First, for the corruption, Sin: this is the most sordid feculency in the world. Lazarus lay full of sores at the rich mans gate, yet was he not so foul and noisome as the rich man himself within doors. Death takes away the bodies filthiness; and CHRIST shall change our vile body, that it maybe like his own glorious body, but he that dies in his sins, shall find his sins ever living in himself. Blessed is he whose sins die before his body: death can do that man no harm, though it rot his flesh to dust. The traveller that is pursued by a Lion, throws off his cloak, and runs nimbly into his house, from the window whereof he beholds the Lion tearing his garment, but rejoiceth that himself is safe. Death can but tear thy coat, and bloody it, as Josephs was, but they self art safe. There are many things we loath which are not detestable; as our brothers Leprosy, &c. but that which is indeed most odious, is held most delectable. We shun sickness with hate, we follow wickedness with joy. Which consideration caused Nazianzen to say, that Melior est conditio vitii, quàm morbi: Sin is in a better condition than sickness. For at a Lazarous, Leprous, diseased man, we stop our nostrils, and turn away our eyes; yet here is Gods Image. But to a Prodigal drunkard, a rich usurer, a proud courtier, we insinuate our selves: yet only for these we have a charge, De non tangendo; and there is the Image of the devil. A man will not enter the house where he knows the plague is, for fear of infection: yet he will venture on the place where GOD is blasphemed, and never prepend the danger, saying with Abraham, surely the fear of God is not in this place; Saint John would not tarry in the bath where Cerinthus was:1 there is no pestilence so deadly a sin. What a blessed turn is it then to be purged from sin? Psal. 51.2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. The breaking of his bones, the soreness of his flesh, he complained of; but nothing so troubled him as his sins. Therefore there is no such comfort as the remission of sins: David entitleth the 32. Psalm his Learning; Maschil, or Giving instruction. Why, what great learning is in it? Yes, the remission of sins ver. 1. Blessed is the man whose sin is forgiven: there is no learning more sweet and blessed. For this CHRIST taught us to pray continually;
First, for the corruption, Sinne: this is the most sordid feculencie in the world. Lazarus lay full of sores at the rich mans gate, yet was he not so foule and noisome as the rich man himselfe within dores. Death takes away the bodies filthinesse; and CHRIST shall change our vile body, that it maybe like his owne glorious body, but he that dies in his sinnes, shall find his sinnes ever living in himselfe. Blessed is hee whose sins die before his body: death can doe that man no harme, though it rot his flesh to dust. The traveller that is persued by a Lion, throwes off his cloke, and runnes nimbly into his house, from the window whereof he beholds the Lion tearing his garment, but rejoyceth that himselfe is safe. Death can but teare thy coate, and bloudy it, as Iosephs was, but they selfe art safe. There are many things we loath which are not detestable; as our brothers Leprosie, &c. but that which is indeed most odious, is held most delectable. We shunne sickenesse with hate, we follow wickednesse with joy. Which consideration caused Nazianzen to say, that Melior est conditio vitii, quàm morbi: Sinne is in a better condition than sicknesse. For at a Lazarous, Leprous, diseased man, we stop our nostrills, and turne away our eyes; yet here is Gods Image. But to a Prodigall drunkard, a rich usurer, a proud courtier, we insinuate our selves: yet onely for these we have a charge, De non tangendo; and there is the Image of the divell. A man will not enter the house where he knowes the plague is, for feare of infection: yet hee will venture on the place where GOD is blasphemed, and never prepend the danger, saying with Abraham, surely the feare of God is not in this place; Saint Iohn would not tarry in the bath where Cerinthus was:1 there is no pestilence so deadly a sinne. What a blessed turne is it then to bee purged from sinne? Psal. 51.2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sinne. The breaking of his bones, the sorenesse of his flesh, he complained of; but nothing so troubled him as his sinnes. Therefore there is no such comfort as the remission of sinnes: David intitleth the 32. Psalme his Learning; Maschil, or Giving instruction. Why, what great learning is in it? Yes, the remission of sins ver. 1. Blessed is the man whose sinne is forgiven: there is no learning more sweet and blessed. For this CHRIST taught us to pray continually;
- 1Gen. 20.1.1.
