Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

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.

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 entred 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 Absoloms, 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.

Secondly, Upon such a conviction of sin, ensue great straits and humiliations of soul. When the poor sinner sees things as they are, an host of sins round about the soul, nay and within it, an hell flashing out of the guilt thereof, a defiling filthiness