Nebuchadnezzar's beloved sin was pride, and Herod's beloved sin was uncleanness, and Judas his beloved sin was covetousness, and the young man's beloved sin in that 19th of Matthew was worldly-minded- ness, &c.
[2.] Secondly, Premise this with me, that the elect of God, before their conversion, had their beloved &ins. Manasseh's beloved sin was cruelty ; and Ephraim's beloved sin, before conversion, was idolatry, Hosea iv. 17 ; and Zaccheus his beloved sin before conversion was worldly-mindedness and defrauding of others ; and Paul's beloved sin, before conversion, was persecution ; and the jailer s beloved sin, before conversion, was cruelty; and Mary Magdalene's beloved sin, before conversion, was wantonness and uncleanness, &c.
[3.] Thirdly, Premise this with me, viz., that after conversion there is no sin thai the heart of a Christian is more seriously, more fre- quently, more resolutely, and more perfectly set against than that which was once his beloved lust. The hatred, detestation, and indig- nation of a converted person breaks out and discovers itself most against that sin which was once a beloved sin, a bosom sin, a darling sin ; his care, his fear, his jealousy, his watchfulness is most exercised against that sin which was once the darling of his soul. The converted per- son eyes this sin as an old enemy ; he looks upon this sin as the sin by which God has been most dishonoured, and his own conscience most enslaved, and his immortal soul most endangered, and Satan most advantaged, and accordingly his spirit rises against it, Hosea xiv. 8 ; Isa. ii. 20, and xxx. 22. And all Christians' experience confirms this truth ; but of this more before.
[4.] Fourthly, After conversion, a Christian endeavours to be most eminent in that particular grace which is most contrary and opposite to that sin ivhich was once his beloved sin, his bosom sin, his darling sin, Zaccheus his beloved sin was worldliness and defrauding, but, being converted, he labours to excel in restitution and liberality ; the jailer's beloved sin was severity and cruelty, but, being converted, he labours to excel in pity, and courtesy ; Paul's beloved sin was persecu- tion, but, being converted, how mightily does he bestir himself to convert souls, and to edify souls, and to build up souls, and to strengthen souls, and to establish souls, and to encourage souls in the ways of the Lord — he gives it you under his own hand, ' That he laboured more abundantly than they all,' 2 Cor, xi. 23 ; Austin's beloved sin, his bosom sin, his darling sin, before his conversion, was wantonness and uncleanness ; but, when he was converted, he was most careful and watchful to arm against that sin, and to avoid all temptations and occasions that might lead him to it afterwards. If a man's beloved sin, before conversion, has been worldliness, then after conversion he will labour above all to excel in heavenly-mindedness ; or if his sin, his beloved sin, has been pride, then he will labour above all to excel in humility ; or if his beloved sin has been intemperance, then he will labour above all to excel in temperance and sobriety ; or if his beloved sin has been wantonness and uncleanness, then he will labour above all to excel in all chastity and purity ; or if his beloved sin has been oppressing of others, then he will labour above all to excel in piety and compassion towards others; or if his beloved sin ha^ been
32 SERIOUS AND WEIGHTY QUESTIONS
hypocrisy, then he will labour above all to excel in sincerity, &c. But,
[5.] Fifthly, Though no godly man, though no sincere gracious Christian hath any beloved sin, and bosom, darling sin, yet there is no godly man, there is no sincere gracious soul, hut has some sin or other to which they are more prone than to others. Every real Christian hath his inclination to one kind of sin rather than another, which may be called his special sin, his peculiar sin, or his own iniquity, as David speaks in Ps. xviii. 23. Now the main power of grace and of upright- ness is mainly seen and exercised in a man's keeping of himself from his iniquity. Now that special, that peculiar sin, to which a gracious soul may be most prone and addicted to may arise — 1. From the temperament and constitution of his body. The complexion and con- stitution of a man's body may be a more prepared instrument for one vice rather than another ; or, 2. It may arise from his particular call- ing. Christians have distinct and particular callings that incline them to particular sins. For instance, the soldier's calling puts him upon rapine and violence : Luke iii. 14, 'Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages.' And the trades- man's calling puts him upon lying, deceiving, defrauding, and over- reaching his brother. And the minister's calling puts him upon flatter- ing of the gallants and great ones of his parish, and upon pleasing the rest by speaking of smooth things, Isa. xxx. 10, ' and by sewing of pillows under their elbows,' Ezek. xiii. 18, 20. And the magistrates', judges', and justices' employments lays them open to oppression, bribery, injustice, &c. If Christians are not very much upon their watch, their very callings and offices may prove a very great snare to their souls ; or, 3. It may arise from his outward state and condition in this world, whether his state be a state of prosperity or a state of adversity, or whether he be in a marriage state or in a single state. Many times a man's outward state and condition in this world hath a strong influence upon him to incline him to this or that particular sin as best suiting with his condition ; or, 4. It may arise from distinct and peculiar ages ; for it is certain that distinct and peculiar ages do strongly inchne persons to distinct and pecuhar sins. Youth inclines to wantonness and prodigality ; and manhood to pride and ambition ; and old age to covetousness and frowardness. Common experience teUs us that many times wantonness is the sinner's darling in the time of his youth, and worldliness his darling in the time of his age ; and without controversy. Christians' distinct and peculiar ages may more strongly incline them to this or that sin rather than any other ; or, 5. It may arise from that distinct and particular way of breeding and education which he has had. Now to arm such Christians against their special sins, their peculiar sins — whose sins are advantaged against them, either by their constitutions and complexion, or else by their particu- lar calling, or else by their outward state and condition, or else by their distinct and peculiar ages, or else by their particular way of breeding and education— is my present work and business ; for though the reigning power of this or that special peculiar sin be broken in a man's conversion, yet the remaining life and strength that is still left in those corruptions, will by Satan be improved against the growth,
CLEARLY AND SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED. 33