nothing for a man to lay hands on his vile opinions, on his vile sins,
on his bosom sins, on his beloved, pleasant, darling sins, that stick
as close to him as the flesh sticks to the bones? What! to lose all
these brave things that my eyes behold, for that which I never saw
with my eyes? What! to lose my pride, my covetousness, my vain
company, sports and pleasure's, and the rest? I tell you this is no
easy matter; if it were, what need of all those prayers, sighs,
watchings? What need we be so backward to it? Nay, do you not see,
that some men before they will set about this work, will even venture
the loss of their souls, heaven, God, Christ, and all? What mean else
all those delays and put-offs, saying, 'Stay a little longer; I am
loath to leave my sins while I am so young, and in health?' Again,
what is the reason else that others do it so by the halves, coldly,
and seldom; notwithstanding they are convinced over and over, and
over, nay, and also promise to amend; and yet all is in vain? I will
assure you, to cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes, is no
pleasure to the flesh.

3. The doctrine of _perseverance_ is also cross to the flesh; which is
not only to begin, but to hold out; not only to bid fair, and to say,
'Would I had heaven,' but so to know Christ, to put on Christ, and
walk with Christ, as to come to heaven. Indeed it is no great matter
to begin to look for heaven; to begin to seek the Lord; to begin to
shun sin. Oh! but it is a very great matter to continue with God's
approbation! "My servant Caleb," saith God, "because he had another
spirit with him, and hath followed me fully," (followed me always: he
hath continually followed me,) "him will I bring into the land."
Almost all the many thousands of the children of Israel in their
generation, fell short of perseverance when they walked from Egypt
towards the land of Canaan. Indeed they went to work at first pretty