Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, There is a conviction of the filthiness of sin; the soul in every turn from God loses its ⟨p. 72⟩light, and in every turn to the creature, gathers soil and pollution; the sinner will never resign up himself to be washed in the Evangelical laver, unless he first see sin, as it is, mire and dirt, and superfluity of naughtiness, and find his precious soul lying in a sordid manner, in a sink of pleasure, or a cave of covetousness, or some other lust, which is as an unclean place miserably defiling it, whilst it abides therein.

Thirdly, There is a conviction of the filthiness of sin; the soul in every turn from God loses its ⟨p. 72⟩light, and in every turn to the creature, gathers soil and pollution; the sinner will never resign up himself to be washed in the Evangelical laver, unless he first seo sin, as it is, mire and dirt, and superfluity of naughtiness, and find his pretious soul lying in a sordid manner, in a sink of pleasure, or a cave of covetousness, or some other lust, which is as an unclean place miserably defiling it, whilest it abides therein.

Fourthly, There is a conviction of the power of sin; sin is a Baal, a Lording tyrant, and the sinner a vassal to it; in sensual sins he drudges in Sodom and Egypt, and in spiritual he is carried away to Babylon: the sinner is as a captive in his chains, and (which is the great wonder) a willing captive, the iron is entered into his soul, the chain is in his very will the Principle of freedom, a vassal he is, and loves to be so. The more freely he sins, the more is his slavery, the more imperiously he sins, the more is his weakness: thus the Prophet, how weak is thy heart, seeing thou doest the work of an imperiou whorish woman? Ezek. 16.30. unless God make men in some measure feel the power of sin, and go as David over Olivet, weeping, because of the Absaloms, the rebellious lusts, which come out of their own bowels and make war upon heaven, they will not resign and take up the yoke of Christ as they ought.