Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. The experience they have already had of the deceitfulness of their own hearts, and perhaps of others in the like condition. It may be they have known others upon a sick bed look as like Penitents as they now do, who yet upon their recovery from their Diseases, have relapsed into sin, and by returning to their former Lusts, have confuted their Profession, and evidenced their repentance to have been unsound and hypocritical. And this may make them fear lest things may be no better with themselves, and their repentings no more real than their Neighbours. Or it may be they themselves formerly, when under a Sentence of Death, have had strong convictions of sin, been filled with horror of Conscience, and dismal apprehensions of approaching damnation. It may be they have grieved for sin, been vexed at themselves for their old Follies; it may be they have had good desires and purposes, made promises and vows of devoting themselves to the fear of God, and never again returning to their former sinful courses, if it should please the Lord to restore them; and yet no sooner were they raised up again, but they changed their purposes, brake their promises, stifled or wore off their convictions, and grew worse than before; the Devil that went out of them when they were sick, returned into them when well, and seven more with him, Matth. 12.43. &c. And they know not but things might be as bad with them now, if God should restore them, as they have heretofore been; They fear lest their Hearts, which they have found so deceitful, fickle, slippery, should play tricks with them, and dissemble, and pretend what ⟨p. 237⟩they never mean; and so from the trial they have had of them they dare not trust them, but suspect all their present relenting, mourning, confession, mortification, to be false and counterfeit.

1. The experience they have already had of the deceitfulness of their own hearts, and perhaps of others in the like condition. It may be they have known others upon a sick bed look as like Penitents as they now do, who yet upon their recovery from their Diseases, have relapsed into sin, and by returning to their former Lusts, have confuted their Profession, and evidenc'd their repentance to have been unsound and hypocritical. And this may make them fear lest things may be no better with themselves, and their repentings no more real than their Neighbours. Or it may be they themselves formerly, when under a Sentence of Death, have had strong convictions of sin, been filled with horror of Conscience, and dismal apprehensions of approaching damnation. It may be they have greived for sin, been vex'd at themselves for their old Follies; it may be they have had good desires and purposes, made promises and vows of devoting themselves to the fear of God, and never again returning to their former sinful courses, if it should please the Lord to restore them; and yet no sooner were they raised up again, but they changed their purposes, brake their promises, stifled or wore off their convictions, and grew worse than before; the Devil that went out of them when they were sick, returned into them when well, and seven more with him,