Navigation Spiritualized, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
A little Leak neglected, dangerous proves:
One Sin connived at, the Soul undoes.
OBSERVATION.
THE smallest Leak, if not timely discovered and stopt, is enough to sink a Ship of the greatest burden: Therefore Sea-men are wont frequently to try what Water is in the Hold; and if they find it fresh, and increasing upon them, they ply the Pump, and presently set the Carpenters to search for it and stop it; and till it be found they cannot be quiet.
REFLECTION.
What such a Leak is to a Ship, that is the smallest sin neglected to the Soul; it is enough to ruine it eternally. For as the greatest sin, discover'd, lamented, and mourned over by a Believer, cannot ruine him; so the least sin indulged, covered, and connived at, will certainly prove the destruction of the sinner. No sin, though never so small, is tolerated by the pure and perfect Law of God, Psal. 119. 96. The command is exceeding broa…; not as if it gave Men a latitude to walk as they please, but broad, i. e. extending it self to all our words, thoughts, actions, and affections: Laying a Law upon them all; conniving at no evil in any Man, 1 Pet. 2. 1.
And as the word gives no allowance for the least sin, so it is the very nature of sincerity and uprightness, to set the heart against [every] way of wickedness, Psal. 139. 23, 24. Iob 4. 23. And especially against that sin which was its darling in the days of his vanity, Psal. 18. 23. True hatred (as the Philosopher observes, is of the whole†foreign. kind: He that hates sin, as sin, and so doth every upright Soul, hate all sins as well as some.
Again, the Soul that hath had a saving sight of Jesus Christ, and a true discovery of the evil of sin, in the Glass both of the Law and Gospel, can account no sin small. He knows the demerit of the smallest sin is God's eternal wrath, and that not the least sin can be remitted, without the shedding and application of the Blood of Christ, Heh. 9. 22. which Blood is of infinite value and price▪ 1 Pet. 1. 19.
To conclude, God's People know, that little as well as great sins are dangerous, deadly and destructive in their own nature: A little poyson will destroy a Man. Adrian was choakt with a Gnat; Caesar stabbed with Bodkins. A man would think Adam's sin had been no great matter, yet what dreadful work did it make! It was not as a single Bullet to kill himself only; but as a Chain-shot, which cut off all his poor miserable Posterity. Indeed, no sin can be little, because its object against whom it is committed is so great, whence it receives a kind of infiniteness in it self, and hecause the price paid to redeem us from it is so invaluable.
REFLECTION.
And is the smallest sin not only damning in its own nature, but will certainly prove the ruine of that Soul that hides and covers it? O then let my spirit accomplish a diligent search. Look to it, O my Soul! that no sin be indulged by thee. Set these considerations as so many flaming Swords in the way of thy carnal delights and lust: Let me never say of any sin, as Lot did of Zoar, It is a little one, spare it. Shall I spare that which cost the Blood of Jesus Christ? The Lord would not spare him, When he made his Soul an offering for sin, Rom. 8. 32. Neither will he spare me, if I defend and hide it, Deut. 29. 20. Ah! If my Heart were right, and my Conversion sound, that lust whatever it be, that is so favoured by me, would especially be abhorred and hated, Isai. 2. 20. and 30. 22. Whatever my convictions and reformations have been, yet if there be but one sin retained and delighted in, this keeps the Devils interest still in my Soul: And though for a time he seem to depart, yet at last he will return with seven worse spirits, and this is the sin will open the door to him, and deliver up my Soul, Matth. 12. 43, 44. Lord, let me make through work of it: let me cut it off, and pluck it out, though it be as a right Hand, or Eye. Ah, shall I come so near the Kingdom of God, and make such a fair offer for Christ, and yet stick at a small matter, and lose all for want of one thing? Lord, let me …ed the blood of the dearest lust, for his sake that shed his dearest blood for me.
THE POEM.
There's many a Soul eternally undone
For sparing sin, because a little one.
But we are much deceiv'd; no sin is small,
That wounds so great a God, so dear a Soul.
Yet say it were, the smallest Pen-knife may
As well as Sword or Lance dispatch and slay.
And shall so small a matter part and sever
Christ and thy Soul? What make you part for ever?
Or wilt thou stand on Toys with him, when he
Deny'd himself in greatest things for thee?
Or will it be an ease in Hell, to think
How easily thy Soul therein did sink!
Are Christ and Hell for trifles sold and bought?
Strike Souls with trembling, Lord, at such a thought.
By little sins, belov'd, the Soul is lost,
Vnless such sins do great repentance cost.