The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…

Though Simon Magus believed, and was baptized, and wondered at the miracles and signs which were done by Philip: yet for all these shows of godliness, he was a prisoner to his lusts; his condition was dangerous, poisonous and odious; he was in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity. So those in Mat. 7.21, 22, 23. though they complemented with Christ, saying, Lord, Lord, though they prophesied in Christs name, and cast out devils in Christs name; yea, though they did not a few,¹ but many wonderful works in Christs name; yet all this while they were workers of iniquity, they were Artists in sin; they were so addicted to sin, that they made a trade of sin. Look, as every Lyon hath his den, every Dog his kennel, every Sow her sty, and ever Crow her nest; so every unholy person hath one sin or another, to which his heart is engaged and married. and that sin will undo him for ever. As Lysimachus lost his earthly kingdom by drinking one draught of water: So many lose a heavenly kingdom by indulging some one sin or other. One flaw spoils the Diamond; one Treason makes a Traitor; one turn brings a man quite out of the way; one Leak sinks the Ship; one wound strikes Goliath dead; one Delilah betrays Sampson: one broken wheel spoils the whole Clock;² and one fly spoils the whole box of ointment. And as one Bastard destroyed Gideons seventy sons: so one predominant sin is enough to destroy the soul for ever. As by taking one nap Sampson lost his strength: and by eating one Apple Adam lost Paradise: so many men by favouring one sin, lose God, heaven and their souls for ever. He that favours any sin, though he frowns upon many, doth but as Benhadab, recover of one disease, and die of another: Yea, he takes pains to go to hell; sin favoured ever ends tragically. And as no unholy heart rises against all sin; so no unholy heart disdains sin or rises against sin upon noble accounts, upon holy and heavenly accounts: Sometimes you shall have an unholy person angry with sin, and falling out with sin, because in hath ⟨p. 112⟩cracked his credit, or clouded his honour, or hindered his profit, or embittered his pleasure, or enraged his conscience, or exposed him to shame here, and hell hereafter: But never because a righteous Law is transgressed, a holy God is dishonoured, a loving Saviour is (afresh) crucified, or the blessed Spirit grieved.