fall into the same sinnes, after wee haue repented of them; seeing by many acts, wee come at last to an habit and custome. Or if this cu∣stome hath already preuailed, and is now come to haue in it the strength of a Law, and to be (as it were) a second nature, let vs not suf∣fer it any longer to continue inuiolable, but bend all our power and strength to disanull and breake it. Neither let our corrupt nature pleade prescription for sinne, or the neglect of holy duties, as though because we haue long done that which God forbiddeth, or not done that which he hath commanded, therefore we must be borne with, if we doe so still; seeing this is no excuse at all, but rather the greatest aggrauation of our sinnefulnesse and negligence. For though they might be somewhat excused, if they were done but once or twice, they are altogether intolerable when they grow common and customable. And therefore our long liuing in sinne, and in the neglect of Christi∣an duties, should be so far from excusing our continuing in these cour∣ses, that it ought to be a strong motiue to double our diligence in re∣deeming this lost time, as the Apostle exhorteth. And this reason the Apostle Peter also vseth to perswade vs, that we should no longer liue the rest of our time in the flesh, according to the lusts of men, but according to the will of God, because the time past of our liues may suffice vs to haue wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciutousnesse, lusts, excesse of wine, reuellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. Now the meanes whereby wee may be enabled to breake off this custome in sinning, and to performe the contrary duties of a godly life, is, to labour to haue our hearts pos∣sessed and fraughted with Gods feare, partly in respect of his Iudge∣ments denounced against sin, & partly in respect of his mercies and ma∣nifold blessings, promised to all that serue and please him. For nothing doth more powerfully ouer-master this tyrannicall custome, then the true feare of God; euen as the want thereof is the chiefe cause of falling into, and continuing in sinne. And secondly, our best course is to set our selues with a firme resolution to breake off, and discon∣tinue our custome in sinning, and to performe the contrary duties of a godly life, seeing many acts of wel-doing will at last bring vs to an habit and custome, and make them easie and familiar, which at the first entrance seemed difficult and almost impossible. The like impediment vnto all Christian duties, ariseth from security and hard∣nesse of heart, which taking away all sense and feeling, both of Gods mercies and Iudgements, and putting away the euill day farre from vs, doth make vs also therewith to put off the day of repentance, to neglect all holy and religious duties, and to goe on securely in our for∣mer euill courses. Of the remouing of which impediment I will not here speake, because I haue handled it at large in my Treatise of car∣nall security, and hardnesse of heart.