Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace with motives opening the lamentable effects of their weaknesses and distempers / by Richard Baxter.

DIRECT. XIX. If you fall into any sin, rise speedily by a through Repentance; and take heed both of delay, and of a palliate Cure, Luke 13.3, 5. and 22.32.

TAke heed of trusting to a General Repen∣tance or a Converted state, instead of a par∣ticular Repentance and Conversion from any known sin, especially which is more than the ordinary unavoidable infirmities of a Saint. For it is not General Repentance indeed which reacheth not to every known particular. If temptation have cast you down, take heed of lying there, but pre∣sently get up again: What the Apostle saith of Wrath, Eph. 4.26. the same I may say of other falls, Let not the Sun go down upon them: But go out with Peter and weep with him, if you have sinned with him: If your bones be out of joynt or broken, get them set presently, before they settle in their dislocation: And let the Cure be through, and spare not for a little pain at first: Let as open confession as the case requireth, and as full restitution, signify the sincerity of your Re∣pentance: For a gentle handling of your selves may undo you; And palliation is the Hypocrites cure. O take heed lest you presume to sleep one night in your unrepented sin; and take heed lest Delay encourage the Tempter to offer you the bait again and again, and to say, Why not once more; Why may you not be as well pardoned for twice as for once; and for thrice as for twice, &c.

It's dangerous playing or sleeping at the brink of Hell. Away from the temptation and occasion of your sin; stand not disputing, but Resolve and be gone; And sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you, John 5.14. Stick not man at the shame or loss or suffering, which confession, restituti∣on or reformation may bring; but remember that you can never escape damnation at too dear a rate. This is Christs meaning, when he speak∣eth of cutting off a Right hand, or plucking out a right eye, if it offend; that is, ensnare and tempt you unto sin, Matth. 5.29, 30. Not that you should do so indeed, for you have an easier way to avoid the sin; but that, this is far the lesser of the two evils, to lose a hand or eye, than to lose the Soul, and therefore to be chosen if there were no other remedy. If the thief had no other way to forbear stealing than to cut off his hand; or the Fornicator to cure his lust, than to put out his eyes, it were a cheap remedy. A cheap and ea∣sy superficial Repentance, may skin over the sore and deceive an Hypocrite; but he that would be sure of pardon, and free from fear, must go to the bottom.