1Therefore when we are tempted to sin, let us reason with our selves,2 there is death in the pot, let us discern death in it, it will follow. And if a man after repent of it, it will be more sharp repentance and grievous, then the sin was pleasant; that a man shall have little joy of his sin, if he do repent; if he do not repent, what a fearful estate is a man in, after he hath sinned? Sin, and death go together, no humane power can sever them: ⟨p. 29⟩for take the greatest Monarch in the world, when he hath sinned, conscience is above him as great as he is; for conscience is next under God; it awes, and terrifies him, and keeps his sleep from him: as we see of late in our bloody neighbour Country▪ after that great Massacre, he could not sleep without Music, and the like. All that they have and enjoy in the world, all their greatness, it will not satisfy and stop the mouth of conscience: but when they sin, they feel the wrath of God arresting, and they a•e as i• were, shut up in prison, under the terrors of an accusing conscience, till they come to eternal imprisonment, in the chain of hell, and damnation. This is the estate of the greatest man in the world, that is not in Christ. They are not so happy as we think they are, they are imprisoned in their own hearts: though they walk at never so much liberty abroad, and do what they list: for sin and death goes together; and before eternal death comes, the expectation, and terrors of it seize on them for the present. So that whatsoever our first birth be, though it be noble, and great, yet by it we are bond-slaves under sin and death, unless our second birth, our new birth, make amends for fl••e, for the baseness of our first birth. This prerogative, our spiritual nobleness, is such an estate wherein we are not borne; but are borne again to it, to an inheritance immortal, &c. But ⟨p. 30⟩by nature we are all bond men, though we be be borne never so nobly. Therefore let us never brag of our birth, as the Jews did, that they were the children of Abraham. No, saith Christ, you are of your father the Devil. Let none stand upon the Gentry, and Nobility of their birth, unless they be taken out of the condition they are in by nature, to be in a better condition in Christ: for we see all men naturally, are under the law of sin and death.
1Therefore when wee are tempted to sinne, let us reason with our selves,2 there is death in the pot, let us discerne death in it, it will follow. And if a man after repent of it, it will be more sharp repentance and grievous, then the sinne was pleasant; that a man shall have little joy of his sinne, if he doe repent; if he doe not repent, what a fearefull estate is a man in, after he hath sinned? Sinne, and death goe together, no humane power can sever them: ⟨p. 29⟩for take the greatest Monarch in the world, when he hath sinned, conscience is above him as great as hee is; for conscience is next under God; it awes, and terrifies him, and keepes his sleepe from him: as we see of late in our bloody neighbour Country▪ after that great Massacre, he could not sleepe without Musicke, and the like. All that they have and enjoy in the world, all their greatnesse, it will not satisfie and stop the mouth of conscience: but when they sinne, they feele the wrath of God arresting, and they a•e as i• were, shut up in prison, under the terrours of an accusing conscience, till they come to eternall imprisoment, in the chaine of hell, and damnation. This is the estate of the greatest man in the world, that is not in Christ. They are not so happy as we thinke they are, they are imprisoned in their owne hearts: though they walke at never so much liberty abroad, and doe what they list: for sinne and death goes together; and before eternall death comes, the expectation, and terrours of it seize on them for the present. So that whatsoever our first birth be, though it be noble, and great, yet by it we are bond-slaves under sinne and death, unlesse our second birth, our new birth, make amends for fl••e, for the basenesse of our first birth. This prerogative, our spirituall noblenesse, is such an estate wherein wee are not borne; but are borne againe to it, to an inheritance immortall, &c. But ⟨p. 30⟩by nature wee are all bond men, though wee be be borne never so nobly. Therefore let us never bragge of our birth, as the Jewes did, that they were the children of Abraham. No, saith Christ, you are of your father the Devill. Let none stand upon the Gentrie, and Nobility of their birth, unlesse they be taken out of the condition they are in by nature, to be in a better condition in Christ: for we see all men naturally, are under the law of sinne and death.
- 1Use.Vse.
- 2To see death in sin.To see death in sinne.
