The application of redemption

INSTRUCTION. We here see the Reason of ¹all that uneven and unsteady walking of many men: Sometimes they are zealous, and sometimes cold and careless, men are off and on, sometimes so […] that they cannot abide the appearance of any sin; sometimes bold to adventure upon that which they know to be evil. This is certain, either thou never hadst the work of Contrition, or thou keepest it not alive in thy soul: 1 Cor. 5. 1, 2. You are puffed up, and do not mourn? If they had mourned for the evil, they would have been zealous to reform.

INSTRUCTION. We here see the Reason of ¹all that uneven and unsteady walking of many men: Somtimes they are zealous, and somtimes cold and careless, men are off and on, somtimes so 〈…〉 that they cannot abide the appearance of any sin; somtimes bold to adventure upon that which they know to be evil. This is certain, either thou never had'st the work of Contrition, or thou keepest it not alive in thy soul: 1 Cor. 5. 1, 2. You are puffed up, and do not mourn? If they had mourned for the evil, they would have been zealous to reform.

1. 1Use, 2.

DIRECTION, how we may keep a readiness of ¹heart to […] every corruption and occasion leading thereunto, that a man may have a steady, even spirit; keep thy heart affected daily with the evil of thy sins, and that will over-bear all corruptions and inclinations to any sin at any time: As the Naturalists say of the Nightingale, she sets her Breast against […] Thorn, that when she begins to nod, the Thorn may awaken her; he that lies hard, will not sleep long.