Fifthly, Observe, That even those people and Saints, who have sometime been given to folly, to whom God hath spoken peace, and who have restrained their folly for a time thereafter, may much fall back to folly again. The admonition here given, Let them not turn again to folly. Supposeth this: This needs not much proof; If ye shall go through the Saints recorded in Scripture, ye will find sad instances of it: David, after peace was spoken to him, falls into adultery and murder; Hezekiah, after a sweet word of peace was spoken to him, Isaiah 38. Falls into the folly of Pride and vain ostentation, Chap. 39. Peter, after peace spoken to him denieth his Master: Jehoshaphat, after peace spoken to him, fell once and again into the same sin, and once even after he was reproved for it; as is clear, 2 Chron. 18.19. and 20. Chapters: Or there may be a falling unto some ⟨p. 162⟩other sins, or out of one sin into another; as it was with David: This may befall real Saints, yea eminent Saints, even Pillars in the house of God: was there not peace spoken to the Disciples in that sweet Sermon John 14. and 15, and 16. Chap. And yet that sad word follows, Ye all shall be offended because of me this night; And Peter to whom that sweet word was spoken, I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not, doth foully fall into folly quickly after; what then may befall the more Common sort of professors, who know not what it is to stand before the least tentation? The Reasons of this may be first, because the devil falls presently on, and seeks, as it were, with seven worse devils to re-enter the soul, and busks this bait of the tentation, and presents it in a new shape; old courtiers (to speak so) and lusts set on and essay what hearing they can get. 2. Because though, by peace spoken, tentations and corruptions may be bound up, yea and some-what Mortified: yet they are not slain outright, they may lurk for a time, but still live. And 3. Because his People are ready in such a warm Sun blink to grow (as it were) wanton, and under such a cessation from their lusts, to cast by their arms, to grow secure, to grow somewhat too fain, and to dream of an easy life; thus it was in a measure with David, as he confesseth, Psal. 30. I said in my Prosperity, I shall never be moved; If they get peace for a little, who but they? They are Lords (in a manner) and will not come unto him;
Fifthly, Observe, That even those people and Saints, who have sometime been given to follie, to whom God hath spoken peace, and who have restrained their folly for a time thereafter, may much fall back to follie again. The admonition here given, Let them not turn again to folly. Supposeth this: This needs not much proof; If ye shall go through the Saints recorded in Scripture, ye will find sad instances of it: David, after peace was spoken to him, falls into adultery and murther; Hezekiah, after a sweet word of peace was spoken to him, Isaiah 38. Falls into the follie of Pride and vain ostentation, Chap. 39. Peter, after peace spoken to him denyeth his Master: Jehoshaphat, after peace spoken to him, fell once and again into the same sin, and once even after he was reproved for it; as is clear, 2 Chron. 18.19. and 20. Chapters: Or there may be a falling unto some ⟨p. 162⟩other sins, or out of one sin into another; as it was with David: This may befall reall Saints, yea eminent Saints, even Pillars in the house of God: was there not peace spoken to the Disciples in that sweet Sermon John 14. and 15, and 16. Chap. And yet that sad word followes, Ye all shall be offended because of me this night; And Peter to whom that sweet word was spoken, I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not, doth foully fall into follie quickly after; what then may befall the more Common sort of professors, who know not what it is to stand before the least tentation? The Reasons of this may be first, because the devil falls presently on, and seeks, as it were, with seven worse devils to re-enter the soul, and busks this bait of the tentation, and presents it in a new shape; old courtiers (to speak so) and lusts set on and essay what hearing they can get. 2. Because though, by peace spoken, tentations and corruptions may be bound up, yea and some-what Mortified: yet they are not slain outright, they may lurk for a time, but still live. And 3. Because his People are ready in such a warme Sun blink to grow (as it were) wanton, and under such a cessation from their lusts, to cast by their armes, to grow secure, to grow somewhat too fain, and to dream of an easie life; thus it was in a measure with David, as he confesseth, Psal. 30. I said in my Prosperity, I shal never be moved; If they get peace for a little, who but they? They are Lords (in a manner) and will not come unto him;
