The Return of Prayers

5. If there were not such a possibility, as might and doth sometimes fall out; then every regenerate man, after such a renewed act of repentance, might secure himself against the committing that gross act again for ever; but so he can never do against any particular act of sin, but that sin against the Holy Ghost. Saint Paul therefore exhorts, when a brother is fallen into a ⟨p. 357⟩sin, to restore such an one with the spirit of meekness; upon this consideration, considering thy self, lest thou also be tempted; and he lays the exhortation upon those who are most spiritual; Ye that are spiritual, restore such an one, considering thy self lest thou also be tempted, Gal. 6. 1. so as he speaks of such, as have their hearts raised up to the best frame, through the most deep, and serious repentance: and now we will suppose one, that hath formerly fallen himself into the same sin, which another is fallen into, but not yet restored, but himself is returned ⟨p. 358⟩by repentance out of it: (for indeed, such a spiritual man, is of all other like to be the meekest bonesetter of a man fallen,) & even such doth Saint Paul exhort to consider, that themselves may for the time to come, be also or in like manner tempted, that is, fall as this man fell; and therefore so be tempted as to fall into the same sin again, that he was fallen into. And if any man could be secure from the like fall again, he had been out of the reach of this exhortation to this duty upon that ground mentioned, as not capable of it. But the Holy Ghost hath else where, 1. Cor. 10. 13. ⟨p. 359⟩told us, that there is no tentation which is common to man, but is incident to befall any man, at any time; and therefore verse 12, exhorts him that standeth, to take heed lest be fall: indeed, that temptation which is common to Devils with men, the sin of final despair, and against the holy Ghost, &c. a regenerate man may through the grace of Christ, secure himself against: but, all such sins as are common to man, from these or any of them, no man in any state, can without an extraordinary revelation, secure himself from the commission of.