endeared sin. Of all his sons Jacob could most hardly part with
their remembrance. "We are truly guilty concerning our brother," etc. Gen 42:21. So, when a man is upon his sick-bed, and conscience shall say, "You have been guilty of such a sin, the sin of slandering or uncleanness," conscience reads a man a sad lecture, and affrights him most for one sin; that is the complexion-sin.
4. That sin which a man is least inclined to part with, is the endeared sin. Of all his sons Jacob could most hardly part with Benjamin. "Will you take Benjamin away!" Gen 42:35. So says the sinner, this and that sin I have left—but must Benjamin go too? Must I part with this delightful sin? That goes to the heart!
As with a castle which has several forts about it, the first and second forts of which are yielded, when it comes to the main castle, the governor will rather fight and die than yield it. Just so, a man may allow many of his sins to be demolished; but when it comes to one— which is like the taking of a castle—he will never yield to part with that; surely that is the master-sin. Take heed especially of this sin; the strength of sin lies in the beloved sin, which, like a cancer striking at the heart, brings death.
I have read of a monarch, who being pursued by the enemy, threw away the crown of gold on his head, that he might run the faster. Just so, the sin which you wore as a crown of gold must be thrown away, that you may run the faster to the kingdom of heaven. Oh, if you would not lose glory, mortify the beloved sin! Set it, as Uriah—in the forefront of the battle to be slain. By plucking out this right eye—you will see the better to go to heaven!
(10) If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven— take heed of inordinate PASSION. Many a ship has been lost in the storm; and many a soul has been lost in a storm of unruly passions. Every member of the body is infected with sin, as every
branch of wormwood is bitter; but "the tongue is full of deadly poison." James 3:8. Some care not what they say in their passion; they will censure, slander, and wish evil to others. How can Christ be in the heart—when the devil has taken possession of the tongue? Passion disturbs reason, it is a temporary insanity. Jonah in a passion flies out against God. "I do well to be angry, even unto death." Jon 4:9. What! to be angry with God, and to justify it? "I do well to be angry;" the man was not well in his wits. Passion unfits for prayer. "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." 1 Tim 2:8. He who prays in anger may lift up his hands in prayer—but he does not lift up holy hands. Water, when hot, soon boils over; so, when the heart is heated with anger, it soon boils over in fiery passionate speeches. Some curse others in their passion. Let those whose tongues are set on fire, take heed that they do not one day in hell desire a drop of water to cool them! Oh, if you would not miss the heavenly kingdom—beware of giving way to unbridled passions. Some say, "words are but wind;" but they are such a wind as may blow them to hell.
(11) If you would not fall short of the heavenly kingdom— beware of too much indulging the sensual appetite. "Make no provision for the flesh." Romans 13:14. The Greek word, to make provision, signifies to be caterers for the flesh. "Whose god is their belly." Phil 3:19. The throat is a slippery place. Judas received the devil in the sop; and often the devil slides down in the liquor. Excess in food and drink clouds the mind, chokes holy affections, and provokes lust. Many a man digs his own grave with his teeth. The heathen Seneca could say, "I am great and born to greater things than to be a slave to my body." He was higher born than to be a slave to his body. To pamper the body, and neglect the soul, is to feed the slave and to starve the wife. Take such a proportion of food as may recruit nature—but do not surfeit it. Excess in things lawful has lost