A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

First, A universal willingness to be rid of all sin, is an ⟨p. 89⟩infallible evidence of the truth of Grace in a mans Soul;¹ the first saving work of the Spirit upon the soul, is the dividing between sin and the soul, tis a making an utter breach betwixt sin and the soul, tis a dissolving of that old League that has been between the sinner and his sin. The first work of the Spirit, is to make a man look upon sin as an enemy and to deal with sin as an enemy, to hate it as an enemy, to loath it as an enemy, to fear it as an enemy, and to arm against it as an enemy. When the holy spirit takes possession of the Soul, from that day forward the soul looks upon sin with as evil, and as envious an eye as Saul looked on David when the evil spirit was upon him. O, saith Saul, that I were but once well rid of this David; and O (saith the gracious Soul) that I were but once well rid of this proud heart, this hard heart, this unbelieving heart, this unclean heart, this froward heart, this earthly heart of mine, &c.² Look as the daughters of Heth even made Rebekah weary of her life, so corruptions within makes the gracious soul even weary of his life. Many a day have I sought death with tears (said blessed Cowper) not out of impatience, distrust, or perturbation, ³but because I am weary of sin, and fearful to fall into it. Look as when Christ hath won the will, he hath won the man: So when sin hath lost the will, it hath lost the man. The will is the heart; My Son give me thy heart, is, My Son give me thy will; the will is the Fort-Royal of the Soul, tis that strong hold that stands out stoutest, and longest against all the Assaults of Heaven; when the will is won all is won, the Castle is won, the heart is won; the man is won when the will is won. A mans judgment and reason may say, I ought t• ••rn from sin, and his Conscience may say, I must turn from sin, or it will be bitterness in the end, and yet the work not done, nor the Soul won; but when the heart says, the will says, I will turn from sin, then the work is done, and the man is won. Where reason saith these lusts ought to be subdued, and the Conscience saith these lusts must be subdued, and the Will saith these lusts shall be subdued, (