Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…

Here is the greatest obstinacy and wilfulness in sinning that could be imagined, when not alone no loving dissuasion could withdraw their minds from such a shameful attempt, but even the heavy and immediate hand of God was unable to pull them back from continuing in their horrible and outrageous onsets. God might by force hold them from doing the evil, but from endeavouring to do it nothing would hinder; to be so hard-hearted in a sinful course, that neither words nor blows will so much as interrupt a man in his ⟨p. 221⟩naughtiness, or cause him to turn a little aside, or make a little stop in it, but that he rusheth like a horse into the battle, plunging himself in it like a madman running to drown himself, and with violence striving to rid himself of them that seek to hinder him from working his mischief, this may seem as high a degree of sinning, as that of the Sodomites.

Here is the greatest obstinacy and wilfullnesse in sinning that could be imagined, when not alone no loving disswasion could withdraw their mindes from such a shamefull attempt, but even the heavie and immediate hand of God was unable to pull them backe from continuing in their horrible and outragious onsets. God might by force hold them from doing the evill, but from indeavouring to doe it nothing would hinder; to be so hard-hearted in a sinfull course, that neither words nor blowes will so much as interrupt a man in his ⟨p. 221⟩naughtinesse, or cause him to turne a little aside, or make a little stop in it, but that he rusheth like a horse into the battell, plunging himselfe in it like a madman running to drowne himselfe, and with violence striving to rid himselfe of them that seeke to hinder him from working his mischiefe, this may seeme as high a degree of sinning, as that of the Sodomites.

O take heed that sin lay not so fast hold upon you, let it not be so absolute and mighty a commander. I pray you examine your selves, whether you have not sinned grossly, boldly, wilfully, and obstinately in some other kind, as the Sodomites in masculine lusts, at least whether you have not discovered the same faults in lesser degrees, and know that more deep remorse and wounding of heart is necessary to be sought after by all men for sins that have so many weights at their heels to make them heavier. They must rend our souls more, which are laden with such considerations, Was not the sin gross? Yes. Did I not commit it presumptuously? Yes. Did I not commit it shamelessly? Yes. Did I not commit it wilfully? Yes. Did I not persist in it against dehortations? Yes. Was I so furious that some strong hand of God befalling in the instant could not hinder me? Yes. O then how Sodomitical was this sin, and how should I wonder that I should so far surpass all bounds and break all bands as to commit such a crime in such a manner.