Fourthly, I am to reprove such that choose to serve sin and not the Lord. It is one thing to be a sinner, another thing to be a servant of sin. A servant of sin, is one that gives himself over to the service of sin, that is bound apprentice to sin. Observe the difference between Paul and Ahab. Paul was sold under sin,1 but it was against his ⟨p. 21⟩will. But Ahab sold himself willingly to work wickedness. Many such Ahabs that serve sin as the Centurion servants served him, If sin bid go they go. Such a slave was Herod to his Herodias, Felix to his Drusilla. Such servants are swearers and drunkards, that are at the service of their Oaths and Cups. There are many men that are slaves to the Mammon of iniquity. That do not only possess money, but are possessed of money, that are had of money, that with Judas will sell Jesus Christ himself for 30. pieces of silver. There are many that are slaves to their preferments, that say with Agrippina concerning Nero, Peream ego modo ille imperet. That sell their part in Heaven to get a little honour here upon earth. And to speak my mind plainly, there are two sins which are as two mighty Lodestones to draw hundreds from the Parliaments side. Covetousness and Ambition. Could the Parliament feed these sins as well as they are fed at Oxford, our miserable distractions would quickly be at an end. What made Balaam go to Balak? At first he said,2 If Balak would give me his house full of gold and silver I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord; 3but yet afterwards being mad after the wages of iniquity, he went and did much hurt to Gods people, but it was to his own ruin at last, and this will be the end of all those that are the servants of sin. The Apostle speaks excellently, For when ye were servants of sin, 4ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. In which words the Apostle teacheth us, that the service of sin is both shameful and damnable. First, it is shameful. For to serve sin, is to serve the Devil, Joh. 8. 44. Oh that the world would believe this, that when they serve pride, and covetousness, and ambition, &c. they serve the Devil, And therefore Cyprian brings in the Devil upbraiding Christ, Ostende mihi tot servos qui tibi, &c.
Fourthly, I am to reprove such that choose to serve sinne and not the Lord. It is one thing to be a sinner, another thing to be a servant of sinne. A servant of sinne, is one that gives himselfe over to the service of sinne, that is bound apprentise to sinne. Observe the difference betweene Paul and Ahab. Paul was sold under sinne,1 but it was against his ⟨p. 21⟩will. But Ahab sold himselfe willingly to worke wickednesse. Many such Ahabs that serve sinne as the Centurion servants served him, If sinne bid goe they goe. Such a slave was Herod to his Herodias, Felix to his Drusilla. Such servants are swearers and drunkards, that are at the service of their Oathes and Cups. There are many men that are slaves to the Mammon of iniquity. That doe not only possesse money, but are possessed of money, that are had of money, that with Iudas will sell Jesus Christ himselfe for 30. peeces of silver. There are many that are slaves to their preferments, that say with Agrippina concerning Nero, Peream ego modo ille imperet. That sell their part in Heaven to get a little honour here upon earth. And to speake my mind plainely, there are two sinnes which are as two mighty Loadstones to draw hundreds from the Parliaments side. Covetousnesse and Ambition. Could the Parliament feed these sinnes as well as they are fed at Oxford, our miserable distractions would quickly be at an end. What made Baalam goe to Balak? At first he said,2 If Balak would give me his house full of gold and silver I cannot goe beyond the word of the Lord; 3but yet afterwards being mad after the wages of iniquity, he went and did much hurt to Gods people, but it was to his own ruine at last, and this will be the end of all those that are the servants of sinne. The Apostle speakes excellently, For when ye were servants of sinne, 4ye were free from righteousnesse. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. In which words the Apostle teacheth us, that the service of sinne is both shamefull and damnable. First, it is shamefull. For to serve sinne, is to serve the Devill, Ioh. 8. 44. Oh that the world would beleeve this, that when they serve pride, and covetousnesse, and ambition, &c. they serve the Devill, And therefore Cyprian brings in the Devill upbraiding Christ, Ostende mihi tot servos qui tibi, &c.
- 1Rom. 7. 21.
- 2Numb. 22. 18.
- 32 Pet. 2. 15.
- 4Rom. 6. 10, 11.
