The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…

This is the Devils method of working, as it is in the first ⟨p. 392⟩Psalm: Blessed is the man that hath not walked, &c. First he gets a man to walk a turn or two with him in sin, as it were to confer and debate the matter. After some walking, lest he should be weary, he prevails with him to stand in the way of sinners; after admission of the thought, to commission of the act. Lastly, he persuades him for his ease to fit down in the seat of the scornful; falling to despise God, and deride all goodness. Thus he brings him from walking to standing, from standing to sitting still: and this is limen inferni, the very threshold of hell. We judge of sin, as of the Sun; little because far off: yet indeed it is bigger then the earth. The nearer we come to the sense of iniquity, the greater it appears. Was it such a sin for Adam to eat a forbidden Apple? Yes, the greatness is remonstrable in the event, it brought destruction upon himself and his posterity. Is it such a heinous offence for David to know the number of his people? Do not Princes make good their Muster-books by such a Quare, and numeration? The plague witnessed the greatness of it, and himself cries, Peccavi, ^kI have done wickedly. Look on the least sin in Satan's false glass, and it seems contemptible: behold it in the true glass of Gods Law, and it appears abominable. The Devil stands betwixt wicked men and their sins all their life: but placeth their sins betwixt heaven and themselves in death: writes them in Text letters on the Curtains, that their amazed souls cannot choose but read them. Thus he that led them living by sin to presumption; now drives them dying by sin to desperation.

This is the Deuils method of working, as it is in the first ⟨p. 392⟩Psalme: Blessed is the man that hath not walked, &c. First he gets a man to walke a turne or two with him in sinne, as it were to conferre and debate the matter. After some walking, lest he should be weary, he preuailes with him to stand in the way of sinners; after admission of the thought, to commission of the act. Lastly, hee perswades him for his ease to fit downe in the seate of the scornefull; falling to despise God, and deride all goodnesse. Thus hee brings him from walking to standing, from standing to sitting stil: and this is limen inferni, the very threshold of hell. Wee iudge of sinne, as of the Sunne; little because far off: yet indeed it is bigger then the earth. The neerer wee come to the sense of iniquity, the greater it appeares. Was it such a sinne for Adam to eate a forbidden Apple? Yes, the greatnes is remonstrable in the euent, it brought destruction vpon himselfe and his posterity. Is it such a haynous offence for Dauid to know the number of his people? Doe not Princes make good their Muster-books by such a Quare, and numeration? The plague witnessed the greatnesse of it, and himselfe cryes, Peccaui,