Sermons Volume 2, Sermon 2 – Title page 4

Sermons Volume 2 · Sermon 2 – Title page 4

p. 41THE GREAT EVIL and DANGER OF LITTLE SINS, FROM

St. MATTH. V. 19.

Whoſoever therefore ſhall break any one of theſe least Commandments, and ſhall teach Men ſo, he ſhall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

AMongſt thoſe many Points that our Saviour handles in this his Sermon on the Mount, An Introduction.one is the Stability and Permanency of the Moral Law; the Obligation of which, he affirms to be as perpetual as Heaven p. 42and Earth, Verſe 18. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, till Heaven and Earth paſs, one jot or one tittle ſhall in no wiſe paſs from the Law, till all be fulfilled. This Aſſertion Chriſt lays down in oppoſition to the common and corrupt Doctrine of the Scribes and Phariſees, the Jewiſh Teachers; who, by their Traditions ſought to make void the Law of God Now, ſays Chriſt, unleſs they can remove the Earth, and rowl up the Heavens, and carry the World without the World, it is but a vain Attempt; for it is decreed in Heaven, That till Heaven and Earth paſs, not a tittle of the Law ſhall fail; but all ſhall be fulfilled.

As it is in this lower World, notwithſtanding it is maintained by a continual flux and viciſſitude by the perpetual change of one being into another; one corrupting, and another riſing up in a new form and ſhape out of its Ruines; and yet not the leaſt duſt of Matter is, or can be conſumed; but the ſame Matter, and the ſame Quantity ſtill continues which were at firſt created. So is it with the Law of God; let Scribes and Phariſees corrupt it by their erroneous p. 43Gloſſes and falſe Interpretations, …utting what Forms and Shapes they …eaſe upon it; yet as it is in the cor…ption of earthly Bodies, not the leaſt …iece of Matter can periſh, or be annihi…ted; ſo neither in their corrupting of …he Law ſhall one jot or tittle of it fail. …ot but that the Law did fail of its ob…ervation; never yet was it exactly and …unctually fulfilled by any, except by …ur Lord Jeſus Chriſt; but yet the Ob…gation and binding Power of it is ever…ſting, and ſhall continue while there … an Earth, and Men upon it; yea, while there is a Heaven & glorified Saints … it; for the Moral Law is of an eternal …alidity; on Earth it is a perfect Rule …et down in the Word; in Heaven it is … perfect Nature implanted in the Bleſ…ed, from which all their Actions ſhall low, and by which they ſhall all be guided to eternity.

This Aſſertion being laid down, our Saviour proceeds to draw an Inference …rom it, and that he doth in the Words …f the Text: If every jot and tittle of …he Law be of ſuch a permanent and everlaſting Obligation; then, whoſoever p. 44ſhall break one of theſe leaſt Commandments, and teach Men ſo, he ſhall be called that is, he ſhall be, or, he deſerves to b… the leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Opening of the Words.And here, before we can arrive at th… full and practical Senſe of the Words we muſt enquire into Two Things.

First, What is here meant by the leaſt Commandment.

Secondly, What is meant by being leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven.

What is meant by the leaſt Commandment.For the Firſt of theſe: When Chriſt ſpeaks here of the least Commandment, it muſt not be ſo underſtood, as if one Commandment were leſs neceſſary to be obſerved than another: God's Commands are all alike neceſſary, and that with a twofold Neceſſity; Neceſſitate Praecepti, & Neceſſitate Medii. The one ariſeth from the Authority of the Law-giver; the other from the Requiſiteneſs of Obedience to eternal Life; One Command therefore is not leſs than another.

p. 45Firſt, No Command little in reſpect of God's Authority.In reſpect of the Authority en…yning them. The ſame holy and juſt …od who hath commanded us to love …nd fear him with all our Souls and with …l our Might, hath alſo commanded us … abſtain from every vain Thought, …nd from every idle and ſuperfluous …ord. The leaſt Command hath power … bind the Conſcience to Obedience, as …ell as the greateſt; becauſe the leaſt … enacted by that Sovereign God to …hom all Souls and Conſciences are ſub…ct, as well as the greatest. It is not …he greatneſs or ſmallneſs of the Coin, …ut the Image of the King ſtamp'd upon … that authorizeth it, and makes it …arrant: So truly the Holineſs and Pu…ty of God's Nature once imprinted up…n the leaſt Command, makes it fully as …uthoritative and Obligatory, as if it …ere the higheſt and the chiefeſt.

Nor, Secondly, No Command leſs neceſſary to be obeyed.is one Command leſs …han another, as if it were leſs neceſſary …o be performed in order to Eternal Life. The Breach of the least Commandment …oth as certainly ſhut the Soul out of Heaven, and ſhut it up under Wrath and Condemnation, as the breach of the p. 46greateſt. In neither of theſe ſences therefore, muſt the Words be underſtood, a… if our Obedience were required more r… miſsly, or left more arbitrary to the one than to the other; or as if the obſervation of them all were not equally conducible unto Happineſs, or the tranſgreſſion of them equally liable unto puniſhment. When therefore Chriſt ſpeaks o… the leaſt Commandment, the expreſſion may admit of a twofold ſignification.

Firſt, That herein he alludes to th… common and corrupt Doctrine of the Scribes and Phariſees diſtinguiſhing God's Commands into great and ſmall. The great Commandments they held to be thoſe only which concerned the external Acts of Religious Worſhip; ſuch as Faſtings and Waſhings, and Sacrifices, and ſcrupulous Tithings, with various Gifts and Offerings; theſe were their great Commandments; but for inward Concupiſcence, for unmortified Luſts; for vain Thoughts and ſinful Deſires, theſe, they, as a Generation, corrupt in themſelves, and Corrupters of others, taught as the Papiſts now do, either to be no Sins at all, or at moſt, but venial, ſo p. 47long as they did not break forth into Act; and truly the greater part of this Chapter is ſpent in ſetting forth the evil of …hoſe Sins that the Jews accounted to be …ght and ſmall;Matth. 5.22, 28, 29.Matt 5:22Matt 5:28Matt 5:29 as to be angry with our …rother, to call him Racha, or thou Fool, …erſe 22. To harbour inward Motions …f Concupiſcence, ver. 28. To uſe Di…orce, ver. 29. Common Swearing, ver. 34. Private Revenge, ver. 39. Now ſays our …aviour, I am ſo far from deſtroying the Law and the Prophets, either by my Doctrine, or by my Practice, as theſe Men falſly accuſe and calumniate me; …hat contrariwiſe I teach that the violati…n of thoſe Commands which your Do…tors, the Scribes and Phariſees account …mall and little, will bring with them …n heavy guilt, and ſore condemnation; or whoſoever breaks thoſe Commandments that are commonly vilify'd and called leaſt, ſhall be the leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Secondly, Thoſe Commandments which …re great in reſpect of the Lawgiver, may yet be the leaſt in compariſon with other Commands of the ſame Law, which …re indeed thought greateſt. Now this p. 48comparative inequality in the Commandments, is taken from the inequality of the Objects about which they are converſant; ſome of them concern our Duty to God, others concern our Duty to Man: Now becauſe Man is infinitely leſs than God, therefore thoſe Commands that relate to our Duty towards Man, may be called leſs than thoſe Commands that relate to our Duty towards God. Hence, when the Lawyer put a Caſe to our Saviour, Matth. 22.36.Matt 22:36Mat. 22.36. Maſter, which is the great Commandment in the Law? Our Lord anſwers him, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Mind; This, ſays he, is the firſt and great Commandment. Sometimes this inequality riſeth from the Latitude that every Command hath in it: Now this Latitude relateth to our Thoughts, to our Words, and to our Actions. Now becauſe a Thought may be ſaid to be leſs than a Word, and a Word may be ſaid to be leſs than an Action, therefore that part of the Commandment that requires Holineſs in our Thoughts, may be ſaid to be leſs than that which requires Holineſs in our Speech; and that part of the p. 49Commandment which requires Holineſs in our Speech, than that which requires Holineſs in our Lives and Actions. Now, ſays our Saviour, he that ſins againſt Man, as well as he that ſins againſt G…d; he that ſins in a Thought, in a Word, as well as he that ſins in his Actions and Converſation: He that breaks theſe leaſt Commandments ſhall be leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven. And in this Sence I take the Words. And thus you ſee what is meant by the leaſt Commandment.

