The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…

§. Sect. 4 Thirdly the longer that sin hath dominion over us the more it increaseth in strength,¹ and the more hardly it is subdued, for it is the nature of sin as soon as it is entertained to make way and room for more and those worse then it self as we may see in the example of David, for when he was overcome of idleness, it made way for adultery, and adultery for murder. So Herod entertained incest; and that opened a door in his heart to let in murder, and both these made open way for all hellish impiety; so Judas retaining still his covetousness was moved thereby to betray his master; and this sin brought him first to desperation, & then to hang himself; yea the Apostle Peter after that he joined himself in company with the wicked servants of the more wicked high Priest; at first was moved hereby to deny his master,² and when he had gone thus far, then ⟨p. 387⟩he denieth him again with an oath, and when he had thus far proceeded in the course of sin, he maketh no conscience of redoubling his oaths, cursing himself if he knew the man; so that the longer we let sin have dominion in us, the more it will increase it self in strength and number, till our hearts be full of sin and wickedness. As therefore those citizens were to be accounted most foolish, who when they saw an hundred enemies entered into the city, should defer the beating of them out or killing of them, till they had opened the gate to let in ten thousand more better armed and more strongly provided, thinking then to have better opportunity, and more ability to give them the repulse, so alike foolish are those who finding it hard and difficult to subdue some few sins, to which they are now given, do defer it till the time to come, when as they are increased in huge multitudes imagining then to do it with more ease. Sin, it is the poison of the soul, as therefore poisons being drunk are presently to be cast up again, otherwise they disperse themselves in the veins and so going to the hart cause death; so this poison of sin if it be long kept in us, it will disperse it self over the whole body and soul, and seizing upon the heart, will plunge us into everlasting death and destruction. Sin it is an heavy burden and upon whomsoever it lieth it will press them down unto hell;

§. Sect. 4 Thirdly the longer that sinne hath dominion ouer vs the more it increaseth in strength,