The fourth Motive to provoke you1 to be the death of your darling sins, is, Solemnly to consider, that the conquest, and effectual mortifying of one bosom sin, will yield a Christian more glorious joy, comfort, and peace, then ever he hath found in the gratifying, and committing of all other sins. The pleasure and sweetness that follows victory over sin, is a thousand times beyond that seeming sweetness that is in the gratifying of sin: The joy that attends the subduing of sin, is a noble joy, a pure joy, a peculiar joy, an increasing joy, and a lasting joy; but that joy that attends the committing of sin, is an ignoble joy, a corrupt joy, a decreasing joy, a dying joy; the truth is, were there the least real joy in sin, there could be no perfect Hell, where men shall most perfectly sin, and be most perfectly tormented with their ⟨p. 213⟩sin. Ah doubting Christians, as ever2 you would have good days, as ever you would walk in the light, as ever you would like the Angels, have always Harps in your hands, and Allelujahs in your mouths, be restless, till in the Spirit and Power of Jesus, you have brought under the sin that sticks so close unto you. Remember this, nothing below the conquest of bosom sins, can make a jubilee in the heart; it is not a mans whining and complaining over sin, but his mortifying of sin that will make his life a paradise of pleasure. If notwithstanding all that hath been said, you are still resolved to dally with sin, then you must resolve to live as a stranger to God, and as a stranger to assurance and peace. You must expect sad trials without, and sore troubles within; you must expect to find Satan playing his part both as a Lion, and as a Serpent, both as a Devil, and as an Angel of light; you must expect either no news from Heaven, or but bad news from Heaven; and you must expect that Conscience3 will play the part, both of a scolding Wife, and of a Lion, that ⟨p. 214⟩wants his prey. And this shall be your just reward for playing with sin; if you like the reward, then take your course, and dally with sin still; if otherwise, then sacrifice your Isaac.
The fourth Motive to provoke you1 to be the death of your darling sins, is, Solemnly to consider, that the conquest, and effectual mortifying of one bosom sin, will yeeld a Christian more glorious joy, comfort, and peace, then ever he hath found in the gratifying, and committing of all other sins. The pleasure and sweetness that follows victory over sin, is a thousand times beyond that seeming sweetness that is in the gratifying of sin: The joy that attends the subduing of sin, is a noble joy, a pure joy, a peculiar joy, an increasing joy, and a lasting joy; but that joy that attends the committing of sin, is an ignoble joy, a corrupt joy, a decreasing joy, a dying joy; the truth is, were there the least real joy in sin, there could be no perfect Hell, where men shall most perfectly sin, and be most perfectly tormented with their ⟨p. 213⟩sin. Ah doubting Christians, as ever2 you would have good days, as ever you would walk in the light, as ever you would like the Angels, have always Harps in your hands, and Allelujahs in your mouths, be restless, till in the Spirit and Power of Jesus, you have brought under the sin that sticks so close unto you. Remember this, nothing below the conquest of bosom sins, can make a jubilee in the heart; it is not a mans whining and complaining over sin, but his mortifying of sin that will make his life a paradise of pleasure. If notwithstanding all that hath been said, you are still resolved to dally with sin, then you must resolve to live as a stranger to God, and as a stranger to assurance and peace. You must expect sad trials without, and sore troubles within; you must expect to finde Satan playing his part both as a Lion, and as a Serpent, both as a Devil, and as an Angel of light; you must expect either no news from Heaven, or but bad news from Heaven; and you must expect that Conscience3 will play the part, both of a scolding Wife, and of a Lion, that ⟨p. 214⟩wants his prey. And this shall be your just reward for playing with sin; if you like the reward, then take your course, and dally with sin still; if otherwise, then sacrifice your Isaac.
- 1Motive 4. The Heathens (as many Professors now) had not the right art of mortifying sin, (Sapientia eorum plerumque abscondit vitia, non abscindit.) All their wisdom was to hide a lust, not to quench it; therefore their joy was like the crackling of thorns under a pot.
- 2The Leper under the Law, was still to keep his hair shaven. Levit. 14 5. So should we be still a cutting and shaving, that though the roots of sin remain, yet they may not grow and sprout.
- 3Conscience is Index, Judex, Vindex.
