The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

3. The third fall is much worse, a fall from the third lost, whence like Eutichus they are taken up dead for the present, but they come to themselves again. These are falls into grosser and more scandalous sins which do Vastare conscientiam, set the stacks or Corn-fields of Conscience on fire, whereas the other two forenamed (especially the former) are such as Tertullian calls Quotidianae Incursionis, these are very dangerous, and befall not all Professors (they had not need) but now and then one falls into some scandalous sin, but they not usually again into the same sin after sense and repentance of it. Thus fell David and Peter into foul flagitiousness, but not deliberately, nor totally, nor finally, nor reiteratedly. Sin raged indeed, and seemed to reign for the present, Moses hands grew weak, and the hand of Amaleck prevailed for the present: But a seed of God was in them,¹ and they could not sin unto death, but were renewed to repentance, and their sins are blotted out.

1. 11 John 3.9.

This fall is like the fall of the Leaf in Autumn; life remains safe; a Spring in due time follows, though many a cold blast first.

This fall is like the fall of the Leafe in Autumn; life remains safe; a Spring in due time follows, though many a cold blast first.

4. There is yet one worse fall than these former incident to a child of God too, to be of the decaying hand, and to remit and lose his former fervour and liveliness.