The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…

4. By continuing in a course of sinning, we come to a custom and habit in sinning, which will be hardly left or broken off. For custom in sin takes away all conscience of sin, and hardeneth the heart more and more against God, and godliness: yea, Custom is another nature; and that which is natural, is not easily changed. It is found by experience, that such who have been long accustomed to drinking, swearing, or any other vices, are very hardly reclaimed from the same: What egregious folly then must it needs be in any, who now finding it somewhat difficult to break off his course of sinning, and betake himself to a strict course of life, should defer it longer, till the corruption of nature, through custom of sinning, grow stronger and stronger in him? If ever therefore thou intendest to give over thy sinning Trade, and to devote thy self to the service of God, it will be thy wisdom speedily to set upon it, before▪ thy sins be confirmed by Custom.

5. Thy long continuance in a sinful course of life, will make thy Repentance much more grievous and bitter. Some men in their New-birth feel far greater pangs and throws than others; some are even on the wrack▪ through dreadful horrors in their Consciences, and a ⟨p. 10⟩deep apprehension of the wrath and vengeance of God due unto them for their sins: and these are usually such as are either guilty of some gross and heinous sin, or else have for a long time run on in a course of sinning against God. St. Paul having been a blasphemer, and a persecutor of the Church of God, his New-birth cost him many a bitter throw; he was so deeply humbled and cast down with a sight and sense of his sins, and heinousness of them, that for three days he did neither eat nor drink, Act. 9. 9. Mary Magdalen having been a notorious sinner, it is recorded, that at her Conversion she wept so abundantly, that she washed the feet of our Saviour with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head,