Sheep or swine? – Thomas Brooks

It is possible for Christians to fall into the same sins of which they have formerly repented by the secret, subtle, and strong workings of sin in their hearts. And no wonder, for though their repentance is ever so sincere and sound  yet their graces are but weak, and their mortification of sin is imperfect in this life. Though by grace they are freed from the dominion of sin, and from the damnatory power of every sin, and from the love of all sin; yet grace does not free them from the indwelling of any one sin. Therefore it is possible for a Christian to fall again and again into the same sin.

God will graciously pardon those sins to His people, which He will not in this life totally subdue in His people.

I have never seen a promise in Scripture, which says that when our sorrow and grief has been so great, or so much, for this or that sin that God will then preserve us from ever falling into the same sin. The sight of such a promise would be as life from the dead to many a precious soul, who desires nothing more than to keep close to Christ, and fears nothing more than backsliding from Christ.

Yet, there is a great difference between a sheep which by weakness falls into the mire and a swine which delights to wallow in the mire! There is a great difference between a woman who is raped, though she fights and cries out  and an alluring adulteress!