2 When thou art tempted to do an evil work,1 remember that Satan is where his business is.2 Let not the child of God be the instrument of so base a slave: hate the work, if thou abhorrest ⟨p. 381⟩the author. Ask thy conscience these two questions; Would I have another to do this unto me? 3What shall I answer Christ in the day of my accounts? If contrary to my knowledge and conscience, 4I shall do this wickedness, and sin against him? And remember with Joseph, 5that though no man seeth: yet GOD seeth all. Fly therefore with Joseph from all sins, as well those which are secret in the sight of GOD, as those that are manifest in the eyes of men. For GOD as he is just, without speedy repentance, will bring thy secret sins, as he did Davids, To the open light, before all Israel, 6and before the Sun. Be therefore as much afraid of ⟨p. 382⟩secret sins, as of open shame. And so avoid all in general, 7as that thou doest not allow to thy self any one particular, or darling sin which the corruption of thy nature could best agree withal: For the crafty Devil can hold a mans soul as fast by one, as by many sins; and faster by that one which doth please thee, then by all those which begin to be abominable unto thee. And as thou desirest to avoid a sin: so be careful to shun the *occasion.
2 When thou art tempted to doe an euill worke,1 remember that Satan is where his businesse is.2 Let not the child of God be the instrument of so base a slaue: hate the worke, if thou abhorrest ⟨p. 381⟩the author. Aske thy conscience these two questions; Would I haue another to doe this vnto mee? 3What shall I answere Christ in the day of my accounts? If contrary to my knowledge and conscience, 4I shall doe this wickednesse, and sinne against him? And remember with Ioseph, 5that though no man seeth: yet GOD seeth all. Fly therefore with Ioseph from all sinnes, as well those which are secret in the sight of GOD, as those that are manifest in the eyes of men. For GOD as hee is iust, without speedy repentance, will bring thy secret sinnes, as he did Dauids, To the open light, before all Israel, 6and before the Sunne. Be therefore as much afraid of ⟨p. 382⟩secret sinnes, as of open shame. And so auoid all in generall, 7as that thou doest not allow to thy selfe any one particuler, or darling sinne which the corruption of thy nature could best agree withall: For the crafty Diuell can hold a mans soule as fast by one, as by many sins; and faster by that one which doth please thee, then by all those which beginne to be abhominable vnto thee. And as thou desirest to auoide a sinne: so be careful to shunne the *occasion.
- 11 Cor. 7.5.
- 2Imminet semper occasioni suae diabolus. Greg.
- 3Mat. 7.12.
- 4Luk. 16.2. 2 Cor. 6.2. 2 Cor. 5.10.
- 5Gen. 39.9.11. &c.
- 62 Sam. 12.12
- 7Luk. 8.17. & 12.2.
- *Pro. 5.8. & 6.27. Omnis peccandi occasio vitandae est, nam qui amat periculum peribit in illo. Ecclus. 3.
