An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Secondly, This sin is to be aggravated, Because it is such a secret, close ¹inbred sin, it is the last sin that will be mortified. There is a difficulty of finding it out, and a difficulty of overcoming it, when it is discovered, and both these make it the more dangerous and damnable sin. It is difficult to find it out: This sin like Saul hideth it self behind the stuff; you may search and search, as they did for the Spies in Rahab's house; but because something or other covereth this sin, therefore you pass it by undiscerned. How apt are we to say, I do not trust in my graces. I do not trust in my gifts? Would you not have me to take notice of them? How can I then be thankful to God? How can I bless God for them? And for my graces, Do not all Divines say, though they may not trust in them, yet they may take them as comfortable signs of Gods favour, and thereupon rejoice before God, yea and plead them against the accusation of Satan, or as an argument to God, not by way of merit, but because of the gracious promise made by God to our graces after this manner? Hezekiah under the sentence of death prayed, Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with an upright heart, 2 King. 20. 3. Thus also Paul did, I have fought a good fight, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory, 2 Tim. 4. 7. All this is true, godly men are allowed to take comfort from their graces, and thankfully to receive the evidences of Gods love thereby; but how hard a matter is it to stay there, and go no further? How difficultly are consolations from them, and confidence in them, separated one from another? Even as to have riches, and not to trust in riches, so to have grace, and not trust in grace; and the rather, by how much grace is accounted a more excellent thing then wealth. As it is hard to find it out, so no less difficult to overcome it. Caesar had some enemies, of whom he said it was, Difficilius invenire, quam vincere; but it is not so with this corruption. Paul himself cannot so quickly shake off this viper that sticketh not to his hand, but close to the heart. For as faith is therefore the most difficult grace, because it carrieth us out of our selves, out of the creatures, out of all things, and fixeth the heart upon God alone: So on the contrary, this is the sin that is most easy, and where unto we are most propense;