A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

For, First,¹ Great and presumptuous Sins seldom make an assault upon the Soul but they give warning before-hand to prepare for resistance. The Stratagems of War, if they are but discovered, they usually prove unsuccessful; as strong Liquors taking vent, lose their strength and spirits; so is it in this holy War also; the Soul may easily foresee gross Sins, and therefore may more easily avoid them: If a Man feels in himself sinful Thoughts stirring, and sinful Desires struggling, hereupon an Assault is made, and the Devil hereby gives us warning what Sins we should especially watch against. Are they lascivious Thoughts? Beware of Uncleanness. Are they wrathful Thoughts? Beware of Murder. Are they murmuring thoughts? Beware of Blasphemy. Are they worldly Thoughts and Desires? Beware of Oppression and Injustice. Thus these Giant-like Sins stand forth in view, and send open defiance to the Soul, and bid ⟨p. 248⟩it prepare for the Combat; sinful thoughts and sinful desires go before, as Armour-bearers use to go before their Champions, and proclaim what great Lust is about to make an Assault upon the Soul. Now such fore-warnings as these are, is a great advantage that we have to repel and subdue them. Job 34.32. That which I see not, teach thou me. And what follows? Why, If I have done iniquity, I will do so no more. When a man sees his Enemy before him, this is a mighty advantage, either to avoid or to conquer. This Advantage now we have not against smaller Sins; we cannot so easily escape sins of Ignorance, because we cannot see them; nor yet the Sins of our Thoughts and Desires, because we cannot foresee them: Who of us all knows what Thoughts will next bubble up in our Hearts, whether holy and gracious, or whether sinful and profane? These strike without warning, and as an Enemy within, rise up in the midst of our Hearts unseen. Sins are of two sorts; either such by which we are tempted, or such to which we are tempted: The Devil makes use of one Sin to tempt to another; of a less, to tempt to a greater; ⟨p. 249⟩thus wicked Thoughts are at once sins •n themselves, and also temptations un•o wicked Actions. Now it is very hard, nd the best Christians find it so, to keep themselves free from sinful Thoughts; because these spring up immediately in he Heart without any foregoing Temptations to them;