[1.] In the body of professors there is a great number of hypocrites. Though we cannot say of this or that man that he is so, yet that some there are is most certain. Our Saviour hath told us that it will be so to the end of the world. All that have oil in their lamps, have it not in their vessels. Let men take heed how they give themselves up unto a conformity to the professors they meet withal, lest instead of saints and the best of men, they sometimes pro- pose for their example hypocrites, which are the worst; and when they think they are like unto them who bear the image of God, they conform themselves unto those who bear the image of Satan.
[2.] You know not what may be the present temptation of those whose ways you observe. It may be they are under some peculiar desertion from God, and so are withering for a season, until he send them some refreshing showers from above. It may be they are entangled with some spe- cial corruptions, which is their burden, that you know not of; and for any voluntarily to fall into such a frame, as others are cast into by the power of their temptations, or to think that will suffice in them, which they see to suffice in
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others whose distempers they know not, is folly and pre- sumption. He that knows such or such a person to be a living man, and of a healthy constitution, if he see him go crawling up and down about his affairs, feeble and weak, sometimes falling, sometimes standing, and making small progress in any thing, will he think it sufficient for himself to do so also ? will he not inquire whether the person he sees, have not lately fallen into some distemper or sickness, that hath weakened him, and brought him into that condition? Assuredly he will so do. Take heed. Christians, many of the professors with whom ye do converse are sick, and wounded ; the wounds of some of them do stink, and are corrupt be- cause of their folly. If you have any spiritual health, do not think their weak and uneven walking will be accepted at your hands ; much less think it will be well for you to become sick and to be wounded also.
[3.] Remember that of many of the best Christians, the worst only is known and seen. Many who keep up pre- cious communion with God, do yet oftentimes, by their na- tural tempers of freedom or passion, not carry so glorious appearances as others, who perhaps come short of them in grace and the power of godliness. In respect of their out- ward conversation it may seem they are scarcely saved, when in respect of their faith and love they may be eminent. They may, as the king's daughter, be all glorious within, though their clothes be not always of wrought gold. Take heed then that you be not infected with their worst, when ye are not able it may be to imitate them in their best ; but to return.
(4.) Sin doth this work by cherishing some secret par- ticular lust in the heart. This the soul contends against faintly. It contends against it upon the account of since- rity, it cannot but do so ; but it doth not make thorough work, vigorously to mortify it by the strength and power of grace. Now where it is thus with a soul, an habitual de- clension as to holiness will assuredly ensue. David shews us how in his first days he kept his heart close unto God; Psal. xviii. 23. • I was upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.' His great care was lest any one lust should prevail in him, or upon him, that might be called his iniquity in a peculiar manner. The same course steered Paul also ;
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THE NATURE AND POWER
1 Cor. ix. 27. he was in danger to be lifted up by his spiritual revelations and enjoyments. This makes him keep his body in subjection, that no carnal reasonings or vain imagination might take place in him. But where indwelling sin hath provoked, irritated, and given strength unto a special lust, it proves assuredly a principal means of a general declension. For as an infirmity and weakness in any one vital part will make the whole body consumptive, so will the weakness in anyone grace, which a perplexing lust brings with it, make the soul. It every way weakens spiritual strength. It weakens confidence in God in faith and prayer. The knees will be feeble, and the hands will hang down in dealing with God, where a o'allino; and unmortified lust lies in the heart, it will take ' such hold upon the soul, that it shall not be able to look up ;' Psal. xl. 12. It darkens the mind by innu- merable foolish imaginations, which it stirs up to make pro- vision for itself. It galls the conscience with those spots and stains, which in and by its actings it brings upon the soul. It contends in the will for rule and dominion. An active stirring corruption would have the commanding power in the soul, and it is ever and anon ready to take the throne. It disturbs the thoughts, and sometimes will even frighten the soul from dealing with it by meditation, lest corrupt affec- tions being entangled by it, grace loses ground instead of prevailing. It breaks out oftentimes into scandalous sins, as it did in David and Hezekiah, and loads the sinner with sorrow and discouragement. By these and the like means, it becomes to the soul like a moth in a garment, to eat up and devour the strongest threads of it, so that though the whole hang loose together, it is easily torn to pieces. Though the soul with whom it is thus do for a season keep up a fair profession, yet his strength is secretly devoured ; and every temptation tears and rents his conscience at pleasure. It becomes with such men as it is with some who have for a many years been of a sound, strong, athletic constitution. Some secret, hectical distemper seizeth on them : for a season they take no notice of it ; or if they do, they think they shall do well enough with it, and easily shake it off when they have a little leisure to attend unto it; but for the present they think as Samson with his locks cut, they will do as at other times. Sometimes it may be they complain that they