The Second thing we are to enquire into,What is meant by being leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven. is what we are to underſtand by being leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven. By the Kingdom of Heaven may be meant, either the Kingdom of Grace ſet up in the Church on Earth; and thus the Word is ſo frequently made uſe of in Scripture, I need not turn you to any Places. Or elſe by the Kingdom of Heaven may be meant the Kingdom of Glory, eſtabliſhed in the higheſt Heavens. If we take the Kingdom of Heaven here in the Text for the Kingdom of Grace, that is, for the Church and People of God here on Earth, then the Sence runs thus; p. 50He that breaketh the leaſt Commandment, and teacheth Men ſo, ſhall be no true Member of the Church of Chriſt. But if we take the Kingdom of Heaven here ſpoken of, to be the Kingdom of Glory; then the meaning is, He that breaks the least Commandment ſhall be least in the Kingdom of Heaven; that is, he ſhall not enter into Heaven at all. Minimus vocabitur in Regno Coelorum, & fortaſſe ideo non erit in Regno Coelorum, ubi niſi magni eſſe non poſſunt, as St. Auguſtine ſpeaks. He ſhall be the least in Heaven; that is, he ſhall not be there at all, becauſe in Heaven there are none but great and glorious ones.

You ſee then what a heavy and moſt dreadful Doom Chriſt hath paſs'd upon thoſe things that the World call little and trivial Sins; they exclude out of Heaven, and will, without Repentance and a Pardon interpoſe, ſink the Soul down to the loweſt Hell irrecoverably.

Now becauſe the generality of the World; yea, and of Profeſſors alſo, do too commonly allow and indulge themſelves in little Sins, I have therefore p. 51made choice of this Subject, on purpoſe, to convince you if it may be of the great evil that lurks under them, and that great wrath that will follow upon them: That as you would out of your great care for your precious and immortal Soul's eternal Welfare, abſtain from the Commiſſion of notorious and ſelf-condemning Sins; ſo you would labour to keep your ſelves free from theſe little Sins, which though leſs ſcandalous, yet are they not leſs pernicious and deſtructive: And this I ſhall endeavour to do in the Proſecution of this one Propoſition.

That little Sins carry in them great guilt, Doctrine. and will bring after them a ſore and heavy Condemnation.

He that breaketh the leaſt Commandment ſhall in no wiſe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Now in treating upon this Subject, becauſe I intend not to inſiſt long upon it, I ſhall only lay down ſome Demonſtrations of the Truth of the Doctrine, and then make ſome Uſe and Application of it.

p. 52The leaſt Sin a great Affront of the great God.Firſt, Therefore the great evil and danger that there is in little Sins appears in this, that the leaſt Sin is a moſt high Affront and Provocation of the Great God. An Infinite Holineſs is oppoſed, and an Infinite Juſtice is incenſed by them. Though I am not of the Opinion of the Stoick Philoſophers, that all Vices are equally hainous; yet this I account certain, that there is in the leaſt Sin as flat a repugnancy and contradiction to the Holy Will of God as in the greateſt. Hath not God forbidden vain Thoughts and idle Words, as ſtrictly as he hath forbidden Murder, Adultery, Blaſphemy, and Hatred of himſelf, with all thoſe abominable Sins that defile the mouths of thoſe that name them? And is it not as much his Will that he ſhould be obey'd in thoſe Commands, as in theſe? Have you any more Diſpenſation in the Scripture to ſpeak an idle Word, than you have to blaſpheme the Name of God? Have you any more liberty allow'd you to ſwear little Oaths, than you have to ſwear and ban by whatſoever is ſacred and holy in Heaven, or dreadful in Hell? Or to take the reverend Name of God in p. 53vain, more than to curſe him to his very Face? Are you more permitted to think evil againſt your Neighbour, than you are to murther him? No certainly; there are no ſuch Diſpenſations can ever be found in the Word of God; and I aſſure you, God will never diſpenſe with any Sin farther than he hath revealed; and why then will you dare to diſpenſe with your ſelves more in little Sins than in great Sins? Oh, our Conſciences will never bear with any patience thoſe great and crying Sins: Will they not? and do you think that God's Holineſs will bear with your little Sins? Believe it, theſe little Sins do arm God's terrible Power and Vengeance againſt you And as a Page may carry the Sword of a great Warriour after him, ſo your little Sins do, as it were, bear the Sword of God's Juſtice, and put it into his hands againſt you. And wo unto us if the holy and jealous God deal in fury with us for our ſmall Provocations.

Secondly, Little ſins a violation of the Law of God.Every little Sin is a heinous violation of a holy and ſtrict Law that God hath given us to be the Rule of our Lives. The leaſt Sin takes the two Tables, p. 54and in a worſe ſence than Moſes did, daſhes and breaks them in pieces. Nay,

Committing little ſins, makes men guilty of the greateſt.Thirdly, That you may ſee what a complicate Evil every Sin is, take this too, which, though it be a Paradox, yet is it a moſt ſad Truth, That the commiſſion of the leaſt Sin makes you guilty of the greateſt Sin; yea, guilty of all Sin imaginable. Hear this therefore, and tremble all you that allow your ſelves in vain Thoughts or idle Words, and think with your ſelves, Piſh, this is but a Thought; this is but a Word; no, it is not only a vain Thought, or an idle Word; it is Blaſphemy, it is Hatred of God, it is Murther, it is Adultery, it is Idolatry; you will ſay, this is ſtrange Doctrine; if it be, it is the Apostle's Doctrine, Jam. 2.10.Jas 2:10Jam. 2.10. Whoſoever ſhall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. As therefore thou wouldſt not be found guilty in the great Day of the Lord of all that ever Hell it ſelf was ever impeached for, ſee that you abhor the commiſſion of the leaſt Sin; for the leaſt Sin will involve thy Soul in the greateſt guilt. And the p. 55Apoſtle gives an evident Reaſon of this, ver. 11. For he that ſaid, Do not commit Adultery, ſaid alſo, Do not kill; now if thou do not commit Adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a tranſgreſſor of the Law. The worſt thing that can be found in all the Sins that ever were committed, is the contempt of God's Authority. Now there is as much wretched contempt of the Authority of the great God, in the commiſſion of little Sins, as there is in the commiſſion of great Sins. It is the ſame God that ſaith, Do not take my Name in vain, who ſaith, Do not blaſpheme me; the ſame God that ſaith, Do not murther, hath ſaid alſo, Be not angry with thy Brother cauſleſly. Now what is it that makes Blaſphemy and Murther ſuch heinous Sins? Truly the Venom and Rancour of them lies in this, That the Authority of that great God who hath forbidden them, is ſlighted and trampled under foot; and is it not ſo by ſmall Sins? Nay, let me add,God's Authority more ſlighted by little than by great Sins.

Fourthly, The Authority of the great God ſeems to be more deſpiſed by the commiſſion of ſmall Sins, than by the p. 56commiſſion of great Sins. Doth it not argue great contempt of God, when you will not obey him in a matter that you your ſelves count ſmall and inconſiderable? You think, it may be, it is not of much moment or concernment what your Thoughts be, nor what your Words are; but when you hear and are convinced, that all your Thoughts ſhould be holy, and that all your Diſcourſe ſhould be ſavoury, and ſuch as ſhould miniſter profit and edification unto others; if after this, you ſtill think it of no great moment, whether they be vain and frothy, or whether they be holy and ſpiritual; believe it, this ſhews you to be deſpiſers of God's dominion and authority over you, when his Commands cannot prevail againſt the least Sin. What a ſmall Matter was it, may ſome ſay, for Adam to eat of an Apple in Paradiſe? But was it not as ſmall a Matter for him to forbear and let it alone? And therefore this ſmall Sin ſhewed no ſmall contempt of God's Authority, who had ſtrictly forbidden it. When we ſin, we flatter our ſelves ſtraight with this; Is it not a little one? Truly if it be but a little one to commit, it is but a little p. 57…ne to refrain from. It is an Aggravati…n of Sin, rather than an Excuſe, to …y, our Sins are but little ones. It …ews a Heart hardened againſt God, and …ewrays a deſperate contempt of all that …e can ſay to us, or do againſt us, when …e ſhall chuſe rather to thwart and break …is Commands, to venture, or rather …o deſpiſe his Power, Wrath and Juſtice, …an to forgo our little Sins.

