The Doctrine of Repentance

It is dangerous to procrastinate Repentance; ¹because, the longer any go on in sin, the harder they will find the work of Repentance. Delay strengthens sin, and hardens the heart, and gives the Devil fuller possession. A plant at first may be easily plucked up^*, but when it hath spread its roots deep in the earth, a whole ⟨p. 121⟩team cannot remove it: 'Tis hard to remove sin when once it comes to be rooted. The longer the Ice freezeth, the harder it is to be broken: the longer a man freezeth in security, the harder it will be to have his heart broken: the longer any travel with iniquity, the sharper pangs they must expect in the new birth. When sin hath got an haunt, it is not easily shaken off. Sin comes to a sinner, as the elder Brother came to his Father, Luk. 15. 29. Lo these many years have I served thee, neither at any time transgressed I thy Commandment, and wilt thou cast me off now? what in mine old age, after thou hast had so much pleasure by me? See how sin pleads custom, and that is a Leopards spot^*, Jer. 13. 23.

It is dangerous to procrastinate Repentance; ¹because, the longer any go on in sin, the harder they will find the work of Repentance. Delay strengthens sin, and hardens the heart, and gives the Devil fuller possession. A plant at first may be easily plucked up^*, but when it hath spread its roots deep in the earth, a whole ⟨p. 121⟩team cannot remove it: 'Tis hard to remove sin when once it comes to be rooted. The longer the Ice freezeth, the harder it is to be broken: the longer a man freezeth in security, the harder it will be to have his heart broken: the longer any travel with iniquity, the sharper pangs they must expect in the new birth. When sin hath got an haunt, it is not easily shaken off. Sin comes to a sinner, as the elder Brother came to his Father,