The Christian in Complete Armor - Choice Extracts!

him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). Some
men's sins forsake them; "the unclean spirit goes out," and is not driven out;
occasions to sin cease, or bodily ability to execute the commands of sin is
wanting.
To forsake sin, is to leave it without any thought reserved of returning to it
again. It were strange to find a drunkard so constant in the exercise of that
sin, but some time you may find him sober; and yet a drunkard he is, as well
as if he was then drunk. A man forsakes his sin, when he throws it from him,
and bolts the door upon it, with a purpose never to open more to it: "Ephraim
shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?" (Hosea 14:8).
Forsake all or none. Save one lust, and you lose your soul. What will you get,
poor sinner, if you go to Hell, though you go there by your ignorance,
unbelief, or spiritual pride — yet escape the plague of open profaneness?
This is as ridiculous as it was with him, who about to be hanged, desired that
he might by no means go through such a street to the gallows, for fear of the
plague that was there.
Soul, take your lust, your only lust, which is as the child of your dearest love,
your Isaac, the sin which has caused most joy and laughter, from which you
have promised yourself the greatest return of pleasure or profit — and offer
it up! Run the sacrificing knife of mortification into the very heart of it —
and all this now, before you have one embrace more from it.
2. PROFESSION AND HYPOCRISY
"The hypocrite's hope shall perish!" Job 8:13
Such a generation there ever shall be, that mingle themselves with the saints
of God; who pretend Heaven, with heavenly speeches — while their hearts
are lined with hypocrisy, whereby they deceive others, and most of all
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