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…

Thirdly, A wicked man preserves in himself a purpose to sin, while he seems to pray and protest against his sin. He is (as Augustine confessed of himself before his conversion) afraid God should grant his prayer, while he prayeth that his corruptions may be mortified. He may put up prayers against sin, but he puts up no desires against it. As custom is the rode of our lives, so purposes are the rode of our hearts. What a mans purposes are, such the movings of his heart are (Isa. 56.12.) To morrow shall be as to day, and much more abundant, say they in their beastly abuse of the creatures, we have been drunk to day, and hope to be more to morrow (Ezek. 11.21.) Their heart doth go after the heart of their abominable things; that is, the inclinations and resolutions of their hearts go or walk after their abominations. A godly man sinneth, but he doth not purpose to sin; his purposes are not to sin, holiness is his way; and as sin is it self a by-way, so it is besides his way. The honest traveller intends to keep straight on to his journeys end, if he miss his way at any time, he misses his purpose. The robber skulks about in by-ways, and comes not into the rode, but to find and seize upon his prey. Peter denied Christ, but did Peter purpose to deny Christ? No, Peter purposed not to deny Christ, yea Peter promised not to deny Christ. Peter resolved that he would die rather then deny Christ, & yet he denied Christ; Peter did not go out and make a bargain with the Scribes and Pharisees, as Judas did to betray his Master. Peter was betrayed when he denied his Master, Peter was suddenly attached with a violent temptation & arrested with base fear. He did not deny Christ, because he resolved to do it, but because he resolved so much not to do it, without due dependence upon Christ for power not to do it. A godly man may have some deliberations about sin, yet no resolutions: He may deliberate upon the acting of some sin, when the occasion is given, but he doth not deliberate upon the finding of occasions to provoke him to the acting of sin. David did not ⟨p. 478⟩go up to his house top to invite an incentive of lust, though he there met with one.

Thirdly, A vvicked man preserves in himself a purpose to sinne, vvhile he seems to pray and protest against his sinne. He is (as Augustine confessed of himself before his conversion) afraid God should grant his praier, vvhile he praieth that his corruptions may be mortified. He may put up praiers against sin, but he puts up no desires against it. As custom is the rode of our lives, so purposes are the rode of our hearts. What a mans purposes are, such the movings of his heart are (