Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

5. The consideration of the evil of sin is a powerful motive to our solemn and speedy Repentance. The remembrance of our original and actual sins, will convince us, that we are born for repentance. There are innumerable silent sins, that are unobserved and do not Alarm the Conscience, and although a true Saint will neither hide any sin, nor suffer sin to hide it self in his breast, yet the most holy Men in the World, have great reason with the Psalmist to say with melting affections, who can understand his errors, O cleanse me from my secret sins, discover them to me by the light of the Word, and cover them in the blood of the Redeemer: There are sins of infirmity and daily incursion, from which none can be perfectly freed in this mortal state: these should ⟨p. 261⟩excite our watchfulness, and be lamented with true tears: There are crying sins, of a crimson guilt, which are to be confessed with heart-breaking sorrow, confounding shame, and implacable antipathy against them, and to be forsaken for ever. Of these, some are of a deep die in their nature, and some from the circumstances in committing them; some are of a heinous nature, and more directly and expressly renounce our duty, and more immediately obstruct our Communion with God. As a mud-wall intercepts the light of the Sun from shining upon us. 2. Some derive a greater guilt from the circumstances in the commission. Such are, 1. Sins against knowledge: for according to the ingrediency of the will in sin, the guilt arises. Now when Conscience interposes between the carnal Heart and the temptation, and represents the evil of sin, and deters from compliance, and yet Men will venture to break the Divine Law, this exceedingly aggravates the offence; for such sins are committed with a fuller consent, and are justly called rebellion against the light. And the clearer the light is, the more it will increase the disconsolate fearful darkness in Hell.

5. The consideration of the evil of sin is a powerful motive to our solemn and speedy Repentance. The remembrance of our original and actual sins, will convince us, that we are born for repentance. There are innumerable silent sins, that are unobserved and do not Alarm the Conscience, and altho a true Saint will neither hide any sin, nor suffer sin to hide it self in his brest, yet the most holy Men in the World, have great reason with the Psalmist to say with melting affections, who can understand his errors, O clense me from my secret sins, discover them to me by the light of the Word, and cover them in the blood of the Redeemer: There are sins of infirmity and dayly incursion, from which none can be perfectly freed in this mortal state: these should