Secondly, 'Tis a less sin for an unholy person to do a religious duty, then 'tis to omit it, now of two sins, whereupon, not God, but a mans self hath inevitably put him to commit ⟨p. 327⟩one of them, he must choose the least, he must choose rather to sin in the manner, in not doing of it so well as he should, then to fail in the matter, and so quite neglect the duty it self; for this is most certain, when God commands a duty absolutely to be done, it is a greater sin not to do it at all, then to do it amiss, and the reason is evident, because our disobedience is total in not doing at all, and but only partial in doing it otherwise then we ought. As for a man wilfully and peremptorily to refuse to hear the word, is a greater and a fouler fault, then to hear it with a forgetful or a disobedient heart, there being more hope of the latter, then of the former; for some that have come to catch, have been caught by the word, John 7.46. And therefore come, saith Latimer, to the word, though thou comest to sleep, it may be God may take thee napping. 1When Mr Henry Sulphen was preacher at Bremen, several Roman Catholics sent their Chaplains to trap him in his words; but the power of God was so wonderfully seen in his preaching, that the greatest part of them that came to ensnare him were converted by him: 'Tis good to come to the word, though a man comes with an ill intent; to come, though he should come with a purpose to catch, for in so coming he may be catched, as Augustine was by Ambrose: without doubt there is no disobedience to that which is total; partial disobedience is no disobedience to that which is total; That wife that totally disobeys her husband, and that child that totally disobeys the father, and that servant that totally disobeys his Master, is much more to blame, and do much more provoke, then those that are only partial in their disobedience, and so 'tis between God and sinners, &c.
Secondly, 'Tis a less sin for an unholy person to doe a religious dutie, then 'tis to omit it, now of two sins, whereupon, not God, but a mans selfe hath inevitably put him to commit ⟨p. 327⟩one of them, he must chuse the least, he must chuse rather to sin in the manner, in not doing of it so well as he should, then to faile in the matter, and so quite neglect the duty it selfe; for this is most certain, when God commands a duty absolutely to be done, it is a greater sin not to doe it at all, then to doe it amiss, and the reason is evident, because our disobedience is totall in not doing at all, and but only partial in doing it otherwise then we ought. As for a man wilfully and peremptorily to refuse to heare the word, is a greater and a fouler fault, then to heare it with a forgetful or a disobedient heart, there being more hope of the latter, then of the former; for some that have come to catch, have been caught by the word, John 7.46. And therefore come, saith Latimer, to the word, though thou comest to sleepe, it may be God may take thee napping. 1When Mr Henry Sulphen was preacher at Breme, several Roman Catholiques sent their Chaplains to trap him in his words; but the power of God was so wonderfully seen in his preaching, that the greatest part of them that came to ensnare him were converted by him: 'Tis good to come to the word, though a man comes with an ill intent; to come, though he should come with a purpose to catch, for in so coming he may be catch'd, as Augustine was by Ambrose: without doubt there is no disobedience to that which is total; partial disobedience is no disobedience to that which is total; That wife that totally disobeys her husband, and that child that totally disobeys the father, and that servant that totally disobeys his Master, is much more to blame, and doe much more provoke, then those that are onely partiall in their disobedience, and so 'tis between God and sinners, &c.
- 1Joh. Sleidani. Comment.
