Instruction, to inform our hearts against all manner of wickedness, Use. 1 that they may be the more incensed against it. The worse we like of sin, the more righteous we are, and the better the Lord will love us. And the more agreement there is between sin and our souls, the less peace there is between our souls and God. All the hurts and miseries that ever have come upon us, or on Christ for our sakes, do give us just occasion to fall out with sinfulness, that hath bin the cause thereof. The love that we bear to God who hath bin dishonoured by our sinful life, should induce us to abhor all ungodliness. The danger of persisting impenitent, and the hope of pardon and happiness, when we cast off our iniquities, are just motives to make us take up weapons against them by judging our selves for that which is past, and resisting strongly all the assaults of the same hereafter. ⟨p. 16⟩Conviction of many to be unrighteous men, by countenancing §2those foul faults in others, which they are ashamed (for the grossness of them) to practise themselves. Though they dare not lie impudently, and perjure, least the trueth should come to light, yet they desire that some other would do it for them: though they will not violate the Sabaoth, by open breach of it in their own persons, yet they give liberty to their sons, and servants, and all their people to do what they list on the Lords day: though they break not out into oaths, or drunkenness, or wanton behaviour, yet they will be sociable with blasphemers, and drunkards, and filthy persons, and willingly hear and see them exercising such abominations, and allow them to defile their houses therewith, yea and permit their own children and people to be chief doers in it. Where is righteousness? where is the hatred of an evil matter? How unlike are they to just Lot, who was 1daily vexed with the uncleanly conversation of the wicked? It is evident, that whatsoever the heart hateth, the eyes will abhor, and our senses will loath every thing that is offensive to us. Who without necessity would stand by and behold him, that were plucking off the skin of an unsavoury carrion? Would not every man in such a case stop his nose, and turn away his face, & make hast to be gone?
Instruction, to informe our hearts against all manner of wickednes, Vse. 1 that they may be the more incensed against it. The worse we like of sin, the more righteous we are, and the better the Lord will loue vs. And the more agreement there is between sinne and our soules, the lesse peace there is between our soules and God. All the hurts and miseries that euer haue come vpon vs, or on Christ for our sakes, do giue vs iust occasion to fall out with sinfulnes, that hath bin the cause thereof. The loue that we beare to God who hath bin dishonoured by our sinfull life, should induce vs to abhor all vngodlinesse. The danger of persisting impenitent, and the hope of pardon and happinesse, when we cast off our iniquities, are iust motiues to make vs take vp weapons against them by iudging our selues for that which is past, and resisting strongly all the assaults of the same hereafter. ⟨p. 16⟩Conuiction of many to be vnrighteous men, by countenancing §2those foule faults in others, which they are ashamed (for the grosnes of them) to practise themselues. Though they dare not lie impudently, and periure, least the trueth should come to light, yet they desire that some other would doe it for them: though they will not violate the Sabbaoth, by open breache of it in their owne persons, yet they giue liberty to their sonnes, and seruants, and all their people to do what they list on the Lords day: though they breake not out into oathes, or drunkennesse, or wanton behauiour, yet they will be sociable with blasphemers, and drunkards, and filthy persons, and willingly heare and see them exercising such abhominations, and allow them to defile their houses therewith, yea and permit their owne children and people to be chiefe doers in it. Where is righteousnesse? where is the hatred of an euill matter? How vnlike are they to iust Lot, who was 1dailie vexed with the vncleanlie conuersation of the wicked? Jt is euident, that whatsoeuer the heart hateth, the eyes will abhorre, and our sences will loath euery thing that is offensiue to vs. VVho without necessity would stand by and behould him, that were plucking off the skinne of an vnsauory carrion? VVoulde not euery man in such a case stoppe his nose, and turne away his face, & make hast to be gone?
- 12 Pet. 2. 7.
