The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

Ambrose relates a story of a dog, ¹whose Master being slain by one of his enemies, he lay by him all night, with great lamentation, howling and barking. In the morning many came to see the dead corps, amongst whom was the murderer, the dog no sooner saw the Homicide, but presently fell upon him. Friend, is thy greatest hatred and anger against thy Saviour-and-soul-murderer, that Master-sin in which thou didst formerly take the greatest pleasure? Canst thou say as David (observe that character of uprightness) I was upright before him, and kept my self from mine iniquity? Psa. 18.23. Mark, from mine iniquity. The godless man though he do much, will be sure to fail here; and the godly man will strike home here, wherever he be favourable; An horse that is not sound, but foundered, will favour one foot, if not more; the Lapwing (some observe) will cry, and make a great noise, but 'tis when she is farthest from her nest; the Hypocrite may keep a great stir about many sins, but there is one sin which he meddleth not with. ²There is, saith a learned Divine, no greater argument of unsound repentance then indulgent thoughts, and reserved delight and complacency in a master sin. As some ⟨p. 167⟩grounds are most proper soils to breed and nourish some particular weeds; So are some mens hearts for some particular sins: As Cains for envy, Corahs for arrogancy, Pilates for Cowardliness, the young man for covetousness; and this sin is ordinarily the greatest block in the way of conversion; rather then men would leave this sin, they have lost Salvation. Mark 10.22. John 12.42 43. The Devil holds them as fast by this one link as by ten thousand; As it is with a Rabbits skin, it comes of very well, till it come to the head, and then there is haling and pulling, and much ado before it stirs; So the creature may do much at the command of God, but there is old stir and pulling, before this sin be separated from him; if this be once done throughly, the man is converted truly; for nothing but a saving work, can cause a man to loath that sin which he loved as himself: And therefore an unconverted person will ever be false in this. Jehu may throw down the idolatry of Baal, but not the Calves at Dan and Bethel: The young man in his worldliness, Herod in his uncleanness; Balaam in his stubbornness, must be excused. The converted soul is in this most careful;