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against their general purpose, as David did, for he had said, he would look to his ways, Psa. xxxix. 1; and he had determined to keep God's righteous judgments, Psa. cxix. 106. Yea, many times they are done against their particular purposes, as Peter's denial of his Master, Matt. xxvi. 35. They are not usually contrived, or thought on before, but fallen into by occasion, or are forced thereunto by the violent corruption of the affections, or sensual appetites, 2 Sam. xi. 2; Gal. vi. 1. Moreover, they do not make a trade and custom of sin; these kinds of sins do not pass them any long time unobserved; but are seen, bewailed, confessed to God, and prayed against; and are burdensome and grievous to them, making them to think worse of themselves, and to become base in their own eyes because of them. But it is usually directly otherwise with the unregenerate in all these particulars, Gen. xxvii. 41; Micah ii. 1.

3. The regenerate may not only commit sins gross for matter, but presumptuous for manner, namely, they may commit them not only against knowledge and consent, but with a premeditated deliberation, and determination of will, as David did in the murder of Uriah, 2 Sam. xi. 8 - 25. But it is seldom that a child of God does commit presumptuous sins; his general determination and prayer is against them, Psa. xix. 13. It is with much strife and reluctance of will, and with little delight and content, in comparison. He never sins presumptuously, but when he is drawn thereunto, or forced thereupon by some overstrong corruption and violent temptation for the time, as David was, being over eagerly bent to hide his sin, and to save his credit: for if he could by any means have gotten Uriah home to his wife, he would never have caused him to be slain, 2 Sam. xi. 8 - 13. And although presumptuous sins cast him into a deadness and numbness of heart and spirit, in which he may lie for a time speechless and prayerless, as it was with David; yet he feels that all is not well with him, until he have again made his peace with God, Psa. xxxii. 3, 4. And when he has the ministry of God's power-