The Return of Prayers

Caution 4 4. He may fall into the same sin again and again, until he hath recovered himself, and his peace fully by a thorough repentance, but yet seldom after. Lot committed incest two nights together; but the orifice of his lust, was not yet stopped by repentance; the wound was not closed, and so bled again afresh; but when it is healed once, and the heart made perfect with God, and divorced from that sin, and entered into Communion with God again; then though it may fall out, yet a man more ⟨p. 378⟩hardly returns. A woman that is gone from her husband may play the whore a long while with him she ran away withal, till her husband fetches her again: but to run often away, after receiving again, is intolerable. That is not so ordinary in Gods child.

Cautiō 4 4. He may fall into the same sinne againe and againe, untill hee hath recovered himselfe, and his peace fully by a thorough repentance, but yet seldome after. Lot committed incest two nights together; but the orifice of his lust, was not yet stopped by repentance; the wound was not closed, and so bled againe afresh; but when it is healed once, and the heart made perfect with God, and divorced from that sinne, and entred into Communion with God againe; then though it may fall out, yet a man more ⟨p. 378⟩hardly returnes. A woman that is gone from her husband may play the whore a long while with him she ran away withall, till her husband fetches her again: but to run often away, after receiving again, is intolerable. That is not so ordinary in Gods childe.

Caution 5 5. Though we can hardly set limits to say when, or when not, this shall fall out from the degrees of mens repentings: as that if they have such or such a degree of repentance, then they fall no more: yet we may further consider a difference of their returnings to God, & repentings; and of Gods ⟨p. 379⟩speaking peace.