Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

This is that sin, which not only offers injury and indignity to the Lord of heaven and earth,¹ but even breaks that league of kindness, which we owe to our own flesh. To commit sin is the killing of the soul, to refuse hope of mercy, is to cast it down into hell. Therefore Saint Jerome affirms that Judas sinned more in despairing of his masters pardon, then in betraying him. Since nothing can be more derogatory to the goodness of God, which he hath granted by promise and oath (two immutable witnesses) to penitent sinners, then to credit the Father of lies before him Januas aeternae foelicitatis spes aperit, desperatio claudit: Hope opens the door of heaven, desperation shuts it. As faith is heaven before heaven, so despair is damnation before the time.

This is that sinne, which not onely offers iniury and indignity to the Lord of heauen and earth,¹ but euen breakes that league of kindnes, which wee owe to our owne flesh. To commit sinne is the killing of the soule, to refuse hope of mercy, is to cast it downe into hell. Therefore Saint Ierom affirms that Iudas sinned more in despairing of his masters pardon, then in betraying him. Since nothing can bee more derogatory to the goodnesse of God, which he hath granted by promise and oath (two immutable witnesses) to penitent sinners, then to credite the Father of lies before him Ianuas aeternae foelicitatis spes aperit, desperatio claudit: Hope opens the dore of heauen, desperation shuts it. As faith is heauen before heauen, so despaire is damnation before the time.

1. 1Flagitium perpeirare mors animae, veniam de•perare est au ins•rn•m descendere.

Shall the blood and death of Christ put sense into rocks and stones, and shall man tread it under his desperate feet, enervate his cross, annihilate his ransom, and die past hope? did he raise three dead men to life, one newly departed, an other on the Bear, a third swelling, in the grave: to manifest that no degree of death is so desperate, that it is past his recovery? And shall these men; as if