The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

6. We are much in danger of those sins, the matter of which is somewhat good or lawful, and the danger lieth only in the manner, circumstances or degree. For there the lawfulness of the matter, occasioneth men to forget the accidental evil. The whole Kingdom feeleth the mischief of this, in instances which I will now pass by. If eating such or such a meat were not lawful it self, men would not be so easily drawn to gluttony. If drinking wine were not a lawful thing, the passage to drunkenness were not so open: The apprehension that a lusory lot is a lawful thing (as Cards, Dice, &c.) doth occasion the heinous sin of time-wasting, and estate-wasting gamesters. If apparel were not lawful, excess would not be so easily endured. Yea the goodness of Gods own Worship, quieteth many in its great abuse.

6. We are much in danger of those sins, the matter of which is somewhat good or lawful, and the danger lyeth only in the manner, circumstances or degree. For there the lawfulness of the matter, occasioneth men to forget the accidental evil. The whole Kingdom feeleth the mischief of this, in instances which I will now pass by. If eating such or such a meat were not lawful it self, men would not be so easily drawn to gluttony. If drinking wine were not a lawful thing, the passage to drunkenness were not so open: The apprehension that a lusory lot is a lawful thing (as Cards, D•ce, &c.) doth occasion the heinous sin of time-wasting, and estate-wasting gamesters. If apparel were not lawful, excess would not be so easily endured. Yea the goodness of Gods own Worship, quieteth many in its great abuse.

7. We are much in danger of those sins, which are not in any great disgrace among those persons whom we most honour and esteem. It is a great mercy to have sin lie under a common odium and disgrace: As swearing and drunkenness, and cursing, and fornication, and Popish errors, and superstition, is now amongst the forwardest Professors in England: For here conscience is most awakened, and helped by the opinion of men; or if there be some carnal respect to our reputation in it sometimes, yet it tendeth to suppress the sin; And it is a great plague to live where any great sin is in little disgrace (as the profanation of the Lords day in most of the Reformed Churches beyond Sea; and they say, tippling, if not drunkenness in Germany; and as backbiting and evil speaking against those that differ from them is among the Professors in England, for too great a part; and also many superstitions of their own; and dividing principles and practices.)