[ 1852] Custome in Sin, not easily removed.
IF a Man take in the Spring three or four plants, and set them altogether at one time,* 1.1 if he come by and by, or within a while after, he may easily pull up one of them; if he stay a Fortnight or a Moneth, he may pull up another, but it will be somewhat harder; If he stay a year or two till it have taken deep root, then he may pull and pull his heart out, his labour is all in vain, he shall never be able to move it. And thus it is, that one Sin, one offence, if we labour to pull it up in time, it may be forgiven, it may be taken away; And if we let that one go on to two or three, yet with unfeigned Repentance, with bleeding tears, with uncessant out-cryes to a gracious God, they may be raced out, and wiped away,* 1.2 but with greater difficulty: but if a Man give up himself unto Sin, ac∣custome himself to do evill, so that it take deep root in the heart, and be settled in the Soul, he shall never be able to pull it up, nor arise from the death of Sin, which hath so fast seized on him.