A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly,¹ When a Man wilfully and knowingly runs himself into Temptations, and upon occasions of Sin, if he be overcome by these Temptations, he sins presumptuously notwithstanding. In this Case, though the Temptation be violent and irresistible, yea, though when we are entangled by it, we strive and struggle to our very utmost, yet this doth not mitigate but rather aggravate our Sin, because it was merely thorough our ⟨p. 182⟩own presumption that we brought our selves under the power of such a prevalent Temptation, from which Christian Fear and Caution might easily have preserved us. If a Man that is wholly Ignorant of the Art of Swimming, shall plunge himself into a deep River, tho' he struggle hard for Life afterwards, yet if he sinks and is drowned, he perishes only through his own presumption. That Man deserves to be blown up that will make Gun-Powder in a Smith's Shop when the Sparks fly thick about him: Truly, occasions of sinning are the Devil's Forge, where he is continually heating and hammering out his Fiery Darts. Why, now for you that know your selves to be as catching as Powder, or Tinder, wilfully to run your selves into this Forge where his Fiery Darts glow, and sparkle, and fly about you, what is this but most desperate boldness and presumption? What says the Wise Man, Proverbs 26.27. Can a Man take Fire into his Bosom, and his Cloths not be burnt? Can a Man run himself upon such occasions of sin, and not run also into the commission of sin? As the Motion of a Stone, when it falls downward, ⟨p. 183⟩is still the swifter the nearer it comes to its Centre; so when you are running your selves into the occasions of sin, the more willingly you go to sin, the nearer you come to it, there's no stop nor stay: When you put your selves upon these Occasions and Temptations, you put your selves out of the protection of God's Grace, and you stand wholly at the Devil's Courtesy; and if you are overcome, blame nothing but your own venturousness and presumption. Consider this therefore, hast thou not had frequent experience of many sad Foils that the Devil hath given thee by thy rash venturing upon Occasions and Temptations to sin? hast thou not found such and such Company, such and such Employments, and other like Circumstances, always prove Snares to thee? never plead these Temptations were too strong for thee to resist? What, canst thou not resist them?