Sin Stigmatized, Part 2 · Section 175
§ 175
3 NOw if thou intendeſt to hold out in thy good purpoſes, 5 Shame not to confeſſe thy diſlike of it in thy ſelfe and others.and meaneſt to bring thy thoughts to the birth; thou muſt not be aſhamed to confeſſe, with that honeſt theife upon the croſſe, even before thy companions and fellow drunkards, that thou art not now the ſame man thou waſt, both thy mind and judgement is changed, and ſo ſhall thy practiſe, God aſſiſting thee; nay, thou wilt not only forſake thy ſin, but their company too, except they will forſake their old cuſtomes of drinking, and ſcoffing, and jeering at ſobriety and goodneſſe.
And ſo doing, thou mayſt perchance winne thy Brother, even as that penitent wanton, in St. Ambroſſe, did his old love; who when ſhe courted him, according to her accuſtomed manner, and wondred at his overmuch ſtrangneſſe, ſaying, why doe you not know who I am? anſwered, yes, I know you are ſtill the ſame woman, but I am become another man, I am not I now, neither would You be You any longer, if yee knew ſo much as I doe.
4 But if yet they perſiſt, 6 Fly evill company.and ſeeme incorrigible, flye their company for feare of infection, leaſt it happen with thee, as once it did with a chaſt perſon among Penelopes ſuters, who went ſo often with his friend, till in the end he was caught himſelfe: for if thou keepeſt them company, there is no poſſibility of thy holding out to the end, though thou ſhouldeſt for a time: as a man may make ſome progreſſe in a good way, and yet returne before he is halfe at his journeys end, as Saul kept himſelfe well for two yeares, Iudas for three yeares, and (as it is ſtoried) Nero for five yeares, yet all fell into damnable wickedneſſe, ſcarce three worſe in the world. But of this more in it's proper place.
Beſides, how hard a thing is it for thee, a coward, to ſhew thy diſlike of this ſin in ſome companies, where thou ſhalt be ſcoff't at thy ſelfe, if thou diſlike their drinking, and ſcoffing at others?
Fiftly, 7 Take heede of delayes.another thing which I had need to adviſe thee of, is, to take heede of delayes; for to leave ſinne, when ſin leaves us, will never paſſe for true repentance: beſides, if the evill ſpirit can but perſwade thee to deferre it untill hereafter, he knowes it is all one, as if thou hadſt never purpoſed to leave thy ſinne at all; as you have it largely proved, Sections, 151.152.153.
Sixtly, 8 Omit not to pray for divine aſſiſtance.omit not to pray for the aſsiſtance of God's ſpirit, to ſtrengthen thee in thy reſolution of leaving this ſinne. St. Ambroſſe calls prayer, the key of Heaven; yet prayer, without anſwerable endeavour, is but as if a wounded man did deſire helpe, yet refuſeth to have the ſword puld out of his wound.
Sevently, be diligent in hearing God's Word, which is the ſword of the Spirit, 9 Be diligent in hearing.that killeth our corruptions, and that unreſiſtable cannon-ſhot, which battereth and beateth downe the ſtrong holds of ſinne.
Eighthly, 10 frequent in the uſe of the Lords-Supper.be frequent in the uſe of the Lord's Supper, wherein we dayly renew our covenant with God, that we will forſake the Devill, and all his workes of darkeneſſe.
Ninthly, 11 Medita…e what God hoth done for thee.ponder and med tate on Gods ineſtimable love towards us, who hath not ſpared to give his Sonne to death for us, and the innumerable benefits, which, together with him, he hath plentifully beſtowed upon us, both in temporall and ſpirituall things; ſay unto the Lord, what ſhall I render unto thee for all thy benefits, but love my Creator, and become a new creature.
Tenthly, meditate on that union, 12 Meditate on that union we have with Chriſt, &cwhich is betweene Chriſt and us, whereby wee become members of his glorious body, and ſo ſhall we ſtand upon our ſpirituall reputation, and be aſhamed to diſhonour our Head, by drawing him, as much as in us lyeth, into the communication of this ſwiniſh ſinne: conſider that our bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, the which we ſhall exceedingly diſhonour, if, by drinking and ſwilling, we make them to become like wine veſſells.
Eleventhly, 13 Conſider that the Lord beholdeth thee wherſoever thou art.conſider that the Lord beholdeth thee in all places, and in every thing thou doeſt; as the eyes of a well drawne picture, are faſtned on thee, which way ſoever thou turneſt; much more, while in a brutiſh manner thou lieſt wallowing in this ſinne; and conſider him as a juſt judge, who will not let ſuch groſſe vices goe unpuniſhed.
Twelftly, be ever, or at leaſt often thinking of the laſt and terrible day of Iudgment when we ſhall all be called to a reckoning, 14 Often thinke of the day of judgment,not only for this ſinne, but for all other our ſinnes, which this ſhall occaſion, to our very words and thoughts.
And laſtly, if thou receiveſt any power againſt this great evill, forget not to be thankfull; and when God hath the fruite of his mercies, he will not ſpare to ſow much, where he reapes much.