The application of redemption

Thy Disease and distempers are desperate, and likely ¹never to be cured, and thou recovered out of them: ⟨p. 124⟩when they come to be natural as it were, and yield to no Remedy; Jer. 13. 23. Can the Black-more change his skin, and the Leopard his spots? no more can they learn to do well who are accustomed to do evil. There be some spots of filth which are cast upon our coats and flesh, there is a sooty blackiness wherewith our garments and our skins are sometimes sullied withal by something from without, which may be cleansed and washed away with little labour in a short time; but […] which grow out of Nature, as Moles and Wens in the Body, there is little hope that ever they should be altered as long as Nature it self continues. It is so with distempers, when some sudden occasions or temptations from without, taints and pollutes the soul, there is Hope in Israel that some Spiritual means, like healing Medicines seasonably applied, may help and recover. But when men out of a corrupt inclination are customarily carried in the continuance of some distemper, it […] like another Nature, he may lose his life and soul, but is like never to lose his lust, that will go to his Grave, and so to Hell with him. Job, 20. 11, 12. When wickedness is sweet in a mans mouth, when he hides it under his tongue, when he spares it, and forsakes it not, his bones are full of the sins of his youth; they have been bred and brought up with him, grown and continued and increased daily with them; he would not leave them, they will not leave him, they shall lie down in the dust with him, rise with him to Judgment, and go to Hell with him in the end.

Thy Disease and distempers are desperate, and likely ¹never to be cured, and thou recovered out of them: ⟨p. 124⟩when they come to be natural as it were, and yield to no Remedy;