Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

but well, the fit is gone, and being gone, they, like the filthy dog, return to their vomit again, considering the pleasure which they took in that filthy thing; that they did disgorge themselves, was but from that pang and present pinch, not from the loathing or hatred of the thing, and therefore they return again unto it.

By the way then take notice▪ of the filthiness of sin; how filthy is it, that the Lord compares it to the vomit of a dog? Then there follows another comparison of it: It's as the So• that is washed, and returns to her wallowing in the mire: See another loathsome resemblance of this temporary faith; the Sow was washed, but how? her swinish nature was ⟨p. 392⟩not washed from her; as long as the Sow is kept from the mire, in a fair Meadow with the Sheep, she looks as sleek and clean as they; she was washed, there's an external change, but her nature remained; bring the Sow and the sheep to a puddle, the sheep will not go in, because it hath no swinish nature; but the other, retaining its swinish nature, though before in outward appearance as clean as the sheep was, yet she goes again to her wallowing in the mire. There may be the casting away of a mans sins, and yet no new creature wrought in him. That I may show this to you, take this example. A man known to be as covetous a man as liveth, he loveth his money as well as his God, yet perchance this man is brought in danger of the Law, and must be hanged, for some misdemeanour committed; this man to save his life will part with all he hath; what; is his disposition changed? no not a whit, he is as covetous as before, he is the same man, he doth it to save his life, and to this end he is content to part with his money; the same mind had those in the Acts of the Apostles, who in a storm cast their wares into the Sea with their own hands; Acts 27. [Greek or Hebrew]; willingly, and yet half unwilling; for the saving of their lives they would part with these things, yet it was with a great deal of repining and reluctancy. As we read of Phaltiel; when his wife was taken from him, he followed behind weeping, till they bid him be gone, and return back. So these men forsake their sins and hate them, but it is but imperfectly; they part with them, but they part weeping. Well, at this parting there may be a great deal of joy, it may taste not only the sweetness of