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…

But why does David ⟨p. 105⟩pray thus, So (says he) shall I be innocent from the great transgression. Mark, he does not pray thus, Lord keep me from presumptuous sins, that so I may be free from troubles without, and from terrors within, or from Hell beneath; but Lord keep me from presumptuous sins, that so I may be innocent from the great transgression. He does not say, so shall I be free from the great correction, but so shall I be free from the great transgression. That's a heart worth gold, that is more sensible and more affected with the evil that is in sin, than with the evil that comes by sin.¹ 'Twas a weighty saying of Austin, That man (says he) which fears Hell, he doth not fear to sin, but fears to burn; but that man fears to sin, that fears sin as he would fear Hell. Common Grace never works a man thus to fear sin, but renewing grace doth. Common convictions carry the Soul out to look more on the evil that comes by sin, than on the evil that is in sin; and hence it comes to pass, that Souls under common convictions, are more affected and afflicted at the fear of Hell, and dread of wrath and damnation, than they are affected or afflicted at the vileness, odiousness, and heinous nature of sin. When an unsanctified person is angry with sin, and chides sin, and falls out with sin; and makes some head against sin, 'tis either because it hath cracked his credit, or clouded his honour, or hindered his profit, or embittered his pleasure, or provoked his friends, or incensed the Magistrate, or enraged his Conscience, or exposed him to shame, disgrace, or contempt here, and Hell hereafter. B•t never because a holy God is dishonoured, a righteous Law transgressed, a blessed Saviour frequently Crucified, or the blessed Spirit greatly grieved. The child will not touch the Coal because it will burn him, and the prudent man will not touch the Coal because it will s••t him. A gracious heart rises against sin because of its defiling and polluting nature, but an unsanctified heart rises against sin because of its burning and damning nature. A sanctified person hates sin, because it pollutes his soul, but an unsanctified person hates it because it destroys his soul. A sanctified person loathes sin, and abhors sin, because it fights against Gods holiness; but an unsanctified person ⟨p. 106⟩