A care-cloth

2.¹ Secondly, we must be constant in fighting against sin, even day by day, and hour by hour without intermission. If we give it truce for a day or two (as it were, a putting of the Canaanites to tribute only) it will recover so much strength, as after, we shall far more hardly keep it under, yea, it will go near to make us tributaries. A grievous sore must be dressed every day, and every day have new tents and plasters applied to it; if it be neglected one or two days, it will be the worse for it, perhaps a week or a month after. We must make it our chief work to be warring against sin; we must not only skirmish against it occasionally, but fight against it purposely. There is no business so much concerns us, as this of mortification; it should be set before our trades, and our studies, and food, and our sleep, and all the things of this life: we must follow it, as the Day-labourer doth his labour, day by day; and we must give our selves no leave to make a loitering day: yea, we must be constant in holding out to oppose sin, though we may find but small success at first. The Israelites fought against Benjamin the third day also, though they had lost two battles before. We must not suffer our little prevailing to dis-hearten us, but pray again, and again meditate, ⟨p. 159⟩and set the battle in array again, for all our losses. What saith David to Joab? ²The sword devoureth on both sides; let not this thing trouble thee, but make the battle more strong against the City, and overthrow it. So must we encourage our selves against sin: Great Captains have continued the siege of a City for many years together, though they have lost many men, & spent much money, and seemed little to prevail. We must resolve to continue this siege so long as we live, and to make hot assaults upon our corruptions daily, though sometimes we seem to our selves but to lose our labour; and he that holdeth out the combat, shall conquer.

2.¹ Secondly, we must be constant in fighting against sinne, euen day by day, and houre by houre without intermission. If we giue it truce for a day or two (as it were, a putting of the Canaanites to tribute only) it will recouer so much strength, as after, we shall far more hardly keepe it vnder, yea, it will goe neere to make vs tributaries. A grieuous sore must bee dressed euerie day, and euery day haue new tents and plasters applied to it; if it bee neglected one or two dayes, it will be the worse for it, perhaps a week or a moneth after. We must make it our chiefe worke to be warring against sinne; we must not onely skirmish against it occasionally, but fight against it purposely. There is no busines so much concernes vs, as this of mortification; it should bee set before our trades, and our studies, and food, and our sleepe, and all the things of this life: wee must follow it, as the Day-labourer doth his labour, day by day; and we must giue our selues no leaue to make a loytering day: yea, wee must bee constant in holding out to oppose sinne, though we may find but small successe at first. The Israelites fought against Beniamin the third day also, though they had lost two battels before. We must not suffer our little preuailing to dis-harten vs, but pray againe, and agine meditate,