An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

As a downfall from a seeming height in spirituals into the mire of sin, hath more wickedness in it then a bare continuance in sin; so a downfall from a real height in temporals into the mire of misery, hath more trouble in it, then a bare continuance in misery. They who have made a fair show, or an outward flourish in the Faith, and afterward fall back, are worse then those who never made any show at all. It is sad for any one to live openly in sin; but for such as have made an open profession of godliness, to apostatize, and fall back to sin, this is matter of saddest lamentation: For as the Apostle Peter speaks, It had been better for them that they had not known the way of God, then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment: It is better (in spiritual respects) never to have been a Professor, then to be an Apostate. Thus also it is better (in civill respects) never to have been high, or great in the World, then after all this to suffer a miserable downfall, and to be numbered among the lowest of the People.

As a downefall from a seeming height in spirituals into the mire of sin, hath more wickednesse in it then a bare continuance in sin; so a downefall from a reall hight in temporals into the mire of misery, hath more trouble in it, then a bare continuance in misery. They who have made a fayre shew, or an outward flourish in the Faith, and afterward fall back, are worse then those who never made any shew at all. It is sad for any one to live openly in sin; but for such as have made an open profession of godlinesse, to apostatize, and fall back to sin, this is matter of saddest lamentation: For as the Apostle Peter speakes, It had been better for them that they had not knowne the way of God, then after they have knowne it to turne from the holy Commandement: It is better (in spirituall respects) never to have been a Professor, then to be an Apostate. Thus also it is better (in civill respects) never to have been high, or great in the World, then after all this to suffer a miserable downfall, and to be numbred among the lowest of the People.

And in this we may see the wonderful love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners, who suffered so great a change for our sakes; he might well say, I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder. Christ was broken all to pieces for us, he was broken and bruised for us, but he had been at ease: How great was his love who willingly suffered, not only for sinners, but as a sinner, having reigned in righteousness from all eternity? The Apostle useth this argument, more then once, to advance the kindness of Christ to sinful man (