The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Direct. 12. If ever you will scape sin, keep off from strong temptations and opportunities. He that will be still near the fire or water, may be burnt or drowned at last. No man is long safe in the midst of danger, and at the next step to ruin. He that liveth in a Tavern or Ale-house, had need to be very averse to tippling. And he that sitteth at Dives table, had need to be very averse to gulosity: And he that is in the least danger of the fire of lust, must keep at a sufficient distance, not only from the bed, and from immodest actions, but from secret company and opportunities of sin, and from a licentious ungoverned eye and imagination. This caused Christ to say, How hard it is for the Rich to be saved? because they have a stronger fleshly interest to keep them from Christ and godliness, which must be denied; and because their sin hath plentiful provision, and the fire of concupiscence wanteth no fuel, and it is a very easy thing to them still to sin, and always a hard thing to avoid it: And mans sluggish nature will hardly long either hold on in that which is hardly done, or forbear that which is still hard to forbear. Good must be made sweet and easy to us, or else we shall never be constant in it.

Direct. 12. If ever you will scape sin, keep off from strong temptations and opportunities. He that will be still neer the fire or water, may be burnt or drowned at last. No man is long safe in the midst of danger, and at the next step to ruine. He that liveth in a Tavern or Ale-house, had need to be very averse to tipling. And he that sitteth at Dives table, had need to be very averse to gulosity: And he that is in the least danger of the fire of lust, must keep at a sufficient distance, not only from the bed, and from immodest actions, but from secret company and opportunities of sin, and from a licentious ungoverned eye and imagination. This caused Christ to say, How hard it is for the Rich to be saved? because they have a stronger fleshly interest to keep them from Christ and godliness, which must be denyed; and because their sin hath plentiful provision, and the fire of concupiscence wanteth no fewel, and it is a very easie thing to them still to sin, and alwaies a hard thing to avoid it: And mans sluggish nature will hardly long either hold on in that which is hardly done, or forbear that which is still hard to forbear. Good must be made sweet and easie to us, or else we shall never be constant in it.