Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

Seventhly, He labours to draw men on to sin ¹by degrees, by a little and a little; he never aggravates the sin at the first, but extenuates it.

Seventhly, Helabours to draw men on to sinne ¹by degrees, by a little and a little; he never aggravates the sin at the first, but extenuates it.

1. 17. Deceit.

I answer: when water hath gotten a little passage, it will soon make a great breach; one little ¹wedge makes way for a greater: so it may be a man commits but a little sin at the first, but afterward ⟨p. 18⟩the Devil draws him to commit greater. A man that commits sin is as one in a quick sand, who sinks deeper and deeper: or as a little spark that kindles a great fire. Seeing therefore the case standeth thus, we ought to resist the beginnings of sin, and give peremptory denial to the first temptations. And thus much for this point.

I answer: when water hath gotten a little passage, it will soone make a great breach; one little ¹wedge makes way for a greater: so it may be a man commits but a little sinne at the first, but afterward ⟨p. 18⟩the Divell drawes him to commit greater. A man that commits sinne is as one in a quicke sand, who sinkes deeper and deeper: or as a little sparke that kindles a great fire. Seeing therefore the case standeth thus, we ought to resist the beginnings of sin, and give peremptory deniall to the first temptations. And thus much for this point.