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of it: Were it to be done prefently, or were the work to be quickly over; how many are there that would be found to have departed from iniquity but for that it is a work of - continuance, and not worth any thing, unless men hold out to the end, therefore it is that fo few are found actors, or overcomers there. in. Departing from iniquity, with many, is but like the falling out of two neighbours, they hate one another for a while, and then renew their old friendship again

But again, fince to depart from iniquity is a work of time, of all thy time: no wonder if it dogs thee, and offereth to returu upon thee again and again for that is mifchievous and feeks nothing lefs than thy ruin wherefore thou muft in the first place take it for granted that thus it will be, and fo cry the harder to God for the continuing of his prefence, and grace upon thee in this bleffed work, that as thou haft begun to call upon the name of the Lord Jefus, and begun to depart from iniquity: fo thou mayeft have ftrength to do it to the last gasp of thy life.

And

And further, for that departing from iniquity is a kind of a warfare with it, for iniquity will hang in thy flesh what it can, and will not be eafly kept under, therefore no marvel if thou find it wearifome work, and that the thing that thou wouldeft be rid of, is fo unwilling to let thee depart from it.

And fince the work is fo weighty, and that it makes thee to go groan. ng on I will for thy help give thee here a few things to confider of, And

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11. Remember that God fees thee,
and has his eyes open upon thee
ven then when fin and temptati
on is lying at thee to give it fome
entertainment. This was that that
nade Jofeph depart from it, when Gen.39.8,
olicited to imbrace it by a very

Dowerful argument.

X2. Remember that Gods wrath urns against it, and that he will urely be revenged on it, and on all hat give it entertainment. This aade Fob afraid to countenance it, nd put him upon departing from it: or deftruction from God was a ter

ror

7.

1

Job 31. 23.

ror to me, and by reason of his highness 1 could not endure.

3. Remember the mifchiefs that it has done to thofe that have imbraced it, and what diftrefs it has brought upon others. This made the whole congregation of Ifrael tremble to think that any of their brethren fhould give countenance Jofh. 22. 16,17,18. to it.

2 Cor. 5.

14.

4. Remember what Chrift hath fuffered by it, that he might deliverus from the power of it. This made Paul so heartily to depart from it, and with all Chriftians to do so as well as he.

5. Remember that those that are now in hell-fire went thither for Pfal. 9.17. that they loved iniquity, and would not depart from it.

Pfal. 11.6.

17.

6. Remember that a profeffion is Jam.2.16, not worth a pin, if they that make it do not depart from iniquity. 7. Remember that thy death-bed will be very uneafie to thee, if thy Hof. 7.13 confcience, at that day, fhall be clogged with the guilt of thy iniquity.

14.

8. Re

8. Remember that at the Judge- Luk. 13. ment day Chrift will fay to thofe, 27. depart from me, that have not here departed from their fin and iniquity.

Lastly, Remember well, and think much upon what a bleffed reward the Son of God will give unto them at that day, that have joyned to their profeffion of faith in him a holy and bleffed conversation.

Having thus briefly fhewed you thefe things, I fhall come in the next place to fhew you,

Mat. 25.

41.

The rea

Why fome, that as to words, rightly name the name of Chrift, do not depart from iniquity. That it is in- fons. cident to men to name the name of Chrift religiously, and not to depart from iniquity: I have proved already, and now I must fhew you why it is fo, and the reafons are of three forts.

First, Some profefs him, yet have First Reanot faving faith in him, nor yet re fon. ceived grace from him. That fome profefs him that have not faith in him, nor received grace from him, I will make appear first. And then hat they do not. depart from

iniqui

iniquity, fhall be fhewn afterwards.

That the first is true, confider, Christ faies to his Difciples, there are

Joh. 6.46. Some of you that believe not. And again, For Jefus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. Now if they believe not, they have none of his grace in them: for faith is the first and head grace, the beginning and leading grace: he therefore that is deftitute of that, is empty of all the rest. Besides, other Scriptures alfo confirm this truth. James Calls fome of the profeffors of Chrift that Jam. 2.20. were in his day, vain, or empty men; that is, men void of grace. And

20,

the Apostle fuggefteth in the very words below the Text, that as in Gods house there are Golden, and 2 Tim. 2. Silver Saints, fo their are alfo earthy and Wooden ones. For in a great houfe as Gods is, are not only Veffels of Gold and Silver, but al Rom. 9. fo of wood and of earth, and fome to 20. 21,22. honour,and fome to dishonour; that is, fome for Heaven, and fome for

23.

Hell.

Now

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