Fifthly, Little Sins greatly deface the Image of God.Little Sins do greatly de…ace the Image of God in the Soul. A…am was at firſt created according to the …imilitude and Likeneſs of God: He …ad the Divine Pourtraicture drawn upon …is Soul by the creating Finger of the Almighty; and yet we ſee how little a Sin defaced it, and ſpoiled him of all his Glory. In curious Pictures a ſmall Scratch …s a great Deformity: Certainly the Image of God is ſuch a curious Piece of Workmanſhip, that the leaſt Scratch or …law in it by the leaſt Sin, deforms and …urns that which before was the Image of God, into the Image of the Devil.

p. 58Little Sins have but little temptation in them.Sixthly, Little Sins have in them ordinarily leſs of Temptation than othe… Sins have, and therefore they have mo… of wilfulneſs in them. If it be no excu… of Sin, yet certainly it is a ground o… pity and commiſeration, when thoſ… fall into the Commiſſion of Sin, who a… aſſaulted and haunted with moſt violen… and eager Temptations; when the Devi… will not let them alone for a moment time, but purſues them from place to place, and though they once and again eject and reſiſt him, yet ſtill he forceth his Temptations upon them: If ſuch a… theſe are at length overcome by thoſe impudent importunities of that Evil One this their yeilding requires our pity, and i… may be ſhall more eaſily obtain God… pardoning Grace and Mercy. But thou that ordinarily committeſt thoſe tha… thou calleſt Little Sins, haſt no ſuch alleviation for them. What Temptation canſt thou plead? Doth the Devil continually dogg thee with ſuch ſollicitations and perſwaſions, that though thou wouldſt yet thou canſt not reſiſt; no… certainly, when the Powers of Hell ar… themſelves againſt a Soul, it is to more advantage, than the Commiſſion of a p. 59…ittle Sin, Little Sins have ſcarce any …ny other Temptation to inforce them …eſides the commonneſs and cuſtomari…eſs of committing them.

The two great Arguments by which …e Devil prevails in all his Temptations, …he Pleaſure and Profit; now both of …heſe do uſuſally attend the big and more …ulky Sins; but Little Sins have uſually …is aggravation left upon them, that if Men will commit them, they ſhall be…ome Sinners for nothing. Tell me what …rofit hath the Profane Spirit to be con…nually ſtewing and ſoaking a luſt in his …wn thoughts. What profit or pleaſure …ath the Common Swearer for to think …imſelf to be but a Little Sinner in …apping out his Oaths againſt God and Heaven. (Were I an Epicure ſays one …oth piouſly and ingeniouſly) I would …ate Swearing: Were Men ſuch as ſold …hemſelves unto all manner of ſenſual Delights, yet is there ſo little can be …trained from this common Sin that it can …ardly bear the countenance or preſence of a Temptation. Now if it be not the …iolence of Temptation that makes you …o Sin, it can be nothing elſe but your p. 60own wilfulneſs that makes you thus to Sin. Now wilfulneſs is the meaſure o… all guilt, according as your Sins are more or leſs willfull, ſo are you the more or le… ſinfull. Now it is not the Devil's Temptations, but your own wilfulneſs that run… you upon the Commiſſion of Little Sins; and this is it that aggravates and heightens them; you Sin voluntarily without compulſion, and ſo by Myſtery of Iniquity you make your ſelves Grea… Sinners by committing Little Sins.

Little Sins maintain a trade of Sin.Seventhly, Little Sins do maintain the trade and courſe of ſinning. The Devil cannot expect always to receive ſuch returns of great and crying Impieties, but yet when he keeps the ſtock of Corruption going, and drives on the trade of ſinning by Leſſer Sins, believe it Corruption will be on the thriving hand, and you may grow rich in guilt, and treaſure up to your ſelves Wrath againſt the Day of Wrath, by adding thoſe that you call Little Sins unto the heap. It is not poſſible that any ſinner in the World ſhould be always raging againſt God by daring and ſtaring Sins; for though the principle of Corruption p. 61…ms ſtill to exert its utmoſt ſtrength, …et the Faculties in which it dwells, and …y which it acts, cannot bear ſo con…tant an intentneſs; there muſt be there…ore in the vileſt ſinners ſome Intermiſſi…n, but yet in this Intermiſſion there is …he continued practice and courſe of …mall Sins, that tack and unite them to…ether; betwixt the Commiſſion of one …roſs Sin and another, intervenes a con…tant neglect and forgetfulneſs of God, … conſtant hardneſs of Heart, a conſtant …anity and unfruitfulneſs of Life; and …y theſe though ſinners look upon them …s ſmall Sins, yet they ſtill plod on in …he way to Hell and Destruction without any ſtop or interruption. In ſharp Diſeaſes the violence of the Fit doth not …aſt ſo long as the Diſeaſe laſts, at times …here is an Intermiſſion, but ſtill there is … conſtant Diſtemper in the Body: So when the pang of a violent Sin is well over, yet ſtill there remains a conſtant Diſtemper in the Soul, which though it be not outragious, yet ſtill continues the Souls Diſeaſe, and will bring it to its Death at laſt. In the Fortification of a City or Town, all the Ramparts are not Caſtles and Strong holds, but between p. 62Fort and Fort there is a Line drawn tha… doth as it were joyn all together an… makes the place Impregnable. So is … in the Fortification of the Soul by Sin all Sins are not Strong holds of Sathan they are greater and groſſer Sins, but between theſe is drawn a line of ſmalle… Sins ſo cloſe that you cannot find … Breach in it, and by theſe the Heart i… fenced againſt God. Now is it nothing that your Little Sins fill up all the voi… ſpaces of your Lives? Is it nothing tha… you no where lie open to the force and impreſſion of the Holy Spirit? He by his Convictions batters the greater and more hainous Sins of your Lives, bu… theſe Strong holds of Sathan are Impregnable, and give him the repulſe; he ſeeks to enter in by the Thoughts, but theſe are ſo fortified by Vanity and Earthly mindedneſs, and a thouſand other Follies, that though they are but Little Sins, yet ſwarms of them ſtop up the paſſage, and the Soul is ſo full already that there is no room for the Holy Spirit to enter. There's not a ſinner here that if he will make an Impartial ſearch within him, but will find the experience of this in his own breaſt: When at any p. 63…me you have flown out into the Commiſſion of any boiſterous and notorious Wickedneſs, have you not afterwards …und that you live in a more conſtant …king and allowance of little Sins. When …nce a Man is ſtunn'd by ſome heavy …ow, a ſmall nip or pinch is not then felt …y him: And when once Conſcience is …eadned by the ſtroak of ſome great and …andalous Sin, afterwards it grows leſs …enſible of the guilt and evil that there … in ſmaller Sins; and thus you live in …hem without pain and regret, till you …ll into ſome notorious Wickedneſs that …ore hardens the Heart and more fears …he Conſcience; and what is this but to …n round from Sin to Sin, from a ſmall …in to a great Sin, and from a great Sin …o a ſmall Sin again, till Hell put a pe…iod to this Circle; what is this now, …ut for the Devil to get ground upon …ou by great Sins, and to keep it by little Sins, whereby he drives on and keeps up …he trade of Sin, and when God ſhall …aſt up your Accounts for you at the laſt Day, you will find that the Trade hath …gain'd you no ſmall loſs, even the loſs of …our Immortal Souls. Now although …he evil and danger of committing little p. 64Sins hath been made very apparent in the forementioned particulars, yet becauſe Men are very prone to indulge and excuſe themſelves herein, I ſhall add ſome farther Demonſtrations of their aggravated Guilt in theſe following particulars: Which will ſerve greatly for the confirmation of the truth of the Doctrine.

