Let us even after we have good evidence and assurance of the pardon of our sin, remain watchful against all enticements and temptations to sin, and well remember that caveat, ⟨p. 256⟩which Christ gave both to him that he healed at the pool of Bethesda, 1and also to her whom, notwithstanding she were taken in the act of adultery,2 he absolved, Sin no more. This caveat doth not imply that a man may keep himself pure from all sin, but that he ought with the best care and greatest watchfulness that he can endeavour to be so pure. Care therefore must be taken to prevent sin to come, as well as to seek redress for sin past: otherwise sin will soon creep upon us again. If Satan be cast out of a man, he will endeavour to return into the house from whence he was cast out;3 and if he find it empty he will soon take his opportunity, and enter with seven other spirits more wicked then himself. They who take notice of Satan's subtlety in this kind, do by woeful experience find, that after their most frequent prayers, strictest observation of the Sabbath, sincerest participation of the blessed Sacrament, solemnest humiliation of their souls on a day of Fast, in and by which holy duties, they have obtained great assurance of the pardon of their sins, and much comfort to their souls, Satan hath been very busy in tempting them afresh, and drawing them to wallow in the mire of sin. Though therefore Christ himself should say to us at once he did to the man which was brought on a bed to him,g Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you, yet have we no cause to be careless and secure, but rather to be the more watchful, lestf Satan by a re-entry make our last estate worse then the first. We have need therefore of daily sanctification, that we who sin daily may cleanse away our sins by continual sanctification.
Let vs euen after wee haue good euidence and assurance of the pardon of our sinne, remaine watchfull against all enticements and temptations to sinne, and well remember that caueat, ⟨p. 256⟩which Christ gaue both to him that he healed at the poole of Bethesda, 1and also to her whom, notwithstanding she were taken in the act of adulterie,2 he absolued, Sinne no more. This caueat doth not imply that a man may keepe himselfe pure from all sinne, but that hee ought with the best care and greatest watchfulnesse that hee can endeuour to bee so pure. Care therefore must be taken to preuent sinne to come, as well as to seeke redresse for sinne past: otherwise sinne will soone creepe vpon vs againe. If Satan be cast out of a man, he will endeuour to returne into the house from whence hee was cast out;3 and if hee finde it empty he will soone take his opportunitie, and enter with seuen other spirits more wicked then himselfe. They who take notice of Satans subtilty in this kinde, doe by wofull experience finde, that after their most frequent prayers, strictest obseruation of the Sabbath, sincerest participation of the blessed Sacrament, solemnest humiliation of their soules on a day of Fast, in and by which holy duties, they haue obtained great assurance of the pardon of their sinnes, and much comfort to their soules, Satan hath beene very busie in tempting them afresh, and drawing them to wallow in the mire of sinne. Though therefore Christ himselfe should say to vs at once hee did to the man which was brought on a bed to him,g Be of good cheere, your sinnes are forgiuen you, yet haue we no cause to bee carelesse and secure, but rather to bee the more watchfull, lestf Satan by a re-entry make our last estate worse then the first. Wee haue need therefore of dayly sanctification, that wee who sinne dayly may cleanse away our sinnes by continuall sanctification.
