CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Think then with thy self that in what sense soever Christ died, yet thy sins make a great gulf between thee and Heaven; God hath set a flaming Sword to keep thee out of Paradise; therefore cry out I have no hope as yet, Oh my condition hath no comfort, I cannot meet with any sound Doctor that dares give me any comfort while I love and live in my sins; Why then, wilt thou embrace those lusts that are such a present poison and ruin to thee? Hereafter thou wilt be persuaded when too late; That sin hath been thy only Enemy when God shall bid thee Depart ye Cursed, then wilt thou bid thy cursed lusts Depart, but then it will be too late.

Think then with thy self that in what sence soever Christ died, yet thy sinnes make a great gulf between thee and Heaven; God hath set a flaming Sword to keep thee out of Paradise; therefore cry out I have no hope as yet, Oh my condition hath no comfort, I cannot meet with any sound Doctor that dares give me any comfort while I love and live in my sinnes; Why then, wilt thou embrace those lusts that are such a present poison and ruine to thee? Hereafter thou wilt be perswaded when too late; That sinne hath been thy only Enemy when God shall bid thee Depart ye Cursed, then wilt thou bid thy cursed lusts Depart, but then it will be too late.

Use 2. of Instruction, To teach the godly what a sad aggravation there is in every sin they commit, That it's against the special love of Christ in dying for thee; This bloody circumstance is in thy sins which cannot be in the sins either of wicked men or devils; Excellent is that Meditation of Eusebius Emissenus, Though (aith he) the devils should be damned for many sins and I but for one, yet that would exceed the devils Impiety, for the devils never sinned against a God that became an Angel for them; They never sinned against God that died and was crucified for them, but miserable and wretched I (pro animâ meâ cur non liquefio cum haec cogito) have sinned against a God made man for me, Against a God dying an ignominious death for me, Against a God leaving me such an example of love and holiness; Indignior sum Lucifero, indignior sum daemonibus, I am more unworthy then the devils, more unworthy then Beelzebub; Oh that we could all both think and speak so, that not only our tongues may utter it, but our hearts be inwardly affected, that we might as Bernard said, linguam in sanguine cordis tingere; Oh then let this special love of Christ to thee more then many thousands work in thee more special love and thankfulness then others have; Take heed of sin, for thy sins have this special aggravation in them which wicked men have not; Christ hath showed thee so great love that he himself could not show a greater, and therefore who shall excuse thee if thou sin for all this; Here is then no doctrine of carnal Security in this Point; Here is no door set open for Licentiousness, but as Christ said from a Parable, She loved much, for much was forgiven her; The same should be in all the godly, much hath been given and forgiven them, therefore they ought to love much, and this was set upon Pauls heart even Christs peculiar and special love,