Were
it to be done presently, 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 so few are
found actors or overcomers therein. Departing from iniquity, with
many, is but like the falling out of two neighbors; they hate one
another for a while, and then renew their old friendship again.
But again, since to depart from iniquity is a work of time, of all
thy time, no wonder if it dogs thee, and offereth to return upon
thee again and again; for sin is mischievous, and seeks nothing less
than thy ruin. Wherefore, thou must in the first place take it for
granted that thus it will be, and so cry the harder to God for the
continuing of his presence and grace upon thee in this blessed work,
that as thou hast begun to depart from iniquity, so thou mayest have
strength to do it to the last gasp of thy life.
And further, for that departing from iniquity is a kind of warfare
with it-for iniquity will hang in thy flesh what it can, and will
not be easily kept under-therefore no marvel if thou find it
wearisome work, and that the thing that thou wouldst get rid of is
so unwilling to let thee depart from it.
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