A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

and if it be the Sinner in them that exposeth them to you scorns and flouts, what else do you i• upbraiding of them, but more upbraid your selves, that are nothing but Sinner throughout: Judge therefore, how senseless and unreasonable it is for you to reproach them, who were they not so much like you, you would have nothing to reproach them with; therefore le• wicked Men never more flout and jeer at the falls and sins of those that are holy, imputing them to them as holy, for it is the Sinner in them that sins, and not the Saint, and by upbraiding them for sin, they do more upbraid and reproach themselves.¹

and if it be the Sinner in them that exposeth them to you scorns and flouts, what else do you i• upbraiding of them, but more upbraid your selves, that are nothing but Sinner throughout: Judge therefore, how sensless and unreasonable it is for you to reproach them, who were they not so much like you, you would have nothing to reproach them with; therefore le• wicked Men never more flout and jea• at the falls and sins of those that are holy, imputing them to them as holy, for it is the Sinner in them that sins, and not the Saint, and by upbraiding them for sin, they do more upbraid and reproach themselves.¹

1. 1A Proneness to Sin in God's Children should make them humble.

Secondly, Is there such a strong Propension in the best to the worst Sins? See then what cause even the best have to be ⟨p. 237⟩continually humble. Oh, this is that which breaks the very heart, and rends the very Bowels of a true Christian, that e should be so violently inclined to that which of all things in the world his God s most averse to, and which, of all things in the world, as it is the only thing he never made, so it is that which he always hates; this is that which makes him smite his Breast with anguish, and to cry out with the Apostle, O wretched Man that I am! And well truly may the best Saint call himself a wretched man, since he carries that n his bosom that will be a perpetual torment and vexation to him as long as he lives; there are Factions and Rebellions, intestine Discords, and civil Wars within, the Flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit lusting against the Flesh; there's a Sea of wickedness, and yet in the midst of it true Grace, like Fire, striving to burn it up: Nay, no wonder this great Combustion makes such a Smoke and Smother as wrings Tears from his Eyes; for when he meditates, this chokes his Meditation; he begins with God, but through this sinful proneness, he fall, he knows not