When it is that a Man is said to thorowly forsake his Sin. [ 1384]
EVery time a Man takes a journey from home about businesse,* 1.1 we do not say, he hath forsaken his house, because he meant, when he went out, to come to it again: No, but when we see a Man leave his house, carry all his goods away with him, lock up his doors, and take up his abode in another place, never to dwell there more, this Man may very well be said to have forsaken his house indeed. Thus it is, that every one of us are to forsake sin so, as to leave it without any thought of returning to it again. It were strange to find a Drunkard so constant in the exercise of that Sin, but sometimes you may find him sober; and yet a drunkard he is, as if he were then drunk. Every one hath not forsaken his Trade,* 1.2 that we see now and then in their Holy-day Suit; then it is that a Man is said to forsake his Sin, when he throwes it from him, and bolts the door upon it, with a purpose never to open any more unto it, Ephraim shall say, What have we to do any more with Idols? Hos. 14. 8.