Little Sins uſually are the damning Sins.Firſt, Conſider little Sins uſually are the damning and deſtroying Sins. There are more beyond compariſon that periſh and go down to Hell by the Commiſſion of little Sins, than by thoſe that are more Notorious and Infamous; here periſheth the Hypocrite, and here the formal Profeſſor; here periſheth your honeſt civil neighbourly Man, that is ſo fair and upright in his dealing that you can ſee nothing that is groſs and ſcandalous by him: Oh! but yet the blood of their precious and Immortal Souls runs out and is ſpilt for ever thorough thoſe inſenſible wounds that little Sins do make: Yea hereby commonly periſheth the Prophane Sinner alſo, for it is uſually but the Commiſſion of one ſmall Sin more that fills up the meaſure of their p. 65…niquities, and makes them fully ripe …or Damnation; ſometimes indeed God …oth by ſome ſignal Stroke of his Vengeance ſtrike the ſinner through and …hrough in the Commiſſion of ſome bold …nd daring Sin; but uſually the laſt Sin …f the worſt of Men is but of the leſſer …ze, and though God hath formerly …orn many great impieties from ſuch …erſons, yet is he at laſt ſo provoked by …ome little Sin that he will wait no lon…er, but ſnatcheth the ſinner away in his …rath and throws him down into Hell. This is an Argument how dreadfully …rovoking ſmall Sins are, that uſually …pon the Commiſſion of one of them God puts an end to his patience and for…earance: It is not all the great and crying …ins of a Mans Life that brings ſo much miſery upon him, as a little Sin that …nks him down into Eternal Torments …oth. Uſually the laſt Sin that a ſinner …nters into Hell by is but a little Sin: Take it therefore as a warning from God, …enceforth never more deſpiſe any Sin …s ſlight becauſe it is ſmall. We have a …nown Proverb among us, that when a …eaſt hath his full load, one ſtraw more will break his Back. Believe it, ſirs, it is p. 66moſt certainly true in the preſent Caſe many Chriſtians have been a long time ſinners againſt God and their own Souls adding iniquity to iniquity, and ſome o… you may already have your full load, … beware how you ever venture upon th… Commiſſion of another Sin, though it b… but a little and a ſlight Sin, yet this ſligh… and ſmall Sin added to the reſt may brea… and ſink you for ever into Hell; thi… little Sin may fill up the Ephah of you… iniquities, and after this ſmall Sin yo… may neither have time to Sin again, no… to Repent of your Sin.

Little Sins what they want in weight they do more than make up innumber.Secondly, Conſider this: Small Sin what they want in weight uſually they do more than make up in number, and therefore are as pernicious to the Sou… as the greateſt Sins can be. Hence David prays, Pſal. 19.12. Who can underſtand his errours, cleanſe thou me from ſecret Sins. Pſal. 19.12.Ps 19:12Secret Sins muſt needs b… the leaſt and ſmalleſt Sins, ſeeing they are ſo ſmall that he that commits then cannot diſcern them; but yet as they are ſmall, ſo are they numerous, wh… knows how often he thus tranſgreſſeth, wh… can underſtand his errours? Therefore p. 67cleanſe thou me, O Lord, from theſe ſecret …ins. A Ship may have a heavy bur…en of Sands as well as of Milſtones, and …ay be as ſoon ſunk with them. And …uly ſmall Sins though they ſhould be … ſmall as Sands, yet commonly they …e as numerous as the Sands too; and …hat odds then is there between them …d the greateſt Sins? Every thought …ou thinkeſt, and every word thou …eakeſt in an unregenerate State and con…tion there is Sin in it, and though moſt … them poſſibly are but little Sins, yet … multitude of them alone are able to …nk you down into the loweſt Hell. …our Conſciences ſtart back and are …frighted, as indeed they ought, at a …emptation to Murder, Inceſt, Blaſ…emy, or any of thoſe more horrid Sins, …at are the prodigies of corrupt Nature, …eſe Sins you dare not ſo much as com…it once: And yet thouſands of thou…nds of leſſer Sins, ſuch as ſinful Thoughts, …le Words, petty Oaths, commodious Lyes; …eſe proceed from you without either …riving againſt them, or mourning for …em. Why now, Sirs, do you more fear …tolerable and everlaſting Wrath, for …e ſingle Commiſſion of a great Sin, p. 68than you do for the frequent and repeated Commiſſion of leſs Sins? Truly … cannot preciſely tell you, whether you had not as good Blaſpheme God once, a… take his Name in vain often; whethe… it be not as good to Murder once, as to hate always: The frequency of little Sins makes their guilt ſo great and thei… puniſhment ſo intolerable, that the vileſt Sins you can imagine ſhall have nothing to exceed them in, unleſs it be the horror of the Name of that Sin. An… yet it fares with us as it did with th… Iſraelites, we tremble more at one Goliah than we do at the whole Army of th… Philiſtines. One groſs ſcandalous Si… makes Conſcience recoil and go back when yet we venture upon the number leſs guilt of ſmaller Sins, that have le… terror in their Name, though united i… their guilt they bring far ſorer Condemnation on the Soul, than the ſingle Commiſſion of a great Sin? What great di… ference is there whether your Eterna… burning be kindled by many ſparks, o… by one fire brand? Whether you Die b… many ſmaller Wounds, or by one grea… one? Many little Items may make Debt deſperate, and the payment impoſſible. p. 69And truly when God ſhall …eckon up againſt us at the great Day, many thouſand vain Thoughts, and as many ſuperfluous idle Words, with as many petty Oaths and Lyes that we …ave been guilty of, the account will be …s dreadful, and the Wrath that will …ollow as inſupportable as if Murder, Blaſphemy, or the greateſt outrage that …ver was committed in the World, were …ingly charged upon us.

Thirdly, It's difficult to convince men of the evil of little Sins.Conſider it is very difficult …o convince Men of the great Evil and Danger that there is in little Sins, and …herefore it is very difficult to bring them …o Repentance for them. Indeed this is …he great and deſperate Evil that there …s in ſmall Sins, that Men will not be perſwaded that they are Evil. Flagitious wickedneſſes are uſually ſelf condemning; they carry that brand upon them that makes them evident to every Mans Conſcience that they come from Hell, and will certainly lead to Hell; Rom. 1.33.Rom 1:33and therefore the Apoſtle, Rom. 1.33. after he had reckoned up a black Catalogue of Sins, tells them in the laſt verſe, that though they were Heathens, p. 70yet they knew the Judgments of God, that they that committed ſuch things were worthy of Death. But now the guilt of little Sins is not ſo apparent, the eye of a meer natural Conſcience looks uſually outward to the Life and Converſation, and if that be plain and ſmooth, it ſees not or diſpenſeth with the leſſer Sins of the Heart: Hence is it that we ſo ſeldom confeſs or mourn for thoſe that we call leſſer Sins? When is it that we are deeply humbled for the Omiſſion of duties, or for the ſlight and perfunctory performance of them? theſe we look not upon as deſerving Damnation, and therefore we think they need no Repentance. Nay, are we not ſo far from judging and condemning our ſelves for them, that we ſeek out pretences to excuſe and leſſen them, calling them Slips, Failings, and vnavoidable Infirmities: Gen. 19.20.Gen 19:20And as Lot ſaid of Zoar, is it not a little one, and our Souls ſhall live. What, can I think there is ſo much danger in a fooliſh Thought, in a vain and inconſiderate Word? Can I think that the great God will torment his poor creatures for ever, for a Thought, for a Word, for a Glance? yes believe it unleſs theſe Sins be done away in the p. 71Blood of Chriſt, there is not the leaſt of them but hath an infinite Evil in it, and an infinite Wrath following of it: If you will not now be convinced of it, you ſhall be then when with dread and aſtoniſhment you ſhall hear God calling your little Sins by other Names than you now do; you call them Failings and Infirmities, but God will call them Preſumptions and Rebellions? What you ſay is but a vain Thought, ſhall be arraign'd as Treaſon againſt God, as Atheiſm and Soul Murder: Then every formal heartleſs Duty that here you performed, ſhall be accuſed of mocking and ſcoffing of God; they are ſo interpretatively and in God's eſteem, and unleſs the guilt of them be done away by the Blood of ſprinkling, you will find them no leſs at the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Indeed the generality of Men have gotten a dangerous Method of doing away the guilt of their Sins; great Sins they make to be little, and little Sins they make to be none at all, and thus they do away their Sins, and ſo they Live in them cuſtomarily, and Die in them impenitently, and periſh under them irrecoverably.

