           no
           ?
           If
           thou
           dost
           not
           ,
           never
           deceive
           thy self
           ;
           God
           will
           not
           accept
           these
           pretences
           and
           promises
           instead
           of
           real
           repentance
           .
           If
           thou
           dost
           intend
           it
           sincerely
           ,
           what
           makes
           thee
           to
           intend
           it
           ?
           is
           it
           not
           ,
           that
           thou
           art
           convinced
           it
           is
           much
           better
           to
           be
           done
           than
           not
           ,
           but
           canst
           not
           find
           it
           in
           thy
           heart
           to
           do
           it
           yet
           ?
           Thou
           knowest
           all
           this
           while
           it
           were
           much
           better
           to
           leave
           thy
           sins
           ,
           than
           to
           live
           in
           them
           ,
           it
           were
           far
           better
           to
           be
           sober
           ,
           and
           temperate
           ,
           and
           pious
           ,
           and
           devout
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           debauched
           and
           profane
           ;
           and
           yet
           for
           all
           this
           ,
           thou
           dost
           not
           repent
           ,
           but
           goest
           on
           in
           the
           same
           course
           .
           Consider
           then
           ,
           that
           this
           very
           circumstance
           deeply
           aggravates
           every
           sin
           that
           is
           committed
           after
           it
           .
           For
           it
           is
           not
           a
           bare
           neglect
           
           of
           repentance
           ,
           which
           thou
           art
           guilty
           of
           ,
           but
           a
           contempt
           of
           God
           and
           Goodness
           ;
           it
           is
           ,
           not
           only
           not
           repenting
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           an
           obstinate
           and
           wilful
           resolution
           of
           sinning
           :
           for
           there
           is
           no
           medium
           between
           living
           in
           sin
           and
           forsaking
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           nothing
           deserves
           the
           name
           of
           Repentance
           ,
           that
           is
           short
           of
           that
           .
           And
           if
           thou
           art
           so
           wilful
           and
           unreasonable
           now
           ,
           as
           notwithstanding
           thy
           resolutions
           to
           repent
           ,
           to
           live
           still
           in
           thy
           sins
           ,
           how
           canst
           thou
           ever
           hope
           to
           repent
           at
           last
           ,
           when
           thy
           heart
           will
           be
           so
           much
           more
           hardned
           by
           continuance
           in
           sin
           ?
        
         
           4.
           
           Lastly
           ,
           Consider
           the
           sad
           condition
           of
           those
           who
           are
           hardned
           through
           the
           deceitfulness
           of
           sin
           .
           
           They
           are
           said
           in
           Scripture
           to
           be
           
             past
             feeling
          
           ,
           
           and
           
             to
             be
             given
             over
             to
             a
             reprobate
             mind
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           to
           have
           lost
           all
           sense
           of
           their
           danger
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           ill
           condition
           they
           are
           in
           ;
           they
           despise
           all
           means
           of
           instruction
           ,
           and
           scorn
           all
           those
           who
           would
           do
           them
           good
           ,
           and
           who
           mean
           them
           no
           other
           injury
           but
           to
           perswade
           them
           to
           be
           happy
           .
           With
           what
           disdain
           and
           contempt
           do
           those
           proud
           and
           lofty
           sinners
           ,
           who
           are
           once
           arrived
           at
           this
           height
           of
           wickedness
           ,
           look
           down
           upon
           all
           those
           ,
           who
           endeavour
           by
           Reason
           and
           Scripture
           to
           convince
           them
           of
           their
           sins
           !
           As
           though
           it
           were
           not
           possible
           for
           any
           thing
           to
           make
           men
           seem
           more
           ridiculous
           to
           them
           ,
           than
           to
           see
           them
           concerned
           to
           plead
           the
           cause
           of
           Vertue
           and
           Religion
           .
           
             To
             what
             purpose
             
             is
             all
             this
             ado
             about
             Repentance
             ?
             why
             should
             not
             men
             be
             let
             alone
             to
             do
             as
             they
             think
             fit
             ?
             for
             let
             them
             preach
             their
             hearts
             out
             ,
             men
             will
             do
             as
             they
             please
             .
          
           This
           is
           the
           language
           of
           those
           who
           are
           already
           hardned
           in
           their
           sins
           ;
           but
           God
           forbid
           ,
           it
           should
           be
           so
           of
           any
           here
           present
           ;
           who
           make
           it
           our
           prayer
           to
           God
           
             to
             be
             delivered
             from
             hardness
             of
             heart
             ,
             and
             contempt
             of
             his
             word
             and
             commandments
             .
          
           And
           we
           have
           great
           reason
           so
           to
           do
           ;
           for
           there
           is
           no
           judgement
           short
           of
           hell
           ,
           like
           to
           the
           being
           given
           up
           to
           a
           
             reprobate
             sense
          
           :
           for
           all
           the
           most
           weighty
           arguments
           and
           most
           forcible
           perswasions
           are
           to
           such
           but
           like
           showres
           falling
           upon
           a
           Rock
           ,
           that
           make
           some
           noise
           and
           slide
           off
           again
           ,
           but
           make
           no
           impression
           or
           entrance
           into
           them
           .
           
             God
             Almighty
          
           give
           us
           all
           his
           Grace
           to
           understand
           our
           danger
           and
           to
           repent
           in
           time
           ,
           that
           
             none
             of
             us
             be
             hardned
             through
             the
             deceitfulness
             of
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61608-e140
           
             Heb.
             10.
             32
             ,
             34.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             6.
             6.
             
          
           
             10.
             20.
             
          
           
             26.
             27.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             3.
             11.
             
          
           
             12.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             6.
             1
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             1.
             26
             ,
             27
             ,
             28
             ,
             29
             ,
             30
             ,
             31
             ,
             32.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             6.
             10.
             
             Ephes.
             4.
             17
             ,
             18.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             4.
             3.
             1
             
             Joh.
             5.
             19.
             
          
           
             Xen.
             ep
             .
             ad
             Aesch.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             2.
             6.
             1.
             18.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             6.
             7.
             
          
           
             Eph.
             5.
             6.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             4.
             3.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             13.
             14.
             
          
           
             Eph.
             4.
             20
             ,
             21
             ,
             24.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             6.
             4
             ,
             5.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             p.
             416.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             6.
             4
             ,
             6.
             
          
           
             Perzoes
             Proleg
             .
             3.
             c.
             10.
             ad
             Specim
             .
             sapient
             .
             vet
             .
             Indorum
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             4.
             8
             ,
             9.
             
          
           
             Warn
             .
             Prov.
             Persic
             .
             p.
             33.
             
          
           
             Eccl.
             8.
             11.
             
          
           
             Act.
             17.
             31.
             
          
           
             Psal.
             50.
             21.
             
          
           
             v.
             22.
             
          
           
             Ezek.
             33.
             8.
             
          
           
             Eph.
             4.
             19.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             1.
             28.