come no condemnation that way, yet
there is much hurt comes by sin, even in this world, and sure, I think it
a very rational and Christian inducement, to prevail with a Christian not
to sin, to tell him that he shall make a foolish bargain by it, for he
shall lose much more than he can gain. Is there no hurt or loss incident
to men, but eternal perdition? Nay, my beloved, there is a loss Christians
may sustain by sinning freely, which all the combined advantages of sin
cannot compensate. Is not one hour's communion with God, are not the peace
of your own consciences, and the joy of the Spirit, such inestimable
jewels, that it were more suitable for a man to sell the world, and buy
them, than to sell them, and buy a poor momentary trifling contentment,
which hath a sting in the tail of it, and leaves nothing but vexation
after it? O these bruises in David's bones, these breaches in his spirit,
that loss of the joy of his salvation! Let these teach you who are escaped
the great hurt of sin, to fear, at least, to be hurt by it this way, more
than ever you can expect to be helped by it.

But then, I desire to add this in the third place, that there is provision
made against the discouragement of those souls that desire not to sin, and
yet sin against their desire. If the challenge I spoke of be written in
thy conscience, as it were with the point of a diamond, deeply engraven,
yet my beloved, consider, that "if any man sin, we have an advocate," &c.
There is an express caution against thy discouragement. Certainly our
Saviour hath provided for it. Since the case is so incident, and the
supposition so ordinary, it is not conceivable that he hath not caveated
and secured thy salvation in such cases, for he knew certainly before he
pardoned thee, and visited thee at first, that thou wast to be subject
unto this necessary burden of sin, and that it would often times molest
and trouble you, and sometimes prevail over you. All this he knew, that
when he should order your forces, and draw out against sin, with the
greatest desire and resolution, that yet you might be foiled unexpectedly,
and this was not unknown to him, when he showed mercy at first. Therefore,
since his love is unchangeable, and his wisdom, being infinite, saith it
should be so, he would never have cast his love on such persons, if these
things, which were then before him, could make him change. Now, I grant
there is more wonder in the pardon of following sins, tha