p. 72The leaſt ſin allow'd is a ſign of an hypocritical Heart.Fourthly, Conſider that the allowance an… cordial approbation but of the leaſt Sin is … certain ſign of a moſt rotten and hypocritica… Heart. Be thy Converſation never ſ… blameleſs, be thy profeſſion never ſo glorious, be thy Duties and Services never ſ… pompous; yet if there be the ſecret reſervation and allowance but of the leaſ… Sin; all this is no more than ſo much vain ſhow and pageantry:Jam. 1.26.Jas 1:26 What ſays the Apoſtle, Jam. 1.26. If any Man among you ſeem t… be Religious, and bridleth not his Tongue that Man deceiveth himſelf, his Religion is vain: Why, is it not ſtrange that after ſo many prayers daily put up to God after an eminent profeſſion, and a conſiderable progreſs made in the ways of God that yet both the ſincerity and ſucceſs o… all this ſhould depend upon ſo ſmall … thing as the tip of a man's Tongue? If tha… be allowed to run at random into impertinencies, not to ſay into Debaucheries and Prophaneneſs, all your Duties, all you… Prayers, all your Profeſſion is blown away by the ſame Tongue that uttered them and all your Religion will be in vain; and let me add, This ſeeming Religion will en… only in ſhame and confuſion at the laſt when the Soul and Conſcience of a ſinner p. 73ſhall be ript open at the great Day before Men and Angels, and that little Sin that kept God and Chriſt and Eternal Salvation out, ſhall openly be ſhew'd …o all the World, and laughed at by all …he World; that ſuch a Sin ſhould keep … Man from Heaven and Eternal Happineſs. And therefore ſays David, Pſal. 119.6.Ps 119:6Pſal. 119.6. Then ſhall I not be aſhamed, when I …ave reſpect unto all thy Commandments. To have reſpect to ſome of God's Commandments, and not to all, is now Hypocriſy and will at laſt be ſhame and …onfuſion. It is a moſt certain Truth, …hat though the Commiſſion of the grea…eſt Sin be conſiſtent with the truth of Grace, yet ſo is not the approbation of …he leaſt Sin. Oh! what a ſevere and cri…ical thing is true Holyneſs, that will no more allow the leaſt Tranſgreſſion than …he greateſt; nor more tolerate the de…ilement of Duſt in our Hearts than a Dunghill. We have all of us need there…ore to pray with David, Pſal. 139.23.Pſal. 139.23.Ps 139:23 Search me, O Lord, and try my Heart, try me and know my Thoughts, and ſee if …here be any evil way in me; becauſe our Sins may be ſo little as to eſcape our own …earch, and becauſe the leaſt Sin if let p. 74alone in the Heart, will like a ſmall ſpeck in fruit, ſpread to a total rottenneſs: Therefore, O Lord, do thou ſearch and try us, and if there be any way of wickedneſs in us, caſt thou out our Corruptions, that ſo thou maiſt not caſt us out as corrupt and rotten at the laſt.

Little Sins make way for greater Sins.Fifthly, Conſider little Sins do uſually make way and open a paſſage into the Heart for the greateſt and vilest Sins. Thus a little thief that creeps in at the Window, may unlock the Door for others that ſtand without. And thus in fared with David, while ſenſual Delight crept in by the eye at the ſight of Bathſheba, it opened his Heart to the temptation, and in ruſht thoſe two outrageous Sins of Adultery and Murder. Believe it there is no Sin ſo ſmall but tends to the utmoſt wickedneſs that can poſſibly be committed. An irreverent Thought of God, tends to no leſs than Blaſphemy and Atheiſm. A ſlight grudge at another, tends to no leſs than Murder. A laſcivious Thought tends to no leſs than impudent and common Proſtitution: And though at firſt they ſeem to play only ſingly about the Heart, p. 75yet within a while they will mortally wound it.

There are two things give little Sins their growth and increaſe.

Firſt, The Devil by his Temptations, is continually nurſing up youngling Sins till they arrive to a full ſtrength and ſtature of wickedneſs. He is continually ſuiting Occaſions and Temptations to the propenſions of our Luſts: Hath he wrought any ſinful deſire, or any evil purpoſe in you, he will take care you ſhall not long want an occaſion to fulfil it. Were it not for his vigilancy many a Sin muſt needs Die in the Womb that conceived it; but as it was conceived by his Temptations, ſo is it brought forth by his induſtry and diligence.

Secondly, Natural Corruption it ſelf is of a thriving, growing Nature. If any Luſt hath ſeized ſtrongly on the thoughts, and boils there, it will vent it ſelf in Diſcourſe. A bad Heart, as well as a bad Liver will break out at the Lips; and if the Diſcourſe be poyſonous, the Venom p. 76will ſpread it ſelf into the Life and Converſation; for out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth ſpeaketh; and evil Words corrupt good Manners. Sinful Thoughts form themſelves into Words, and Words will conſolidate themſelves into Actions; and then Sin is perfected, and hath attained its full growth: And if you would know what the next degree or ſtep is that Sin takes, the Apoſtle St. James tells you, Jam. 1.15. When Luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin; and Sin, when it is perfected, bringeth forth Death. You can no more ſet bounds to your Corruptions, than to the raging Sea; nor ſay to it, Hitherto ſhall thy proud Waves go and no further. It were Folly, when you have ſet fire to a Train of Powder, to expect it ſhould ſtop any where ſhort of the utmoſt of it. So truly, when the Thoughts are ſet on fire of Hell, this will inflame the Tongue, and that will inflame the Life; and unleſs God's infinite Mercy prevent, this burning will ſtop no where ſhort of everlaſting burning. Ask but your own Experiences this; Have you not often found it ſo? Hath not the Devil drill'd you on from little Sins to great Sins, and p. 77from theſe, to far greater Abominations? Believe it, there is a bottomleſs deceit in every Sin, and this is the deſperate iſſue of it, that if once you come to account any Sin ſmall, you will ſoon reckon the greateſt Sin to be no more. We commonly reckon the greatneſs of Sin by the abruptneſs of our advance to it. Poſſibly it would ſeem a horrid thing at the firſt riſing of a Temptation in our hearts, if we ſhould preſently perpetrate the utmoſt of it into Act; therefore the Method of Sin is more ſmooth and deceitful; it counts a ſinful Thought a little Tranſgreſſion, and ſinful Diſcourſe to have but a little more guilt in it than a ſinful Thought, and ſinful Actions to have but a little more guilt in them than ſinful Words. A great Sin but in a little degree exceeds a leſs; and ſo comparing Sin with Sin, and not with the Law, we at length come by inviſible Advances to look upon the greateſt Impieties in the world to be but little Sins, and ſo to commit them. If Satan prevails with us to go with him one ſtep out of our way, we are in danger to ſtop no where till we come to the height of all Prophaneneſs; he will make us take a ſecond, and p. 78a third, and ſo to travel on to Deſtruction; for each of theſe is but one ſtep; the laſt ſtep of Sin is but one ſtep, as well as the firſt; and if the Devil prevails with us to take one ſtep, why ſhould he not prevail with us to take the laſt ſtep as well as the firſt ſtep, ſeeing it is but one? Your ſecond Sin no more exceeds your firſt, than your firſt doth your Duty; and ſo of the reſt. We ſhould not therefore account any Sin ſmall, but look upon them as the ſpawn of all the vileſt Abominations: And as you would abhor Death and Hell, ſo abhor the leaſt Sin; becauſe it hath a Plot upon us in ſubſerviency to greater Sins, that without infinite Mercy, will certainly bring to, and terminate in Death and Hell.

Little Sins ſo called are indeed the greateſt.Sixthly, Conſider that thoſe Sins that we commonly call the leaſt, are indeed the greateſt and vileſt Provocations. Some Sins are Sins of greater Infamy and Scandal; other Sins are Sins of greater Guilt and Sinfulneſs, rude and bluſtering Sins. Thoſe Sins that are of greater Infamy, are ſuch as make him that commits them, a ſcandalous perſon; and theſe are p. 79commonly reputed great and crying Sins by the World. If a Man be a Swearer, or a Drunkard, a Whoremonger, or an Adulterer, or a Murtherer; Theſe Sins make a Man a Scorn and a Reproach to all that pretend to Civility. But now there are other Sins that are inward and ſpiritual Sins, that are indeed more ſinful, though leſs ſcandalous; ſuch as Ʋnbelief, Hypocriſie, Hardneſs of Heart, Slighting and Rejecting of Chriſt, Reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, and the like. Now herein lies the great miſtake of the World in eſtimating of Sin: At the naming of the former, we are ready to tremble, and ſo indeed we ought; and not only ſo, but we ought to ſhun and avoid thoſe that are guilty of them, as Monſters of Men. But now we have no ſuch abhorrency againſt the latter; if the Life be free from groſs Enormities, we look upon Ʋnbelief and Impenitency but as ſmall and trivial ſins. Now thoſe Sins that we thus ſlight, are incomparably the greateſt and the vileſt Sins. Murther, Adultery, Blaſphemy, and the reſt of thoſe crying Impieties, could not damn the Soul, were it not for Ʋnbelief and Impenitency: It is not the Swearer, p. 80or the Drunkard that periſh; but it is the Ʋnbeliever: He that believes not is condemned already, John 3.18. And ſo hating of God, and a ſecret ſcorning and deſpiſing of Holineſs, and the Ways of God; theſe are Sins that do not defile and pollute the outward Man; and many doubtleſs are guilty of them, that are of a fair and civil Life and Converſation; and yet theſe are Sins that may out-vie with the moſt horrid Sins for the hotteſt and loweſt place in Hell. We ſee then what ſmall heed is to be given to the Judgment of the World concerning ſmall Sins: Thoſe that the World counts little Sins, may be great and heinous in the ſight of God; for God judgeth not as Man judgeth; he is a Spirit, and therefore ſpiritual Sins and Provocations, ſuch as Inordinacy in the Thoughts, Deſires and Affections, theſe are Sins poſſibly that are more heinous in God's Sight, than more carnal and groſſer Sins are.

