but afterwards when they are admitted, either by force take possession, or else upon further acquaintance and better liking, desire to make longer abode. Lastly, because the occasions of sin daily are many, as the objects of unlawful pleasures, which bewitch us with their alluring tunes, and of sinful gain and profit, which like golden chains, draw us into wicked courses; and of pride and vain-glory, which easily persuade us, who are naturally ambitious, to use any means which may further our advancement. Unto which, we may add the daily occasions of unjust anger, thrusting us on to revenge; of envy or disdain; of wantonness and uncleanness; of vain, unsavoury, and rotten communication, through sinful society and wicked company, and innumerable such others; all which will powerfully draw us to sin, if we be not daily armed against it. In all which respects, it is most necessary that we arm our selves, and make daily war against all our sins, especially against those which clean fastest to our corrupt natures, and unto which we are most prone and apt to fall. Of which we may take the better and surer notice, if we consider what they were, which before our conversion did most reign and rule in us, seeing these in the state of regeneration, though they be deposed from their regency, yet will, of all others be most hardly expelled; or being in some measure driven out, yet out of their experience of their former victories, will conceive hope of repossessing their wonted hold, and to this end will lurk and hover about us, that they may spy opportunity of re-entering, like Crows and other birds of prey, which are beaten off a field, where they have long used to feed. As also if we observe what are those sins which our corruption most liketh and longeth after, and is most ready to extenuate and excuse, when we are touched and reproved for them, making them light and venial, by gilding them over with vain, frivolous, or false pretences. And finally, we may know them by ⟨p. 202⟩our own lamentable experience, when as we carefully observe what sins most distract us in all good exercises, and hinder our growth in godliness; and what they be, into which, through frailty we most often fall, and whereby we have been most overtaken.
but afterwards when they are admitted, either by force take possession, or else vpon further acquaintance and better liking, desire to make longer abode. Lastly, because the occasions of sinne daily are many, as the obiects of vnlawfull pleasures, which bewitch vs with their alluring tunes, and of sinfull gaine and profit, which like golden chaines, draw vs into wicked courses; and of pride and vaine-glory, which easily perswade vs, who are naturally ambitious, to vse any meanes which may further our aduancement. Vnto which, wee may adde the daily occasions of vniust anger, thrusting vs on to reuenge; of enuy or disdaine; of wantonnesse and vncleannesse; of vaine, vnsauoury, and rotten communication, through sinfull society and wicked company, and innumerable such others; all which will powerfully draw vs to sinne, if wee be not daily armed against it. In all which respects, it is most necessary that wee arme our selues, and make daily warre against all our sinnes, especially against those which cleane fastest to our corrupt natures, and vnto which we are most prone and apt to fall. Of which we may take the better and surer notice, if wee consider what they were, which before our conuersion did most raigne and rule in vs, seeing these in the state of regeneration, though they be deposed from their regency, yet will, of all others be most hardly expelled; or being in some measure driuen out, yet out of their experience of their former victories, will conceiue hope of repossessing their wonted hold, and to this end will lurke and honer about vs, that they may spie opportunity of re-entring, like Crowes and other birds of prey, which are beaten off a field, where they haue long vsed to feede. As also if we obserue what are those sinnes which our corruption most liketh and longeth after, and is most ready to extenuate and excuse, when we are touched and reprooued for them, making them light and veniall, by gilding them ouer with vaine, friuolous, or false pretences. And finally, wee may know them by ⟨p. 202⟩our owne lamentable experience, when as we carefully obserue what sinnes most distract vs in all good exercises, and hinder our growth in godlinesse; and what they bee, into which, through frailty we most often fall, and whereby we haue beene most ouertaken.
