A fruitful and Godly sermon

it is either for some sin already committed wherein we lie, or else for some sin yet not committed, but whereunto we are tempted. For the former, it pleased God often to bring old sins to mind, when we have not throughly repented of them before, so as it now representing them to us a fresh, we may fall into a more misliking of them; and yet herein is not all, to mislike our selves for some particulars, although it be good to be occupied about some special sin: for, as it is not sufficient for the avoiding of hypocrisy, to see sin generally: so it is not enough to eschew the damnableness of the heart, ever to be purring in every particular, and to be ⟨p. 67⟩forgetful of the great and general sins: and let us learn by the particulars to pass to the generals. When any such one sin doth pursue the rest, not only therein, but say thus rather unto thy self; O Lord, is this our sin so grievous, and doth my God punish this one so sorely? how great should be my punishment, if thou shouldest (O Lord) so deal with me for all my other sins? Let us labour to have a sense, both of particular and general sins, lest in time our grief pass away without any fruit, whilst, that not being displeased with one sin, aswell as with another, we either look to such specially and generally. Concerning those sins whereunto we are tempted, as when a man is noted to think blasphemously of God the Father, or to doubt whether there is a Christ or no, or to imagine grossly of the holy Ghost, or to deny God, or to doubt of the Trinity, or to be moved to adultery, or such like. In all which temptations, he feeleth the spirit, oft ⟨p. 68⟩checking him for them; so as he knoweth not in this case what to do; that on the one side he dares not listen willingly to such fearful & monstrous temptations: and on the other side, he feareth, lest then by long suit, he might fall into them: or at least, for that he seeth not how to be delivered from them. I suppose, these motions are not so much to be disputed with, as we by them are to be provoked to a more instant and extraordinary zeal of prayer: Surely, these are dangerous temptations, and therefore are not to be kept close with our nature, which easily will incline unto, but particularly are to be confessed of us:

it is either for some sinne already committed wherein wee lie, or else for some sin yet not committed, but whereunto wee are tempted. For the former, it pleased God often to bring old sinnes to minde, when we haue not throughly repented of them before, so as it nowe representing them to vs a fresh, we may fall into a more misliking of them; and yet herein is not al, to mislike our selues for some particulars, although it bee good to be occupied about some speciall sin: for, as it is not sufficient for the avoiding of hypocrisie, to see sin generally: so it is not ynough to eschew the damnablenes of the heart, ever to bee purring in every particular, and to be