Damnation for little Sins will be moſt into lerable damnationSeventhly, and laſtly, Conſider this; Damnation for little Sins will be most aggravated, and moſt intolerable Damnation. Oh, will it not be a moſt cutting Conſideration p. 81to the Soul in Hell, when it ſhall think, here I lie and fry for ever in unquenchable Flames, for the gratifying of my ſelf in that which I call'd little Sins! Fool that ever I was, that I ſhould account any Sin little that would bring to this place of Torment! There's another of my fellow-wretched Sinners, between whom and me there was as much difference as there was between me and a true Saint; He prophane and daringly wicked, I honeſt and civil; and yet for allowing my ſelf in thoſe Sins to which the World encouraged me, and called little Sins, the ſame Hell that holds him, ſhall hold me for ever. Oh, the dreadful Severity of God! Oh wretched Folly and Madneſs of mine! Oh inſufferable Torments and Anguiſh! Believe …t, thus will thoſe that are damned for ſmall and little Sins, reflect upon their former Lives; ſuch will be their diſmal Reflections, and ſuch will be yours alſo; expect no other, if being warned of the great Evil that there is in little Sins, you will yet perſiſt in them without Repen…ance.

p. 82And thus I have done with the Doctrinal Part of the Text; I now come to make ſome Application of it.

Ʋſe 1 And the Firſt Uſe ſhall be by way of Corollary: If ſo be that little Sins have in them ſo much danger and guilt as hath been demonſtrated to you, what ſhall we then think of great and notorious Impieties? If Sands will ſink a Man ſo deep into the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, how deep then will their Hell be that are plunged into it with Talents of Lead bound upon their Souls? Whilſt I have been ſetting forth the Aggravations of the great Evil that there is in little Sins, poſſibly ſome prophane Spirit or other may thus argue; if little Sins be ſo dangerous and damning, then, ſince it is utterly impoſſible to keep our ſelves free from all Sins whatever, what need I ſcruple the greateſt Sin more than the leaſt? I am ſtated down under a neceſſity of ſinning, and I am told that the rate that every Sin will ſtand me in, is eternal Death; the leaſt is not leſs, and the greateſt is no more: It is but ridiculous Folly for a Malefactor nicely to p. 83ſhun the Dirt, and pick out the cleaner …ath, when he is going to Execution: …nd ſo it is but a Folly for me to go the …raiter and ſeverer way to Hell; and …herefore ſince there is no difference be…ween Sins in the end, but all alike lead …own to the ſame Deſtruction, I will put …o difference between them in my pra…tice. But let ſuch preſumptuous Sin…ers know,

Firſt, That,All Mens ſins are not equal. as all Mens Sins are not …ual here, ſo neither ſhall all Mens Tor…ents he equal hereafter: Some ſhall be …aten with fewer, others with more …ripes; ſome ſhall be chaſtiſed with …hips, others with Scorpions. The E…rnal Furnace ſhall be heated ſeven …mes hotter for ſome than for others: …nd for whom is the greater wrath pre…red, but for the greateſt Sinners? In …e blackeſt and hotteſt place in Hell …ere is chained the great Devil, that …rch Rebel againſt God; and after him … ranked whole Cluſters of damned …irits, each according to their ſeveral …grees both of Sin and Torment. He …at ſuffers the leaſt, ſuffers no leſs than Hell; but yet he is in a condition to p. 84be envied at by thoſe whoſe daring and deſperate Wickedneſſes have brought upon them far heavier and ſorer vengeance; theſe ſhall have cauſe to envy the ſtate of little Sinners, even as they do envy the ſtate of glorified Saints in Heaven. Do not therefore conclude, that becauſe the wages of the least ſin is Death, therefore the wages of the greateſt Sin is no more, nor no worſe: For, though in a natural Death, there is no being dead a little; yet in the ſpiritual and eternal Death there are degrees. As the Civi… Man was a Saint here on Earth, in compariſon of the Lewd and Debauched Sinner; ſo ſhall he be happy hereafter in compariſon of his Torments. Let ſuch therefore ſeriouſly conſider how ſad and infinitely wretched their Condition muſ… needs be, ſince that no leſs than Damnation it ſelf ſhall be judged a Happineſs compared with what they ſhall ſuffer and what Wrath they ſhall lie under to Eternity.

In committing great ſins we avoid not leſs ſins.Secondly, Conſider, In the commiſſio… of great Sins, you do not avoid the commiſſion of leſs Sins; but only add to th… guilt of them, and to that Damnation p. 85that will follow upon them. It is true, if a meer Civil Man, whoſe higheſt Attainments are but ſome commendable external Vertues; if he could change the guilt of all the little Sins that he hath committed in his whole Life, for the ſingle guilt of ſome great and heinous Sin, (though I pretend not to know the ſize or quantity of wrath that every Sin deſerves) yet poſſibly his eternal puniſhment might be hereby ſomewhat diminiſhed. But this is the Miſery of great and preſumptuous Sinners, that they ſtand guilty of as many little ſins as they do that periſh under the guilt of no other but little ſins. Where do you ſee a Perſon that is given up to vile Abominations, but he lives alſo in a conſtant courſe and practice of leſſer Sins? The Drunkard, the unclean Perſon, and the reſt of them, are they not always ſinful in their Thoughts, frothy and vain in their Diſcourſes? And is it nothing to you, that you incur Damnation by little Sins, unleſs you can advance your own deſtruction; unleſs you can promote your ſelves to be next of all in torments to the Devil himſelf, by your greater Provocations and Impieties? As you p. 86ſee in Rivers, the natural courſe of them tends to the Sea; but the Tide joyning with them, makes the Current run th… ſwifter and the more forcibly; ſo is it wit… Sin; little ſins are the natural ſtream o… a Man's Life, that do of themſelves ten… Hell-ward, and are of themſelves enough to carry the Soul down ſilently and calmly to deſtruction; but whe… greater and groſſer ſins join with them they make a violent Tide, that hurrie the Soul away with a more ſwift an… rampant motion down to Hell, tha… little ſins would or could do of themſelves. Therefore when you hear ho… much evil there is in little ſins, preſume not to think there is nothing more in great ſins; yes certainly, God is more provoked by them, your own Conſciences are more wounded by them, Hell i… more inflamed by them, and your own Souls are more widened and capacitated by theſe great ſins to receive fuller and larger Vials of God's wrath, than they would be by the commiſſion of leſſer ſins only. We may take an eſtimate in what proportion God's dealings with Sinners will be when he comes to puniſh them, by obſerving how he deals p. 87with them when he comes to convince and humble them; the ſober Sinner feels no ſuch Pangs and Throes uſually in the New Birth; but God deals with him in a more mitigated and gentle manner; but when at any time he humbles a notorious bluſtering Sinner, uſually his Method is, even to break his Bones, and ſcorch up his Marrow; and that he may ſave him from a Hell hereafter, he creates a very Hell in his Conſcience here. Now as it is uſually thus …n Conviction, ſo is it always thus in Condemnation, of which Convictions are but, as it were, the Type and Reſemblance: When God comes to execute his Wrath and Vengeance upon Sinners for their Sins, his Hand ſhall be very heavy and ſore upon Civilized Sinners: Oh, but the bold, daring, preſumptuous Sinner, him he will preſs down, and break in pieces with all his might: He that ſuffers the leaſt, ſhall yet lie under intolerable Wrath; but where then, unleſs in the flaming depth of the Bottom of Hell, will the infamous and prophane Sinner appear?

