Section 8

¹SECT. VIII.

1. 1§. 8.

¹The eighth cause of distractions in holy duties is^*, A beloved sin. When the soul hath espoused some bosom lust, the thoughts (be you never so busy) will be warping towards it, though God himself look on. Jer. 4.14. O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness,— how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee? When wickedness is in the heart, vain thoughts will be in thy duties; they will enter, yea, they will lodge within thee. A beloved sin is like a bias on the bowl, though you throw it out never so straight, yet the bias will draw it off that way, do what you can: so is a beloved sin unto the soul; aim you with utmost skill, yet ⟨p. 111⟩there is a secret load stone in it, that attracts the heart, and makes that prayer to end in hell, that began in heaven. Either sin and you must be at a distance, or God and you will. The soul that is in league with sin, dare not come at God, dare not look at him, dare not think on him; and what must that man think on in a duty, that dare not think seriously on God? As that penitent Father speaks in his confessions. An unmortified soul (like the husband of a scolding wife, had rather be any where than at home, and makes many a sad bargain abroad, because he hath no comfort at home with his wife; so such an heart) chooses to be thinking of any thing rather than God^*; alas, matters are not straight between them, the poison of sin is in him, and he hugs that abominable thing which God hates; the Thief had rather go forty miles another way, than come near the Judge; God is an offended Judge to a wilful sinner, and he cares not for ever coming near him. Hence,