The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

8. Get a respect to all Gods Commandments, Psa. 119.6. then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. The reason why men indulge any one lust, is, because they pick and cull their duties, and so indeed, serve not the will of God, but their own choice. Oh, how many are there, that answer the Lord with half obedience, like the Echo, which makes not a perfect respondence of the voice, but of some part thereof. Many make such a difference amongst the Tables, as if only one side, or one part were of Gods writing: Oh Sirs, this will not do; this will undo, the man that like Agrippa, doth but almost believe, almost repent, almost conform to the will of God, that man shall be saved proportionably, almost. One sin unrepented of will cause you to miscarry to all eternity: one crack in a bell may make it unserviceable, untunable, and till it be new cast it is good for nothing: one wound may kill your bodies and so may one sin your souls. Oh Christians, what had become of you and I? if Jesus Christ had satisfied the justice of God for all but one sin? there is a text in Ezekiel, ¹that is usually taken for a place of the greatest mercy in the whole book of God, When the wicked turneth away from his wickedness, that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. You have to the same purpose, ver. 21, 22. of the same Chapter, but pray mark what follows, ver. 28. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgression that he hath committed, no mercy to be expected from this Scripture, unless a man turn away from all his transgressions, 2 Tim. 2.21. the vessel of honour is distinguished ⟨p. 60⟩from the vessel of dishonour, by this character, that it is sanctified and prepared for every good work: ²and this is the commendation of Zechariah, and Elizabeth, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments, and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Halting in Religion is a troublesome, deformed dangerous gesture; and there is no cure for this, like cutting off the right foot.