Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

First, Faith doth restrain the outward acts of Sin; there may be many restraints in which yet there is nothing of Mortification; one Sin may restrain another, Vitia inter se contraria pugnant; in which case Satan casts out Satan, a predominant lust its opposite. The fiery Law with its threats may meet a man in his perverse way, as the Angel with his drawn Sword did Balaam, and turn him back from committing the act; nevertheless the unchanged Heart hankers and inwardly mourns after it, as Phaltiel did after Michal, when she was forced away from him; and which is a better restraint, because merely from an in ward principle, Moral Virtue may hold him back from it, as it did Abimelech from Sarah; yet this restraint is but partial, only from outward Sins of shame, and withal selfish, aiming at no higher thing than repute and self-excellency: But Faith restrains upon higher and nobler Motives, speaking to the temptation as Joseph to his Mistress, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? May I break his Law, which is more than the Interdicts of all the Princes and Potentates ⟨p. 268⟩of the World? or stain his glory, which is more precious than the light of the Sun, Moon and Stars? or trample on that precious Blood, which paid my ransom from Hell and Death? or grieve away that Spirit which is the life of all my Graces and Comforts? or pollute this Heart, which may be a Temple or Tabernacle for the Holy One to dwell in? or run my self again into the pangs of the New Birth, and forget the wormwood and gall of my old Sins, and eclipse the light of Gods Countenance towards me, and lye down in the dismal borders of Hell and Death? How can I do it? Such a restraint as this, is a degree of Mortification; Sin begins to die, when such chains and manacles as these are cast upon it.

First, Faith doth restrain the outward acts of Sin; there may be many restraints in which yet there is nothing of Mortification; one Sin may restrain another, Vitia inter se contraria pugnant; in which case Satan casts out Satan, a predominant lust its opposite. The fiery Law with its threats may meet a man in his perverse way, as the Angel with his drawn Sword did Balaam, and turn him back from committing the act; nevertheless the unchanged Heart hankers and inwardly mourns after it, as Phaltiel did after Michal, when she was forced away from him; and which is a better restraint, because meerly from an in ward principle, Moral Virtue may hold him back from it, as it did Abimelech from Sarah; yet this restraint is but partial, only from outward Sins of shame, and withal selfish, aiming at no higher thing than repute and self-excellency: But Faith restrains upon higher and nobler Motives, speaking to the temptation as Joseph to his Mistress, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? May I break his Law, which is more than the Interdicts of all the Princes and Potentates