Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life,…

And next to this beloved sin, be careful to mortify that sin that is next unto it in your love. There is some other sin, besides the Darling (which is chief) that the corrupt heart hath some peculiar favour for; and if you ask what sin that is? I answer, it is that sin which your heart is most apt to change your beloved sin for, when you press your heart to forsake your Darling sin: And that which was the second chief sin in your Soul, would be first, if the former be taken down and suppressed.

And next to this beloved sin, be carefull to mortifie that sin that is next unto it in your love. There is some other sin, besides the Darling (which is chief) that the corrupt heart hath some peculiar favour for; and if you ask what sin that is? I answer, it is that sin which your heart is most apt to change your beloved sin for, when you press your heart to forsake your Darling sin: And that which was the second chief sin in your Soul, would be first, if the former be taken down and suppressed.

2. ¹Take heed of dallying with temptations, or playing with the baits of sin, and be careful to ⟨p. 119⟩abstain from the very appearance of evil; rather deny your self of what is lawful, then play upon the borders of that which is unlawful, If you always go as far as you may, you will sometimes go further then you should: If you venture to the utmost, you will be in danger of transgressing and going beyond your bounds. You will find the Devil and your own heart sometimes to reason thus, so far thou mayest go, and yet keep thy resolution; so far thou mightest venture, and maintain thy holy purpose; thou mayest go with such a one into the Tavern, and yet keep thy purpose to be sober, thou mayst take another Glass of Wine, and then another, and then another, and yet not break thy resolution. Thus the Devil will play upon thee, and ply thee, step after step; till he makes a prey of the peace of thy conscience, and hath brought thee to a violation of thy purpose, Principiis obsta, resist the first risings of the sin thou hast resolved against; thou hast resolved to keep a constant course of secret prayer every morning, but when thou risest, there is this business offers it self to be done first, and then another, till thou dost omit it and neglect it, or there is this business which stays for thee, and that will make thee first be slight and hasty, and over-short in the performance of it, till at last it brings thee to neglect it. Beware then of the appearances of sin.