Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

as the Serpent that was dead in snow, was revived at the fire; so sin that seems dead when it lies hid under the ignorances and mispersuasions of a secure heart, when either the Word of God (which the Prophet calls fire) or the last Judgement) shall open it unto the conscience, it will undoubtedly revive again, and make a man find himself in the mouth of Death. Thus we see, that unto the Law belongs the Conviction of sin, and that in the whole compass of evil that is in it. Three hateful evils are in sin, Aberration from Gods Image, obnoxiousness to his wrath, and rejection from his presence. Stain, Guilt, and misery (which is the product or issue of the two former). Now, as we say, Rectum est sui index & obliqui, The Law is such a Rule as can measure and set forth all this evil; It is Holy, Just, and Good. Rom. 7. 12. Holy, fit to conform us to the image of God, Just, fit to arm us against the wrath of God, and Good, fit to present us unto the presence and fruition of God. According unto this blessed and complete pattern was man created; An universal rectitude in his nature, all parts in tune, all members in joint: light and ⟨p. 134⟩beauty in his mind, conformity in his will, subordination¹ and subjection in his appetites, serviceableness in his body, peace and happiness in his whole being. But man, being exactly sensible of the excellency of his estate, gave an easy •are to that first temptation which laid before him a hope and project of improving it: and so believing Satan's lye, and embracing a shadow, he fell from the substance which before he had, and contracted the hellish and horrid image of that Tempter which had thus deceived him.

as the Serpent that was dead in snow, was reviu'd at the fire; so sinne that seemes dead when it lies hid under the ignorances and misperswasions of a secure heart, when either the Word of God (which the Prophet calls fire) or the last Iudgement) shall open it unto the conscience, it will undoubtedly revive againe, and make a man finde himselfe in the mouth of Death. Thus wee see, that unto the Law belongs the Conviction of sinne, and that in the whole compasse of evill that is in it. Three hatefull evils are in sinne, Aberration from Gods Image, obnoxiousnesse to his wrath, and rejection from his presence. Staine, Guilt, and miserie (which is the product or issue of the two former). Now, as wee say, Rectum est sui index & obliqui, The Law is such a Rule as can measure and set forth all this evill; Ir is Holy, Iust, and Good.