A Plain Discourse on Vain Thoughts, Doctrine 1 · Part 6
THUS much for the firſt Vain Thought concerning Sin
2. IT is a Vain Thought, That the Living in ſome ſingle, groſs actual Sin will not iſſue in Deſtruction. Such a Thought there oftentimes is in the hearts of Sinners. They think that if they indulge themſelves only in ſome one Sin, there is no danger of periſhing thereby. They can't think that GOD will ſhut them out of Heaven; and caſt them down to Hell, for the Reſerve of one Sin. Did they live in many Sins, then they ſuppoſe the end thereof will be Death: But when 'tis no more than a ſingle Sin, which they accuſtom themſelves unto, they don't imagine that this will end in their Damnation. Such an imagination as this there is ſometimes in the Hearts of Sinners, or elſe the Holy Ghoſt would not in the Scriptures ſo ſolemnly caution us againſt it, as we ſhall preſently ſhew He does. Now this imagination is a vain imagination, as will appear from theſe things.
1. ONE Act of heinous Sin has oftentimes iſſued in the Deſtruction of Sinners, much more will the cuſtomary practice of it. In the Word of GOD, we have many recorded Inſtances of ſuch as have been ſmitten with Death, and ſent down to Hell, for one groſs act of Sin, whereby the Holy GOD was offended. Zimri and Cozbi died and periſhed in and for an Act of Uncleanneſs, Numb. 25.… Ananias and Saphira were ſtruck with ſudden Dea… and Deſtruction for a Lie, Acts 5. Now, If o… Act of Uncleanneſs and Lying, does thus end i… the Sinners Deſtruction, then ſurely repeated an… continued Acts of Uncleanneſs and Lying wi… do ſo. A Courſe of Sin is far worſe than an A… of Sin. Conſequently if an Act of Sin brings Deſtruction on Men, much more will a Courſe o… Sin do ſo. He that goes on in the Commiſſi… of any kind of Sin, is certainly a far greater Si… ner, and more worthy of Damnation; than … that is only once guilty of ſuch a Sin.
2. THE living in the practice of any groſs Sin, i… a certain ſign of a graceleſs Perſon, that ſhall ne… enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. One that h… true Grace, is brought off from every way … Sin. Pſal. 119.101. I have refrained my Feet fr… every evil way. Not only from ſome, or from ma… evil ways; but from Every evil way. There i… no way of evil which an Holy Perſon lives in The Principle of Grace that is in them, ſ… them againſt every ſort of Sin without Exception ſo that they cannot allow themſelves in any Si… whatſoever. Such then as live in any Sin, a… not in a ſtate of Grace, but in a ſtate of Sin. Th… the Apoſtle John declares that ſuch as do on… harbour the Sin of Hatred of their Brother, a… in a ſtate of Sin and Death, 1 Joh. 2.9, 11. He th… hateth his Brother, is in darkneſs, even until now, h… that hateth his Brother is in darkneſs, and walketh … darkneſs, and knoweth not whither he goeth, becauſ… that darkneſs hath blinded his eyes. And again, i… Chap. 3.15. Whoſoever hateth his Brother as a Murderer; and ye know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him. This ſingle Sin of Hatred liv'd in, proves a Man to be in a ſinful State, and that abiding ſo he will miſs of Eternal Life. And in other places of Scripture 'tis expreſly declared that ſuch as live in any groſs Sin ſhall not inherit Eternal Life. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Know …e not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither Fornicators, …or Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, …or Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inherit the Kingdom of God. Thus again in Eph. ….5, 6. For this ye know, that no Whoremonger nor Unclean perſon, nor covetous Man, which is an Idolater, hath an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words; for …ecauſe of theſe things cometh the wrath of God upon …he Children of Diſobedience. From theſe Scriptures we plainly ſee that if a Man be of the number …f any one ſort of the Sinners here mentioned, …e will not be Saved, but will be Damned. …f he live in the Sins of Drunkenneſs, or Unclean…eſs, or Stealing, or Unrighteouſneſs, or Covetouſ…eſs, &c. he will aſſuredly periſh. Though he …o not live in all of them, or many of them, …et if he live in any one of them, he will not …nherit Eternal Life; but the Wrath of GOD will come upon him.
WELL then, Let not ſuch a Vain Thought as …his lodge within us. But on the other hand let …s think with our ſelves, that every path of Sin …ads down to Deſtruction. Let me therefore …ke which path of Sin I will, I am in the high way to Hell. If I do not Repent and turn from All my Tranſgreſſions, Iniquity will be my ruin If I do not caſt away from me All my Tra… greſſions whereby I have Tranſgreſſed, I … ſurely die. May I then by the help of Divi… Grace, hate and turn from every falſe way. M… it be my hearty deſire, and my happy expe… ence that no iniquity ſhall have Dominion o… me. May my Life be blameleſs and harmleſ… void of offence both towards GOD and towar… Man. May I deny all ungodlineſs, and eve… Worldly Luſt: And may I with well-ground… Hope and Aſſurance, be able to ſay with … Apoſtle Paul, that the Lord ſhall deliver … from Every evil Work, and preſerve me to … Everlaſting and Heavenly Kingdom.