The Godly Man's Picture

4 That sin which men use arguments to defend, is the beloved sin; he that hath a jewel in his bosom, will defend it as his life; so when there is any sin in the bosom, men will defend it; the sin we are advocates and disputants for, is the complexion-sin; if the sin be passion, and we plead for it, Jo•. 4. 9. I do well to be angry: if the sin be covetousness, ⟨p. 212⟩and we vindicate it, and perhaps wrest Scripture to justify it, that is the sin which lies nearest the heart.

4 That sin which men use arguments to defend, is the beloved sin; he that hath a jew•l in his bosome, will defend it as his life; so when there is any sin in the bosome, men will defend it; the sin we are advocates and disputants for, is the complexion-sin; if the sin be passion, and we plead for it, Io•. 4. 9. I do well to be angry: if the sin be covetousness, ⟨p. 212⟩and we vindicate it, and perhaps wrest Scripture to justifie it, that is the sin which lies neerest the heart.

5. That sin which doth most trouble us, and flies most in our face in an hour of sickness and distress, that is the Delilah-sin: When Josephs Brethren were distressed, their sin came to remembrance, in selling their Brother, Gen. 42. 21. We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of our brother when he be sought us, and we would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us. So, when a man is upon his Sick-bed, and Conscience shall say, thou hast been guilty of such a sin, thou didst go on in it, and roll it as honey under thy tongue, Conscience reads a sad Lecture, sure that was the beloved sin.

5. That sin which doth most trouble us, and flies most in our face in an hour of sickness and distress, that is the Dalilah-sin: When Iosephs Brethren were distressed, their sin came to remembrance, in selling their Brother,