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1. In getting out this sin.
1. Be not over hasty in this work. I mean thus, do not think to get rid of this sin presently or in an instant; O how ma∣ny have failed herein, because they have tryed once or twice, therefore have left of and utterly despaired of conquering this sin: Brethren, 'tis not the taking out of
two or three buckets of water that will empty a pond so deep as this is, no rather three or four hundred buckets must be ta∣ken out, 2. Cor. 12. 8. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. saepe Chry∣sostomus apud Bezam. terque quaterque, look you must be often upon your knees if you would quite rout this sin; chronick di∣seases are not soon cured but perseverance is to be used in the use of the means; Chri∣stian zeal must not be like straw that is soon kindled but quickly out. O Brethren, you must not tire or give over though you spend your whole life in killing only this single sin; O never think of dying before this sin be dead.
2. Do not set a time for this work but begin it presently. This is the great folly of Christians in cases which concern their Souls they set times for them, but in cases which concern only their Bodies or Estates they set on that presently; some set the time of sickness when well; when sick set the time after their recovery; some set that time when they are married and have a setled Family, others that are Married and have Familes set the time when they break up house; so we post of the time from time to time, till at last we loose ma∣ny
of us both our time and our Souls; for the World we never think we can begin soon enough, for our Souls we always think it too soon. I have heard many old men say, O if they were young again O what Husbands would they be, how would they provide for the World, but you shall sel∣dom hear those that are old say if they were young, O what penitents would they be. Consider the folly of this setting of time, vid. Fullers good thoughts in bad times.
1. 'Tis a means to wast and mispend our time; we loose all the time wherein we leave this great work undone, the longer we defer it the stronger grows our sin, and the weaker grow we; sin always gets by our delays, and we loose by them.
2. Hereby we discover our despising of God and his commands, leaving his work to the very last; 'tis an affront and a great affront to God, after we have served the world, sin, lusts, our pleasures, then to say that we will serve God.
3. The sooner we begin this work the easier will it be to us; fire is soon quench∣ed when it is but newly kindled, a young thorn or bramble is easily pulled up, the
fierce Lion may be tamed when he is a whelp; O the longer you bear with your sins the harder will it be for you to get them out of your hearts.
4. The sooner you begin the more plea∣sant will the work be. Repentance I can compare it to nothing so well as to Butter, we say Butter is Gold in the Morning, Sil∣ver at Noon, but Lead at Night; O so is Repentance, in the Morning of our days 'tis Gold for its rarity, Gold for its purity, Gold for its weight, Gold for its price; at Noon in the middle of our Age, 'tis Silver, 'tis of great value but not so pure as in the Morning, we contract more dross and filth to our Souls by that time; but at Night, O then Repentance is like lead to a man, upon his Death-bed 'tis an hard tedious un∣pleasant work. O do not put it off so long you loose the price and the benefit of it.
5. Take heed of staying too long least it prove too late. It is reported of Thales one of the Wise Men of Greece, that being urged by his Mother to Marry, he told her at first it was too soon; and afterward when she urged him again, he told her it was too late. O Brethren, hearken to this word; when we exhort you to part with
your own Iniquities, we are urging a match, an espousal between Christ and your Souls, Christ will consent if you will but part with this sin, O do not say, 'tis too soon, 'tis too soon, perhaps before you hear another Sermon Christ may say to some of you now 'tis too late. O make good use of the present seasons, that is all the time you can promise to your selves.
3. Whatever you do in this work of casting out your own Iniquity, examin it by the Scripture, else you may be deceiv∣ed; the strength of a building consists in the rectitude and straitness of it, and there∣fore to every stone that is laid on, the Ma∣son he lays his rule, his line, his plummet that it may be even. Brethren, what we do by Scripture rule, we may be sure is well done and will last to Eternity; when Saul would cast out his melancholy, the Devil he doth it by Musick, that was the advice of his Courtiers, and not of God's word. No let us follow the Scripture, what that bids us do and what means that bids us use to the casting out of this sin, let us follow that counsel and none else; there is peace to all that do walk according to that Rule.
4. Be sure you go not forth in your own strength against this sin or any sin; O how many are foiled by Temptations, because they have not taken Christ along with them, 4. Phil. 13. and we may add this if Christ had not strengthned him Paul could have done nothing. O Brethren, be sure you forget not this, else all that you do will be in vain. 'Twas in the Name of the Lord that David went out to fight against Goliah, and it must be in the Name of Christ, and strength and power of Christ that we must go out against this sin, and then shall we assuredly return conquerors.