p. 88Ʋſe 2 Secondly, Another uſe we may make of this Doctrine is this; Is there ſo great an Evil and Danger in little Sins? Then here behold a woful Ship-wrack of all the Hopes, and of all the Confidences of Formaliſts and Self-Juſtitiaries, that hope to appear before God upon the account of their own Innocency and Harmleſneſs. Hence learn that a quiet, civil, honeſt Life, free from groſs and ſcandalous Impieties is no good Plea or Title for Heaven; yet truly this is that alone that the generality, eſpecially of the Ignorant relie upon, their Lives are harmleſs their Dealings upright, none can juſtly challenge them that they have done them any wrong; were they preſently to appear before God's Judgment-ſeat, they know nothing by themſelves that deſerves Eternal Death; therefore if God ſave any Perſons in the World, ſure they are in the number of them. But is it ſo indeed? What do you know nothing by your ſelves? Had you never ſo much as a Thought in you that ſtept awry? Did you never lodge a Thought in you that had in it the leaſt Vanity, Impertinency, or Frivolouſneſs? Have you never uttered a Word that did ſo much p. 89as liſpe againſt the Holy Law of God? Will you dare to tell God you never yet flid an Action that Innocency it ſelf would be aſhamed to own? Have your Lives in every part been as ſtrict and holy as the Law of God commands them to be? if not, it is in vain to plead for Heaven that your Converſations have been honeſt, civil and harmleſs, or that you have been Religious, and maintained a conſtant Courſe of holy Duties and good Works. I would not here be miſtaken by any as if I were preaching againſt Morality, or condemning Civility and common Honeſty. No, by no means, they are excellent things, and the practice of them very commendable; and I heartily wiſh there were more of them to be found in the Lives of thoſe that call themſelves Chriſtians: But if this be all you can ſay for your ſelves, believe it the guilt but of one of your leaſt Sins will out-weigh all theſe; and you, and all this your Righteouſneſs muſt ſink down together into Hell. If this be all Men have to plead for Happineſs, a civil, fair, and honeſt Converſation: This may be; and yet Men may indulge themſelves in little Sins, p. 90which will moſt certainly ruine and deſtroy them.

Ʋſe 3 Thirdly, If there be ſo great evil and danger in little Sins, hence learn wha… abſolute need we ſtand in of Chriſt, no… only thoſe among us whoſe Lives an… openly groſs and ſcandalous, but eve… thoſe who are moſt circumſpect and moſt careful in their Walkings. Though you do not wallow and roll your ſelve in the common Filth and Pollutions o… the World; yet is it not poſſible but tha… our Garments ſhould be ſometimes ſpotted? An abſolute and perfect State is rather to be wiſhed for than enjoy'd in this Life: The utmoſt that we can attain to here, is not to commit great Sins, nor to allow our ſelves in little Sins when thorough daily Infirmity we do commit them. Why, now theſe little Sins that the beſt of God's Servants daily and hourly ſlip into, cannot be pardon'd without the Blood of a great and mighty Saviour. It is the ſame precious Blood of Jeſus Chriſt that ſatisfied Divine Juſtice, for the Inceſt of Lot, for the Drunkenneſs of Noah, for the Adultery and Murder of David, and for the p. 91Perjury of Peter, that muſt ſatisfie it alſo for thy vain Thoughts, and for thy Fooliſh and idle Words, if ever thou art ſaved: For without Blood there is no remiſſion, Heb. 9.22.Heb 9.22. Acts 26.18.Heb 9:22Acts 26:18 And without remiſſion there is no ſalvation, Acts 26.18. The ſame Blood that is a Propitiation and Atonement for the greateſt Sins of the Saints now in Heaven, many whereof poſſibly have been as great as ever were committed on Earth; the ſame Blood of Atonement muſt take from thee the Guilt of thy vain Thoughts, and of thy idle Words, or thou muſt for ever periſh under them.

Fourthly, If there be ſo great evil and Ʋſe 4 danger in little Sins, hence ſee then, what cauſe we have to bemoan and humble our ſelves before God, with Tears in our Eyes, and Sorrow in our Hearts, even for our little Sins. We ſhould never approach before the Throne of Grace in Prayer, but before the cloſe thereof, we ſhould in Confeſſion mourn over and beg ſtrength againſt thoſe that the World calls, and we account, ſmall Sins. Indeed it is impoſſible to confeſs them all particularly; who can reckon up the p. 92vain Thoughts and idle Words of one Day, without a whole Day's time to recount them; for indeed we do little elſe in the Day? And who then can reckon up the vain Thoughts and idle Words that he is guilty of in his whole Life, without living over his whole Life to recount them? When we have therefore confeſſed the more obſervable Failings of every Day, we ought to wrap up the reſt in a general, but yet in a ſerious and ſorrowful Acknowledgment. Thus you find David did, Pſalm 51. where you have him confeſſing his two foul Sins of Adultery and Murder. It is true one would think he ſhould have been ſo intent upon the begging of Pardon for thoſe Sins, as that he could not ſpare a Petition to ask Pardon for any other Sins: But yet though theſe were his great Sins, yet he knew himſelf guilty of other Tranſgreſſions beſides, though of a leſs Nature; and therefore he ſums up all together, and heartily begs pardon for them in the heap, verſ. 9. Hide thy face from my ſins, and blot out all my iniquities. And ſo truly we ought in our daily Prayers to God, after particular Confeſſion of thoſe Sins that do more nearly touch and grate p. 93upon our Conſciences, to bind up the …eſt in one general Petition, and ſo pre…ent them to God for Pardon in ſome ſuch like manner as this: Lord, my own Conſcience condemns me, and thou art greater than my Conſcience, and knoweſt all things; I have obſerved much Sin and guilt by my ſelf this Day, and thou who ſearchest the Heart and trieſt the Reins, knoweſt far more by me than I do by my ſelf; but whatever I know by my ſelf, or whatever thou knoweſt by me, Lord do thou freely pardon and forgive it all unto me. Only here take heed that when you thus make your Confeſſions of your ſmall Sins in general, you do not alſo make them overtly, ſlightly and ſuperficially, which is the common Fault of thoſe that confeſs Sin by the heap. As many little Sins of an ordinary Infirmity, do equal the Guilt of one great Sin: So truly when we thus every Day confeſs many of them together, we ought to be deeply affected with true godly Sorrow, and as earneſtly pray for the pardon of them, and as importunately beg power and ſtrength againſt them, with the ſame Tears, Groans and holy Shame, as if that Day we had committed p. 94ſome more groſs and heinous Sin. When therefore in your Prayers you come to this Requeſt▪ Lord pardon me the Sins and Failings of this Day, think with your ſelf, now I ought to be as fervent, as affectionate and penitent, as if I were confeſſing Drunkenneſs or Murder; for poſſibly the little Sins and Failings that I have committed this Day, if they were all of them put together, the Guilt of them may amount to be as great as one of thoſe groſs Sins. Now upon ſuch a general Confeſſion and Humiliation as this is, God iſſues out a Pardon in courſe for our common and ordinary Infirmities, and by one Act of Oblivion blots out many Acts of Provocation.

There are two Conſiderations that may be very uſeful to us in order to the humbling of our ſelves before God for little Sins.

By little Sins we continually offend God.Firſt, Conſider theſe little Sins are thoſe Sins whereby we continually without intermiſſion offend againſt God, and provoke him againſt our own Souls. Still either the Matter of our Actions are p. 95contrary to the Holy Will and Law of God, or the manner in which we per…orm them: If the Subſtance of our Actions are not evil, yet the Circum…tances are, there's not a Word in Pray…r, not a Thought in Meditation, but …ath the Guilt of ſome Sin cleaving to …; and if it be ſo with us in our Holy Performances, how do you think then it …s with us in our common and ordinary Converſation? And ſhould it not deep…y humble us to conſider, that there is …ot one hour, no, nor one moment of …ur Lives free from Sin, that our Pulſes …eat too ſlow to keep an Account of our …ins by; our Thoughts are continual… in Motion without intermiſſion or ceſ…ation, and yet, Every one of the Imagina…ions of the Thoughts of our Hearts are only …vil, and that continually, Gen. 6.5.Gen. 6.5.Gen 6:5 Certainly did we ſeriouſly conſider what …t is we ſay, when we confeſs to God …hat our whole Lives are nothing but one continued courſe of Sin, thoſe moments, every one of which brings freſh Guilt upon …s, would not ſlide away ſo pleaſantly with us as they do; but becauſe our Sins ſeem ſmall to us, we regard them not; and ſo our Time waſts, and our Guilt encreaſeth, p. 96till Eternity puts a period an… full end to thoſe Sins, to which w… could never put any ſtop or intermiſſion.

