The new birthThe nevv birth

He may slip into faults of gross nature, once, twice, many times, (sin cleaving so fast unto him as it doth), but still it is not his usual practise so to transgress. For in truth, now sin is become unnatural to him, and as contrary ⟨p. 53⟩to the life of grace bestowed upon him, as poison is contrary to his natural life; and as bitter things are to his taste, and harsh sounds unto his ear: wherefore his soul riseth against it, and he doth much more frequently overcome the tentations by resistance, then is overcome of them. Sins, I mean gross and grievous sins, are to him as deadly wounds to his body; which sometimes (as a man in a frenzy) he is drawn to give himself, but usually he doth not so. And when he doth so, the manner is exceedingly different from his former course. Then he committed it with greediness: now with great and continual reluctation. Then he kept in himself a purpose of sinning, if he could for fear of shame or danger: now his heart stands constantly resolute not to sin. Then he followed after the occasions of sinning: now he flies far from them. Then he shifted, and excused himself, having committed sin: now he becomes a most bitter and severe censurer of himself for sin, if he do commit it. Having fallen, he riseth again, and with anger indites and arraigns himself before the Lords tribunal. There he poureth forth many bitter lamentations, and could almost find in his heart to throw himself down to very hell for it. He thunders out against his own heart, all the bitter curses and threatenings of the Law; and is even almost willing, that God should even damn him for it, but that he hopeth, for his mercy sake, he will not so do. And such is his freedom from gross sins, that are against the plain light of nature, or express words of the Law, and wherein the members of the body are given as weapons of unrighteousness. He falls into them, if at all, yet seldom, and seldomer and seldomer, with ⟨p. 54⟩an horrible strife, with great anxiety, with little or no content; and with a most vehement condemning of himself, before the face of God, in secret, afterwards. Thus unless (perhaps) he be cast into a sown for a time, and cannot yet rise again:

He may slip into faults of grosse nature, once, twice, many times, (sin cleauing so fast vnto him as it doth), but still it is not his vsuall practise so to transgresse. For in truth, now sin is become vnnaturall to him, and as contrarie