[ 933] No Man able to free himself from Sin.
JT is reported of a Prince,* 1.1 with whom a mighty neighbour-King used to pick quarrels by making impossible demands; otherwise threatning War and ru∣ine to him: Amongst the rest one was, that he charged him to drink up the Sea; which a Counsellor hearing, advised him to undertake it; The Prince replyed, How is it possible to be accomplished? The Sage answered, let him first stop up all the Rivers that run into the Sea (which are no part of the bargain) and then you shall perform it.* 1.2 Much more impossible is it for our selves to consume and dry up all the Ocean of Sin in us, so long as lusts remain like so many Rivers to feed it: For still sin breeds lusts, and lusts encrease sin, as the sea sends forth springs that run into Rivers, and those Rivers return to the Sea again; So that to bid a Man clear his heart from all sin, is to impose upon him opus Dei, the peculiar work of grace omnipotent:* 1.3 Who can say, I have made my heart clean? That can I, saies the proud Pharisee; and that can I, saies the Popish Iustitiary, Non ••abeo Domine quod mi••i ignoscas,* 1.4 I have nothing Lord for thee to pardon, said Isidore the sinfull Monk;* 1.5 but so could neither David, Iob,* 1.6 nor St. Paul say, for in many things we sinne all.