The Sincere Convert

Sixthly,¹ those that see little of their vile hearts by duties, rest in their duties: For if a man be brought nearer to Christ, and to the light, by duties, he will spy out more moats; for the more a man participates of Christ, his health and life, the more he feeleth the vileness and sickness of sin.² As Paul when he rested in his duties before his conversion, before that the Law had humbled him, he was alive, that is, he thought himself a sound man, because his duties covered his sins, like fig-leaves. Therefore ask thine own heart, if it be troubled sometimes for sin, and if after thy praying and sorrowing thou doest grow well, and thinkest thy self safe, and feelest not thy self more vile. If it be thus, I tell thee, thy duties be but fig-leaves to cover thy nakedness, ⟨p. 255⟩and the Lord will find thee out, and unmask thee one day, and woe to thee, if thou dost perish here.

Sixthly,¹ those that see little of their vile hearts by duties, rest in their duties: For if a man be brought nearer to Christ, and to the light, by duties, he will spy out more moats; for the more a man participates of Christ, his health and life, the more he feeleth the vilenesse and sicknesse of sinne.² As Paul when he rested in his duties before his conversion, before that the Law had humbled him, he was alive, that is, he thought himselfe a sound man, because his duties covered his sinnes, like fig-leaves. Therefore ask thine own heart, if it be troubled sometimes for sinne, and if after thy praying and sorrowing thou doest grow well, and thinkest thy selfe safe, and feelest not thy selfe more vile. If it be thus, I tell thee, thy duties be but fig-leaves to cover thy nakednesse, ⟨p. 255⟩and the Lord will find thee out, and unmaske thee one day, and woe to thee, if thou dost perish here.