An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

A godly man may (possibly) fall often into the same sin.

Where grace taketh hold of the heart, it breaks the custom and spoils the trade of sin; yet a godly man may sin over the same sin, and renew the same transgression. The trade of sin is spoiled, when the soul leaves devising, plotting, contriving sin, which acts denominate a worker of iniquity. The custom of sin is broken, when though the same sin be committed again, yet the soul puts in it's plea and complaint against it. 'Tis here as in civil things, if we make our challenge or demand, the custom is gone, though the acts be renewed by the power and prevalency of the opposite party; yet, when I say a godly man may fall into sin often, I mean not of gross and scandalous sins; God doth not let his people fall often into the mire. Noah was not often drunk, nor did David commit adultery often, or more then once. The grace of God which bringeth salvation, teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. And if a godly man fall often into any the least sin, yet he lies not in sin, because he renews repentance, as often as he sins, and rises as often as he falls: he resolves (through the strength of Christ) never to sin, when through his own weakness, and the violence of temptation, he is soon after over-taken or surprised with sin. David professeth (Psal. 119.30.) I have chosen the way of truth; His election was truth; truth of heart, which is opposed to hypocrisy; truth of judgement, which is opposed to error; and truth of speech, which is opposed to lying; yet he slipped with his tongue, more then once, and told an untruth, more then one. He cannot be acquitted from this failing, when he answered Ahimelech the Priest, The King hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let not any man know any thing ⟨p. 418⟩of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee; and I have appointed my servants to such a place (1 Sam. 21.2.) He again falters with his tongue, and speaks either falsely or doubtfully, when the King of the Philistines asked him, Whether have ye made a rode to day? And David said, against the South of Judah, &c. (