A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

Serious Godliness will force something good out of the evil of Sin. Here it concerns me to speak with more Caution, than in any other ⟨p. 30⟩Case whatsoever; for we must not dare to venture upon Sin, through hopes of extracting good out of it, (as Chemists extract Spirits out of Soot, and Urine, &c.) No: The Apostle tells us,^* That those that do but say, that offer to say, we may do Evil, that Good may come of it, the Damnation of those slanderers is just. So that 'tis next to impossible, to be too shy of Sin, unless when Satan frights us into the omission of some duties, for fear of the Sins that inevitably cleave to them. In short, I would have you understand this Instance, to refer to Sins past, not future; to Sins already committed, that there's no other possible way of undoing what's done, but by Repentance; not of Sins not yet committed, as if I gave so much as the least encouragement to so much as the least Sin: Thus understanding the instance, I dare say it over again, Serious Godliness will force something of good out of the Evil of Sin. These are the Persons that cannot forget the Wormwood and the Gall of their Mortification;^x their Soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in them. These are the Persons that put a due estimate upon pardoning Mercy, and love Christ the more, for the more Sins he hath forgiven them: As Christ said of Mary Magdalen, ^yHer Sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same love little. The Blessed Apostle, that brands himself for the chief of Sinners^z before Conversion, dare own it, that^a he laboured more abundantly than all the Apostles after his Conversion: and 'tis peculiar to him to coin words,^b to magnify the Grace of God in Christ. Christians, I beseech you, let not any one take encouragement hence to Sin, but let the worst of Sinners take encouragement hence to repent: What though thou hast been one of the vilest wretches upon earth, thou mayest through Grace be one of the highest Saints in Heaven; and the sense of what thou hast been, may promote it: The rising ground of a Dunghill, may help to raise thy flight towards Heaven: Once more,