The Sincere Convert

Sixthly, They are bound hand and foot in this estate, and cannot come out. Rom. §VI5, 6. 1 Cor. 2. 14. for all kind of sins like chains have bound every part and faculty of man, so that he is sure for stirring; and those are very strong in him, they being as dear as his members, nay his life, Col. 3. 7. so that when a man begins to forsake his vile courses, and purposeth to become a new man, Devils fetch him back, world enticeth him, and locketh him up, and flesh saith, oh, it is too strict a course, and then farewell merry days, and good fellowship. Oh thou mayest wish and desire to come out sometime, but canst not put strength to thy desire, nor endure to do it. Thou mayest hang down thy head like a bulrush for sin, but thou canst not repent of sin, thou mayst presume, but thou canst not believe, ⟨p. 70⟩thou mayest come half way and forsake some sins, not all sins, thou mayest come and knock at heaven gate as the foolish virgins did, but not enter in and pass through the gate; thou mayest see the land of Canaan, and take much pains to go into Canaan, and thou mayst taste of the bunches of grapes of that good land, but never enter into Canaan, into heaven, but thou lyest bound hand and foot in this woeful estate, and here thou must lye & rot like a dead carcass in his grave, until the Lord come and roll away the stone, and bid thee come out and live.

Sixtly, They are bound hand and foote in this estate, and cannot come out. Rom. §VI5, 6. 1 Cor. 2. 14. for all kind of sinnes like chaines have bound every part and faculty of man, so that he is sure for stirring; and those are very strong in him, they being as deare as his members, nay his life,