The Mischief of Sin, Title page – To the reader
THE MISCHIEF OF SINNE, It brings a Person Low.
Published by Thomas Watson Minister of the Gospel.
Isa. 64.7.
Thou hast consumed us because of our iniquities.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel, and at the Bible on London Bridge. 1671.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
THE excess of impiety which hath broken down the Banks of common Civility & Modesty, did at first lead my thoughts to these subjects ensuing. The Spirits of men are leavened with Atheism, and their lives stained with debauchery. *Homo ad Dei foreign conditus, brutis deterior evasit; lustra sectatur, in sordibus stercore que volutatur; quam turpiter inversa in microcosmo nostro lex illa & politia, quâ corpus animae parêre jubetur. Mornaeus.I know not what to call them, but Baptitized Heathens. Not long since there was a complaint that the Springs grew low: Sure I am the floods of sin are risen, even to a Deluge. There is a Generation among us, of whom I may say as Oecumenius, they militate against Religion;*foreign. Aecum. they are so prodigiously prophane, that they esteem the Bible a Fable, and *Non percussit Ismael fratrem gladio, sed scom mate. Calvin.would jeer all Holiness out of the world. The Prince of the Air, now worketh in the children of disobedience, Ephes. 2.2. in our Saviours time, many mens Bodies were possessed with the Devil, but now their souls are possessed. One is possessed with a blasphemous Devil, another with a spightful Devil, another with a drunken Devil. This is one great sign of the approach of the last day, iniquity shall abound, Mat. 24.12. Mens lusts grow fierce and insatiable, and like Imps lye sucking them. But O how direful and tremendous will the effects of sin be. My Text saith *Peccatum transit actu, manet reatu., they were brought low for their iniquity: Sin is such a Trade, that whosoever follows, is sure to break. What got Achan by his wedge of Gold? It was a wedge to cleave asunder his soul from God. What got Judas by his Treason? He purchased an Halter. What got King Ahaz by worshipping the Gods of Damascus? they were the Ruine of him and of all Israel, 2 Chron. 28.23. Sin is first Comical, and then Tragical. I may fitly apply those words of Solomon to sin, Prov. 7.26. She hath cast down many wounded: O what an Harvest of souls is the Devil like to have! Isaiah 5.14. Hell hath enlarged it self. It is fain to make room for its guests. 'Tis matter of grief to think, that the Dragon should have so many followers, and the Lamb so few. Cyprian brings in the Devil insulting over Christ, thus; As for my followers, I never dyed for them as Christ hath done for his, I never promised them so great a Reward as Christ hath done to his, yet I have greater numbers than he, and my followers venture more for me, than his do for him. Some sin out of ignorance, yet even the blind can find the way to Hell. But most sin out of choice, they know the Dish forbidden, but they lust after it, though in the day they eat thereof, they shall surely die. My design in this small Tract, is to give check to Sinners, and sound a Religious Retreat in their ears, to make them return from the hot pursuit of their impieties. If notwithstanding all admonitions, they will run counter to the Word, and prostitute themselves to their sordid lusts, they are felo de se, and their blood will be upon their own head. What remains, but that God should say in anger, as Zach. 11.9. That that dieth, let it dye, and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off. I have at the request of some friends, made this Discourse (imparted formerly to my own family) publick. I acknowledge it is not rhetorico flatu cothurnatus, embellished with flowers of Eloquence. St. Pauls preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit, and Power, 1 Cor. 2.4. Plainness is ever best in beating down sin. When a wound festers, it is fitter to launce it, than to embroyder it with Silk, or lay Vermilion upon it. Reader, that God will bless these few Meditations to thee, and make them operative upon thy Heart, shall be the Prayer of him, who is,
Thy Friend, studious of thy eternal welfare, Thomas Watson.