Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

Lastly, from the consideration of this sin we should be exhorted unto these needful duties: First, to much i•alousie against our selves, not to trust any of our faculties alone, nor to be too confident upon presumptions, or experiences of our own strength. •ob would not trust his eyes¹ without a covenant, nor David his mouth without a bridle; so strangely and unexpectedly will nature break ⟨p. 214⟩out if it feel it self a little loose, as may cost a man many a cry and tear to set himself right again. Though a Lyon seem never so tame, though the Sea seem never so calm, give them no passage, keep on the chain, look still to the Bulwarks, for there is a rage in them which cannot be tamed. Venture not on any temptation, be not confident of any grace received so as to slacken your wonted zeal, count not your selves to have apprehended any thing, forget that which is behind, press forward to the price that is before you; and ever suspect the treachery and tergiversation of your own hearts. Joseph flung out, and would not trust himself in the company of his mistress, He hearkened not to her to lye by her, or to be ²with her, company might easily have kindled concupiscence, a little of Satan's blowing might have carried the fire from one stick unto another. David would have no wicked thing in his house, nor in his sight; sin is a³ plague, he knew how full of ill humours, and seeds of alike evil, his heart was; how apt to catch every infection that came near it, and therefore he took care to decline the very objects and examples of sin. God would not suffer any people, or monuments of Idolaters to be⁴ spared, lest they should prove temptations and snares to his own people; and their hearts should run after the like sins. Keep thine heart, saith Solomon, with al• ⁵diligence, never let thine eye be off from it, hide the word, and the spirit always in it, to watch it, for there is an adulterer ever at hand to steal it away. Therefore the Lord would have the Israelites bind Ribbands upon