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…

That the remembrance of the power of God in keeping us pure from greater sins, is an argument that he will spare us, though we have (through infirmity) fallen into sin,

He that holds us from iniquity, will not destroy us for iniquity. Some are stopped from sin, and storm when they are stopped, these have no reason to think, God will spare them, because he hath stopped them. Thousands are stopped from sin, who neither know what it is to sin, nor that they have been stopped from sin. These cannot plead this point: As it is no virtue to endure what is not grievous to us: so no grace not to do what is not joyous to us, when we do it. But to know we are stopped from a pleasing sin, and rejoice at it, to see how our corruptions have been prevented, and to bless God for it; this is a great degree of grace. As there is a preventing grace, which beginneth with us, while we are strangers from God, and are walking on in the ways of sin; so there is a preventing grace, watching over us after we are turned to God, lest we fall into sin. Experience of this may be a sweet support unto the soul, under the saddest afflictions, and in the darkest night of spiritual desertions.

He that holds us from iniquity, will not destroy us for iniquity. Some are stopt from sinne, and storm when they are stopt, these have no reason to think, God will spare them, because he hath stopt them. Thousands are stopt from sin, who neither know what it is to sinne, nor that they have been stopt from sinne. These cannot plead this point: As it is no vertue to endure what is not grievous to us: so no grace not to do what is not joyous to us, when we do it. But to know we are stopt from a pleasing sin, and rejoyce at it, to see how our corruptions have been prevented, and to blesse God for it; this is a great degree of grace. As there is a preventing grace, which beginneth with us, while we are strangers from God, and are walking on in the waies of sin; so there is a preventing grace, watching over us after we are turned to God, lest we fall into sin. Experience of this may be a sweet support unto the soul, under the saddest afflictions, and in the darkest night of spirituall desertions.