The spiritual watchThe spirituall vvatch

First, before sin: For the one, ^ahis main desire² and purpose, his general resolution and endeavour is not to sin at all, howsoever ^bof infirmity, or ^cthrough over-sight, or ^dthrough violence of temptation, or ^estrength of corruption, he slip and slide into, or be pushed upon, or enticed unto and ensnared in sin oft ere he be aware: whereas the other standeth indifferently affected to sin or to forbear sin, as occasion shall be ministered and offered of either; or rather inclining, as his corrupt heart naturally carieth him, to the ready embracing of any evil that opportunity is offered of, and that standeth with his own natural desire. So that the one is like unto a Watchman that being appointed to watch, so soon as he cometh to the place where he should watch, ^flayeth himself down to sleep, or sitteth recklessly, not regarding whether he sleep or keep awake. Whereas the other is like one that being set to watch, ^gstriveth to keep himself waking, and desireth so to do, but yet through the drowsiness of his disposition and long continuance without rest, chanceth sometime to slumber, though he purposed it not. Or the one is like a man that goeth to Church to try if he can catch a nap there, and so soon therefore as he is in his seat setteth him to sleep, which the sooner he falleth into, the sooner hath he his desire: The other is like ^hEutichus, that came not, in all ⟨p. 126⟩likelihood, to Pauls Sermon with a purpose to sleep at it: (if he had purposed it, he would never have made choice of the place he did to sit in, where he should no sooner slumber but he should be in danger of downfall and of as much as his life was worth:) but yet through Pauls long preaching, and his own long waking, he was a length overcome with sleep, though he little thought or meant, it may be, when he came in, that he so should. Like the former is that man that keepeth not watch at all, like the latter he that keepeth ordinarily some watch over his soul. The one