forward they do fo coincide, that I am not able to difcern any Difference. Formality fhall be feen, as it is, real Careleffness; and the most abandoned Profligate shall be found differenced from fuch an one, in Degree only of Careleffness. I fhall not oppose to the Chriftian the Monfter, who goes into every Excess of Riot, and cafts off all Reftraints even of Civility and Society: But, as we fhall follow the new Creature only into the leffer Parts of his Conduct, wherein he ftands fingular and acts alone; fo the Oppofition will be made in fuch a Manner, as while Licence or Allowance in fuch leffer Things fhall be found to denominate an unrenewed Man, there fhall be Room given to reprove those who are too apt to conceit much of themselves for the fake of fore religious Performances and Acts of Benevolence and Humanity; and of Confequence, to leave the more Licentious utterly without Excufe.

THE negative Part of the new Creature's Conduct fhall be illuftrated in thefe Inftances:-He forbears all Things, which he knows to be finful ;-hath not any Thing in his Course, which he fufpects to be finful;keeps from needlefs Temptations ;-doth not come under the Power of any lawful Thing;labors to give no Offence in any Thing.

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1. HE

1. HE forbears all Things, which he knows to be finful. In this Refpect, his Confcience is void of Offence both towards God and towards Man (d): For, to it he can appeal; and it will make a ready and exprefs Answer to him, and he knows nothing by himfelf. There is no Sin in his Course that he knows of; no not the least Sin, as far as he apprehends. I would not be mistaken, as if I meant he had no Imperfections to lament, no Sin to contend with, or that his corrupted Heart did at no time gain any Advantage of him. But I fay, Sin is not in his Course, nor hath any Sin Allowance with him. The Law in his Members will be ftriv. ing, will be infinuating itfelf into all he doth; poffibly will take him, upon fome extraordinary Occafion, at unawares, and hurry him into a single Act of Compliance. But if at any time it doth fo, his tender Heart will be instantly ftricken; he will be fadly reproaching himself, and roaring for the Dif quietness of his Heart; Shame, Sorrow, and Darknefs will overwhelm and cloud him; he will be fecking Peace, and finding none for a Seafon; he will affuredly judge himself the greatest Monster upon Earth. The real Chriftian is an avowed Enemy to all Sin: Nor can the Weight of prevailing Example, the Mifinterpretations which Men of loofer Confcience put upon Things, the foolish (d) Acts xxiv. 16.

Thought

Thought that fome Sins are but little Matters; nothing can engage him to call Evil Good, or to admit into his Conduct what he knows GoD doth not approve.

IF this be true, then whoever abides under the Power and Practice of any known Sin, cannot be a new Creature. Doth Confcience fay (and let it speak) you have about you, in your Courfe and Conduct, one the fmallest Thing, which is finful? Is it accufing you of any one Point, wherein you offend, which you will either allow yourself in, or elfe fall into cuftomarily, that is, as the Temptation to it comes in your Way? Hearken to no Excufes, all Pretences you fhall be forming are vain: Be affured that your Heart is not right, that you have not been transformed in the inner Man by the Renewing of your Mind, that you have no Part in Christ. Whatever you may have conceited from any miftaken Applications of the new Creature's Character to yourself, in the Branches of it which you have already heard, you are entirely deceived; this one Sin convinces you, and cafts you out. Nor cheat yourself any longer into a Perfuafion, that the Sin you practise is not with your Allowance. You may feem to be forry for it; may ftoutly refolve against it: But if you customarily fall into it again and again; plain it is, no Change hath been L 4

wrought

wrought upon your Heart. You do not apprehend its Deformity; your Will doth not heartily refuse it: And if you will be at the pains to examine, you may eafily find yourfelf a Stranger to the Feelings of a new Creature concerning it; Hatred big with Loathing as you look at it, Sorrow piercing your Heart as you reflect what a Monster it hath made you, and Fear filling you with anxious Sufpicion left it should again overtake you. He therefore, that is in the Practice of any known Sin, great or little, is not renewed. And when Sin abounds, as it doth this Day, how many profeffed Chriftians must this one Word exclude from the Kingdom of Christ, and convince to be of another Kingdom than his! For whofoever committeth Sin, is of the Devil: But whofcever is born of God, doth not commit Sin; for his Seed remaineth in him; and ke cannot fin, because he is born of God (e).

SUFFER me to add yet one Word to those, who are continuing in the Practice of known Sin, and yet make Excufe. I will suppose your Sin to be Drunkenness And too much Reason I have to fuppofe it may. You do not get drunk wilfully you fay; you are caught unadvisedly. I grant all, which you mean; I allow, that you do not fet yourself to get drunk; that you have no premeditated Defign of defying God, and making (e) John iii. 8, 9. yourself

yourself a Beaft; that you do it not seeing GOD's Majefty juft before your Eyes, the flaming Vengeance of his Arm ftretched out against you, forbidding you and charging your very Soul," See thou do it not. This would be finning wilfully, with a Vengeance; and yet this is all you mean, the best Excuse you have to plead. No, I fuppose you have no fuch Thoughts as these; verily, I believe, you have no Design to offend GOD upon fuch Occafions. But your Sin is wilful, nevertheless. You choose the Glafs and a Friend. This is the prevailing Bias with you: This is your Will, when you can enjoy it. And doth pot that Inclination lead you into Company fuited to the Purpose, and that Company into Excefs? It is not in any Defign of being drunk, but in your being under the Guidance of this bad Inclination, that the Wilfulness of your Sin confifts; it is because you hearken to it, and not to Grace and Confcience. Confider, if this be not the very Cafe. You are overtaken; it makes you uneafy; you dread the Confequences which threaten you; you are determined against it for the Future: And yet, by and by it prevails again. I beseech you, why fo, if your Heart be not defperately fet upon Indulgence, and you cannot refuse yourself the Gratification which it craves? Your Will is ftill perverfe; and all the fair Promises you make do but ferve to deceive

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