CHAP. X. (2)

2. The Lord Jesus is wounded afresh by it; His new Creature in the heart is wounded. His Love is foil'd, his adversary gratified. As a total relinquishment of him by the Deceitfulness of Sin, is the crucifying him afresh, and the putting of him to open shame, so every harbouring of Sin that he came to destroy, wounds and grieves him.

3. It will take away a mans usefulness in his Generation. His Works, his Endeavours, his Labours seldom receive Blessing from God. If he be a Preacher, God commonly blows upon his Ministry, that he shall labour in the

Fire, and not be honoured with any success, or doing any work for God; and the like may be spoken of other Conditions. The world is at this day full of poor withering Professors; how few are there that walk in any Beauty, or Glory; how barren, how useless are they for the most part [gap]. Amongst the many Reasons that may be assigned of this sad Estate, it may justly be feared, that this is none of the least effectual; many men harbour Spirit-devouring Lusts in their bosomes, that lye as Worms at the Root of their Obedience, and corrode and weaken it day by day. All Graces, all the Wayes and Means whereby any Graces may be exercised and improved, are prejudiced by this Means; and as to any success, God blasts such mens undertakings.

This then is my second Direction, and it regards the Opposition that is to be made to Lust, in respect of its habitual residence in the Soul; keep alive upon thy Heart these or the like Considerations, of its Guilt, Danger and Evil; be much in the meditation of these things; cause thy Heart to dwell and abide upon them. Ingage thy Thoughts into these Considerations; let them not go off, nor wander from them, untill they begin to have a powerfull Influence upon thy Soul; untill they make it to tremble.