The golden sceptre held forth to the humble With the Churches dignityThe golden scepter held forth to the humble VVith the Churches dignitie

Learn hence to see sin in its own colours; ¹sin is a secret and invisible evil, and in it self as abstractly considered, is hard to be seen of the best: therefore look upon it as it is clothed with calamities; and when you view it under the clothing, you will have another opinion of it than you had before. If you should know a man, who, wheresoever he comes, doth nothing but mischief, poisons one, stabs another, &c. and leaves every where some prints of his villainy; how hateful and terrible would he be unto you? it is sin that plays all these reaks among us; if sin come upon a man clothed and armed with Gods wrath, as it often doth at death, then it is terrible. Why do we not look upon it thus at other times, but because we do not behold it in the fearful effects of it, as then in the wrath due to it we do? Sin is the same at all times else, but our fancy is not always the same, as the body is always the same, though the shadow be greater or lesser: that which we now count a small sin, as swearing, and petty oaths, will one day be terrible; such a sin as was committed by Ananias and Sapphira would seem small, it may be, to you in it self alone, but see it clothed with that judgement that befell them dying at the Apostles feet; so see the sin of Ahab's oppressing Naboth, which you may look at but as doing a little wrong to a poor man, by a great man, but see it clothed with Ahab's death, and the dogs licking his blood, and it will appear to be most heinous; so the profaneness of Nadab and Abihu, offering strange fire.

Learne hence to see sinne in its owne colours; ¹sinne is a secret and invisible evill, and in it selfe as abstractly considered, is hard to be seene of the best: therefore looke upon it as it is cloathed with calamities; and when you view it under the cloathing, you will have another opinion of it than you had before. If you should know a man, who, whersoever he comes, doth nothing but mischiefe, poysons one, stabs another, &c. and leaves every where some prints of his villany; how hatefull and terrible would he be unto you? it is sin that playes all these reaks among us; if sin come upon a man cloathed and armed with Gods wrath, as it often doth at death, then it is terrible. Why do we not look upon it thus at other times, but because we doe not behold it in the fearefull effects of it, as then in the wrath due to it we doe? Sin is the same at all times else, but our fancy is not alwaies the same, as the body is alwayes the same, though the shadow bee greater or lesser: that which we now count a small sinne, as swearing, and petty oaths, will one day bee terrible; such a sinne as was committed by Ananias and Sapphira would seeme small, it may be, to you in it selfe alone, but see it cloathed with that judgement that befell them dying at the Apostles feete; so see the sinne of Ahabs oppressing Naboth, which you may looke at but as doing a little wrong to a poore man, by a great man, but see it cloathed with Ahabs death, and the dogs licking his bloud, and it will appeare to be most hainous; so the prophanenesse of Nadab and Abihu, offering strange fire.