A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

And, 1. You must difference between the Entrance into holiness, and the Progress: and between a new beginner, that is but lately turned from his ungodliness, and one that hath had time to try and understand the ways of God. Those that are entering, or but newly come in, must needs have sorrow. But what is the cause of it? Not their Godliness, but their ungodliness. I mean, It is their ungodliness which they lament, though it be godliness that causeth them to lament it: Can you expect that an ingenuous man should see his sin, and look back on so many years transgressions, and not be grieved? To see that he hath so long abused God, and lost his time, and neglected his salvation, and that he hath lain so long in so miserable a state, must needs cause remorse in the conscience that hath any feeling. And will you say that Godliness is unpleasant, because it makes a man sorrow for his ungodliness? If a man that hath killed his dearest friend, or his own Father, be grieved for the fact when he cometh to repentance, will you blame his Repentance or his Murder for his grief? Will you say, [What a hurtful thing is this Repentance?] or rather [What an odious crime was it that must be so repented of?] Would you wish a man that hath lived so long in sin and misery, to have no sorrow for it at his return? Especially when it is but a healing sorrow, preparing for remission, and not a sorrow joined with despair, as theirs will be that die impenitently? Observe the complaints of penitent souls, whether it be their present Godliness or their former ungodliness, which they lament? Will you hear a man lament his former sinful careless life, and yet will you lay the blame on the contrary course of duty, which now he hath undertaken? You may as wisely accuse a man for landing in a safe harbour, because he there lamenteth his loss by shipwreck ⟨p. 325⟩while he was at Sea. Or as wisely may you blame a man for rising, that complaineth how he hurt himself by his fall. And as honestly may you accuse the chastity of your wife, because she lamenteth her former adultery; or the fidelity of your friend or servant, because he lamenteth his former unfaithfulness.

And, 1. You must difference between the Entrance into holiness, and the Progress: and between a new beginner, that is but lately turned from his ungodliness, and one that hath had time to try and understand the wayes of God. Those that are entering, or but newly come in, must needs have sorrow. But what is the cause of it? Not their Godliness, but their ungodliness. I mean, It is their ungodliness which they lament, though it be godliness that causeth them to lament it: Can you expect that an ingenuous man should see his sin, and look back on so many years transgressions, and not be grieved? To see that he hath so long abused God, and lost his time, and neglected his salvation, and that he hath lain so long in so miserable a state, must needs cause remorse in the conscience that hath any feeling. And will you say that Godliness is unpleasant, because it makes a man sorrow for his ungodliness? If a man that hath killed his dearest friend, or his own Father, be grieved for the fact when he cometh to repentance, will you blame his Repentance or his Murder for his grief? Will you say, [What a hurtful thing is this Repentance?] or rather [What an odious crime was it that must be so repented of?] Would you wish a man that hath lived so long in sin and misery, to have no sorrow for it at his return? Especially when it is but a healing sorrow, preparing for remission, and not a sorrow joyned with despair, as theirs will be that die impenitently? Observe the complaints of penitent souls, whether it be their present Godliness or their former ungodliness, which they lament? Will you hear a man lament his former sinful careless life, and yet will you lay the blame on the contrary course of duty, which now he hath undertaken? You may as wisely accuse a man for landing in a safe harbour, because he there lamenteth his loss by shipwrack