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

Let me press this with a few considerations.

1. The more thou yieldest the more thou mayest. Sin is unsatiable, it will never say it is enough. Give it an inch, it will take an ell: See the sad example of Peter denying his Lord, Matth 26. 1. He was only timorous, he follows afar off, vers. 58. 2. At the next step he denies his Lord openly before them all, vers. 70. 3. He adds an oath to it, vers. 72. And lastly, vers. 74. he falls a cursing and swearing as if he meant to out-sin the vilest there. It is no wisdom to try conclusions between fire and Gun-powder in the heap. Who but a fool would unlock the door of his house, when it is beset with Thieves, and excuse it, he did but turn the key, that was all. Why, he need do no more, to undo himself, they will easily do all the rest.

1. The more thou yeeldest the more thou mayest. Sin is unsatiable, it will never say it is enough. Give it an inch, it will take an ell: See the sad example of Peter denying his Lord, Matth 26. 1. He was only timerous, he follows afar off, vers. 58. 2. At the next step he denies his Lord openly before them all, vers. 70. 3. He adds an oath to it, vers. 72. And lastly, vers. 74. he falls a cursing and swearing as if he meant to out-sin the vilest there. It is no wisdome to try conclusions between fire and Gun-powder in the heap. Who but a fool would unlock the door of his house, when it is beset with Thieves, and excuse it, he did but turn the key, that was all. Why, he need do no more, to undo himself, they will easily do all the rest.

2. It is the quarrel of the Lord of Hosts, in which thou fightest,