Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

but if thou let it run on to Confirmed Habits, it becomes immovable. Wherefore saith the Apostle, Heb. 12.1. Let us lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset us. The reason is evident, because, else we shall be so hardened, as that we shall not be able. A man that hath a green wound, if he'll seek for his cure betimes, it may be quickly, and easily remedied; but through delay, it begins to fester, and must be lanced to the quick, not without great Pain and Anguish to the Patient. Sin is such a wound; if it be let alone, it corrupts; and Proud flesh the more grows up, the longer ⟨p. 13⟩the cure is delayed. This therefore should be a chief thing we should take heed of, how we put from us Gods time, and the Proffers of Mercy, till another day.

but if thou let it run on to Confirmed Habits, it becomes immoveable. Wherefore saith the Apostle, Heb. 12.1. Let us lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset us. The reason is evident, because, else we shall be so hardned, as that we shall not be able. A man that hath a green wound, if he'l seek for his cure betimes, it may be quickly, and easily remedied; but through delay, it begins to fester, and must be lanced to the quick, not without great Pain and Anguish to the Patient. Sin is such a wound; if it be let alone, it corrupts; and Proud flesh the more grows up, the longer ⟨p. 13⟩the cure is delayed. This therefore should be a chief thing we should take heed of, how we put from us Gods time, and the Proffers of Mercy, till another day.

2. But there are another sort, as greatly befooled, as these, yea more,¹ if more may be: and those are they who put it off till the Hour of their Death, till the last gasp, as if they desired to give God, as little of their service, as possibly they might, who think if they can but cry Peccavi, and Lord have mercy on me, when their breath departs their bodies, they show a good Disposition, and perform such Acceptable service, as that God cannot choose, but grant them a pardon: But think not all will be surely well, because thou hastest to shake hans with God, at thy Journeys end, when thou hast not walked with him al the way.