The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin

Secondly, You know not what may be the present temptations of those whose ways you observe. It may be they are under some peculiar desertion from God, and so are withering for a season, until he send them some refreshing powers from above. It may be they are entangled with some special corruptions, which is their burden, tat you know not of; and for any voluntarily to fall into such a frame, as others are cast into by the power of their temptations, or to think that will suffice in them, which they see to suffice in others whose distempers they know not, is folly and presumption. He that knows such or such a person to be a living Man, and of an healthy constitution, if he see him go crawling up and down about his affairs, feeble and weak, sometimes falling, sometimes standing, and making small progress in any thing, will he think it sufficient for himself to do so also? will he not inquire whether the person he sees, have not lately fallen into some distemper or sickness, that hath weakened him, and brought him into that condition? Assuredly he will so do. Take heed, Christians, many of the Professors with whom ye do converse are sick, and wounded; the wounds of some of them do stink, and are corrupt because of their folly. If you have any spiritual health, do not think their weak and uneven walking will be accepted at your hands; much less ••ink it will ⟨p. 256⟩be well for you to become sick and to be wounded also.

Secondly, You know not what may be the present temptations of those whose ways you observe. It may be they are under some peculiar desertion from God, and so are withering for a season, untill he send them some refreshing powers from above. It may be they are intangled with some special corruptions, which is their burthen, tat you know not of; and for any voluntarily to fall into such a frame, as others are cast into by the power of their temptations, or to think that will suffice in them, which they see to suffice in others whose distempers they know not, is folly and presumption. He that knows such or such a person to be a living Man, and of an healthy constitution, if he see him go crawling up and down about his affairs, feeble and weak, sometimes falling, sometimes standing, and making small progress in any thing, will he think it sufficient for himself to do so also? will he not inquire whether the person he sees, have not lately fallen into some distemper or sickness, that hath weakened him, and brought him into that condition? Assuredly he will so do. Take heed, Christians, many of the Professors with whom ye do converse are sick, and wounded; the wounds of some of them do stink, and are corrupt because of their folly. If you have any spiritual health, do not think their weak and uneven walking will be accepted at your hands; much less ink it will