Thirdly, Yet, suppose sin hath got in, a gracious heart is easily convinced of his sin, a little matter will convince him, after his sin ⟨p. 62⟩hath overcome him; he will not stand pleading for his sin, he will not stand in defence of his sin, so as a wicked man doth: we find David, though a King, and a man of a notable Spirit, yet in 2 Sam. […] when Nathan came to him to tell him of his sin, presently saith David to Nathan, in the 13. v. I have sinned against the Lord: Nathan told him that he was the man, he did not stand out, Why, prove it if you can; who is able to say that I did this and this wickedness? No, I have sinned against the Lord: He falls down before the word of the Prophet, and acknowledges his sin, he is easily convinced of his sin, if he be godly: Whereas a wicked man will stand pleading for his sin, pleading against it, that he hath not committed it, except that you find him out by some apparent hand; he will be pleading for his sin, either that he is not guilty, or if he be guilty, that it is not so great, it is but his nature▪ O! a godly man pleads not after this manner▪ Nature! he looks upon his sin as so much the more vile because it proceeds from such a wicked and cursed nature of his, and therefore David, in Psal. 51. when he was acknowledging the act of sin that he had been guilty of, when •e comes to consider of hi• nature, O! I was conceived in sin (saith he) and brought forth in iniquity: He makes tha• to be a great aggravation of his sin, because i• ⟨p. 63⟩did flow from such a wicked nature: It is an Argument of gross ignorance, of a man or woman that knows not the things of God, and is not acquainted with Scripture, to plead for a sin, That it is their nature; It is the worse because of that: If a Thief should come to the bar, and plead before the Judg, Indeed I have committed this theft, but it is my nature; would this be a plea before a Judg? and certainly this plea will not go before the great Judg of all the World, to say, it is thy nature; No, the Saints know their sin is aggravated by that—Secondly, Neither will a Child of God ordinarily plead that it is a temptation; O! I, it is a temptation that hath prevailed against me, I was tempted to it, and such and such were the cause of it; I, but a gracious heart will rather charge the wickedness that is within it, then charge a temptation;
Thirdly, Yet, suppose sin hath got in, a gracious heart is easily convinc't of his sin, a little matter will convince him, after his sin ⟨p. 62⟩hath overcome him; he will not stand pleading for his sin, he will not stand in defence of his sin, so as a wicked man doth: we find David, though a King, and a man of a notable Spirit, yet in 2 Sam. 〈…〉 when Nathan came to him to tell him of his sin, presently saith David to Nathan, in the 13. v. I have sinned against the Lord: Nathan told him that he was the man, he did not stand out, Why, prove it if you can; who is able to say that I did this and this wickedness? No, I have sinned against the Lord: He falls down before the word of the Prophet, and acknowledges his sin, he is easily convinc't of his sin, if he be godly: Whereas a wicked man will stand pleading for his sin, pleading against it, that he hath not committed it, except that you find him out by some apparent hand; he will be pleading for his sin, either that he is not guilty, or if he be guilty, that it is not so great, it is but his nature▪ O! a godly man pleads not after this manner▪ Nature! he looks upon his sin as so much the more vile because it proceeds from such a wicked and cursed nature of his, and therefore David, in Psal. 51. when he was acknowledging the act of sin that he had been guilty of, when •e comes to consider of hi• nature, O! I was conceived in sin (saith he) and brought forth in iniquity: He makes tha• to be a great aggravation of his sin, because i• ⟨p. 63⟩did flow from such a wicked nature: It is an Argument of gross ignorance, of a man or woman that knows not the things of God, and is not acquainted with Scripture, to plead for a sin, That it is their nature; It is the worse because of that: If a Thief should come to the barr, and plead before the Judg, Indeed I have committed this theft, but it is my nature; would this be a plea before a Judg? and certainly this plea will not go before the great Judg of all the World, to say, it is thy nature; No, the Saints know their sin is aggravated by that—Secondly, Neither will a Child of God ordinarily plead that it is a temptation; O! I, it is a temptation that hath prevaild against me, I was tempted to it, and such and such were the cause of it; I, but a gracious heart will rather charge the wickedness that is within it, then charge a temptation;
