The new birthThe nevv birth

but howsoever, he languisheth and is sick, he loseth the sense of Gods favour; the desire of Gods service; the comforts of Gods Word; and the love of the coming of Christ Jesus. Lust, revenge, deceit, love of money, love of credit, love of pleasure, and all other corrupt affections lodging within (if they once so far prevail, that a man is willing to follow them, in thoughts and words agreeable to their wicked nature) do by little and little even grieve the Spirit of God, and quench the graces of the holy Ghost, till after a while, a man falleth into some wicked act of some of these kinds: and, Oh then, the burning, and shooting, ⟨p. 131⟩and swelling of the body after the drinking of Rats-bane, is not more manifest in the body, then the miserable effects of these sins are evident in the soul. The conscience begins to accuse; God is alienated; the hart is hardened; the mind blinded; and sometimes a man lies long (as it were) in a sown, before he can recover himself by repentance. Wherefore the godly mans care must be, to oppose the first motions of sin, to fly the occasions of evil doing, to be careful of restraining himself from the very smallest degrees of wickedness: for a little sin allowed, will bring in a greater; till that come accompanied with the greatest of all; and that make a man little less then dead the second time. We must therefore cast away the superfluity of maliciousness (that is, this allowing of sin, and pleasing our selves in the occasions, & first degrees of it), if ever we desire the spiritual health and well-fare of our inner man. Davids conceitedness begat idleness; idleness begat adultery; adultery, murder; and all, a long lying, and deep sleep in sin. It is woeful to consider the miserable ruins, that have been made in the souls of many of Gods servants, by their carelessness this way; how weak they have grown! how their acquaintance with God, their delight in his Word, their comfort in prayer, their desire of being dissolved, and their joy in a godly life, hath been interrupted! and how they have come to that pass, as scarce to show to others, or find in themselves any sign of living! Perhaps this may be the very case of some amongst you, that hear me at this time: O (if it be) get thee a preservative; take thee a large quantity of godly sorrow;

but howsoeuer, hee languisheth and is sicke, he leeseth the sense of Gods fauour; the desire of Gods seruice; the comforts of Gods Word; and the loue of the comming of Christ Iesus. Lust, reuenge, deceit, loue of money, loue of credit, loue of pleasure, and all other corrupt affections lodging within (if they once so farre preuaile, that a man is willing to follow them, in thoughts and words agreeable to their wicked nature) doe by little and little euen grieue the Spirit of God, and quench the graces of the holy Ghost, till after a while, a man falleth into some wicked act of some of these kinds: and, Oh then, the burning, and shooting,