Little Sins proceed from a corrupt Nature.Secondly, Conſider, what a corrupt and depraved Nature theſe little Sins … flow from. When at any time we are ſenſible of a vain and ſinful Though riſing up in our Hearts, we ſhould trace … along to the Fountain of it, even Original Corruption from whence it bubble… up: If we would but do ſo, we ſhould ſe… great cauſe to be deeply humbled for that fruitful ſeed-plot of all manner of Sins that is in our Hearts. Many thouſands of Luſts lie crawling and knotting together there that never yet ſaw the light; the Damned in Hell have not worſe Natures in them than we have: There is no Sin how horrid ſo ever that they committed on Earth, or can be ſuppoſed to commit now in Hell, but we alſo ſhould run into it, did not God's powerful reſtraints with-hold us. Now do little Sins proceed from ſuch a Corrupt and curſed Fountain, and have we not then great cauſe to be humbled before the Lord for them and ſay, Lord, p. 97here is Sin, a little Sin it is, but yet it proceeds from a Heart that hath in it the Spawn of all the greateſt and vileſt Sins that ever were or can be committed; and that it is but a vain Thought, and not Blaſphemy, Murder, or Adultery, or any of the greateſt and moſt crying Sins that ever were committed in the World, is to be acknowledged and attributed only to the powerful reſtraint of thy free Grace: For the ſame corrupt Fountain that ſends forth this vain Thought and that idle Word, would have ſent forth Blaſphemy, Adultery, Atheiſm, or any of the vileſt Abominations; but it is thy free Grace only that hath reſtrain'd us.

Fifthly, and Laſtly, If there be ſo Ʋſe 5 great Evil and Danger in little Sins, this then ſhould teach us,We ſhould take heed of making light of any Sin. not to make light of any Sin. Load every Sin with its due Weight, give every Sin its proper Aggravations, and then certainly you will ſee no Reaſon to account any of them to be ſmall or little. To help you in this, take briefly theſe Directions.

p. 98Firſt, Pray earneſtly for a wiſe and an underſtanding Heart, and for a ſoft and tender Conſcience. Some Sins ſo Counterfeit an harmleſs appearance, and look ſo innocently, that a Man had need of much ſpiritual Wiſdom, to know how to diſtinguiſh between Good and Evil, and to put a difference between thoſe things, that differ as much as Heaven and Hell do: Now this ariſeth from that great blindneſs and ignorance that is in Mens minds, whereby they cannot diſcern that great evil and miſchief that lurks under ſmall Sins, but are apt to account every thing that is not ſcandalous and groſly wicked to be but an indifferent matter: And as their Minds are thus blinded, ſo their Hearts are hardned, that what they ſee and know to be ſinful, yet they will dare to venture upon it: Whence is it elſe that the generality of the World live in the Commiſſion of thoſe that they call little Sins, but becauſe their Hearts are hardned, and their Conſciences ſeared, that thoſe Sins that are great enough to Damn them, yet are not great enough to trouble them. A tender Conſcience is like the Apple of a mans Eye, the leaſt duſt p. 99that gets into it afflicts it. No ſurer and better way to know whether our Conſciences begin to grow dead and ſtupid, then to obſerve what impreſſions ſmall Sins make upon them. If we are not very careful to avoid all appearance of Evil, and to ſhun whatſoever looks like Sin; if we are not as much troubled at the vanity of our Thoughts and Words, at the riſing up of ſinful motions and deſires in us, as we have been formerly; we may then conclude our Hearts are hardned, and our Conſciences are ſtupifying; for a tender Conſcience will no more allow of ſmall than of great Sins.

Secondly, Labour always to keep alive upon your Hearts awful and reverent Thoughts of God, his Omnipreſence and Omniſcience; That there is no Sin ſo ſmall but he knows it, though but a Sin in our Thoughts, yet every Thought of our Hearts is altogether known unto him. Call to remembrance his infinite Purity and Holineſs whereby he hates every little Sin, even with an infinite hatred as well as the greateſt. Think of his Power whereby he can, and of his Truth, Juſtice and Severity whereby he will p. 100puniſh every little Sin with no leſs than Eternal Deſtruction: And whileſt you thus think of God, indulge your ſelves in little Sins if you can. The Pſalmiſt gives this very Direction, Pſ. 4.4. Stand in awe and Sin not, that is of the infinite glorious Majeſty of God. Have awful thoughts and reverential apprehenſions of God abiding upon your Hearts and that will keep you from ſinning: Stand in awe and Sin not. To look upon Sin thorough the Attributes of God, is to look upon it through a Magnifying Glaſs, and thus you may beſt ſee its ugly deformed Nature; this is the beſt way to repreſent the infinite guilt that is in it, and that contrariety that it bears to the Holy Nature of God. And while you thus ſee Sin comparing it with God, even the leaſt Sin muſt appear hainous: And when you are Tempted to any Sin, while you thus think, you may repell a Temptation as Joſeph did his Miſtreſs, Gen. 39.9.Gen 39:9How ſhall I do this great wickedneſs and Sin against God: The World indeed counts it but a little Sin, but looking upon it and comparing it with the Holineſs and Purity of God, we muſt cry out, How ſhall we commit this Sin p. 101though accounted little by others, and ſo provoke a great and holy God?

Thirdly, Get a more thorough acquaintance with the Spiritual ſence and meaning of the Law. This was the cauſe why the Phariſee did ſo ſlight the commiſſion of ſmall Sins; becauſe he kept himſelf to the Literal Sence of the Law; and ſo, becauſe there he was commanded not to kill, not to commit Adultery, and the like, thought, if he did abſtain from the outward Act of thoſe Sins, he obſerved the Law; yea, and obſerved it ſufficiently. But now the ſpiritual meaning of the Law, that forbids not only the outwar… Act, but it forbids whatever tends … the outward Act; inward Though … Motions, Deſires, Complacencies in … that are preſented to the Fancy, … whatever tends to, or belongs unto S… the ſpiritual Sence of the Law forbids all theſe. Why, now grow more in acquaintance with the ſpiritual ſence and meaning of the Law, and then you will thin… ſmall Sins, ſuch as the Sins of the Thoughts, of the Deſires, and of the Fancy, and the like, to be no leſs forbidden by the Law, than Murder or p. 102Adultery, and other heinous Sins; the Law having as ſtrictly forbid the one as the other.

Fourthly, and Laſtly, Beware you compare not Sins among themſelves. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſome, 2 Cor. 10.12. Who meaſuring themſelves by themſelves, and comparing themſelves among themſelves, were not wiſe. Truly it is as great a Folly for us to meaſure Sin by Sin, or to compare one Sin with another. For as when we meaſure our ſelves with others, our Pride is apt to ſuggeſt to us, That ſuch and ſuch are inconſiderable Perſons in compariſon of us: So, when we meaſure one Sin by another, Corruption is apt to ſuggeſt to us, ſuch a Sin is a ſmall and inconſiderable Sin in compariſon of another Sin; and therefore I may venture upon it. Certainly, if we obſerve it, there are two ſad Events uſually follow upon our comparing Sins among themſelves. Either,

Firſt, We make little Sins leſs than they are; or if we are beaten off from ſuch falſe Opinions, by being ſhewn p. 103how great an Evil there is in them, then,

Secondly, We make it as good to commit the greateſt Sin as the leaſt. Theſe two ſad Events always happen, if we compare one Sin with another. Compare not therefore Sin with it ſelf; but compare Sin with thy Duty; compare the leaſt Sin with the Holineſs of that God againſt whom thou committeſt it; and this is the way whereby you may be brought to account no Sin to be ſmall or little.

OF ABSTAINING FROM THE Appearance of EVIL: IN TWO SERMONS ON 1 THESSAL. V. 22.

Abstain from all Appearance of Evil.

By EZEKIEL HOPKINS, late Lord Biſhop of London-Derry.

LONDON, Printed by E. H. for NATHANAEL RANEW, at the King's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1693.