The omission, or non-performance of what is good, is as sinful as the commission or doing of that which is evil. Not to do good is to do evil; especially when it is the not doing of such a good duty as opens a way to the doing of all evil. Should we suppose a man not chargeable with the breaking of any commandment of God, yet if we could charge him that he did not consider the commandments of God, this were the breaking of all the commandments. ⟨p. 714⟩For as they are all to be considered that we may keep them, so if we consider them not, we cannot keep them. 'Tis the description of a godly man, (Psal. 1.2.) His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night. Meditation is nothing else but consideration. A godly man meditates or considers day and night what the Law or Word of God is; not that he thinks of nothing else but the Law of God day and night, for then he must throw off his Calling; but the meaning is this, he is very sedulous and watchful of all opportunities both night and day, to get and keep his heart up in holy meditation; and why is he so much in holy meditation? 'Tis surely, that he may be much, yea always in holy action; and when it may be said of a man, that his meditation is not in the Law of God, neither day nor night, or that he never considers the ways of God, this is an undeniable evidence that he neither keeps in the way, or observes any one line or letter of the Law at any time. It is our sin, and that no small one, not to consider our own ways, how much more is it sinful not to consider the ways of God! To consider our own ways, is a great part of our work: If we consider not our own ways, they will soon be crooked ways. The Prophet adviseth the Jews, (Hag. 1.5.) Consider your ways; the Text is, Set your heart upon your ways; that is, ponder your ways; as if he had said, the reason why your feet are so often in bad ways, is, because your hearts are so seldom upon your ways. Now, if not to consider our own ways be so sinful, and subjects us to every sin, then much more is it sinful not to consider the ways, the word and truths of God, and much more doth the neglect of this lead or lay us open and obnoxious to every sin. This neglect is not only a special sin in it self, and an effect of sin, but the general cause of all other sins:
The omission, or non-performance of what is good, is as sinful as the commission or doing of that which is evil. Not to do good is to do evil; especially when it is the not doing of such a good duty as opens a way to the doing of all evil. Should we suppose a man not chargeable with the breaking of any commandment of God, yet if we could charge him that he did not consider the commandments of God, this were the breaking of all the commandments. ⟨p. 714⟩For as they are all to be considered that we may keep them, so if we consider them not, we cannot keep them. 'Tis the description of a godly man, (Psal. 1.2.) His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night. Meditation is nothing else but consideration. A godly man meditates or considers day and night what the Law or Word of God is; not that he thinks of nothing else but the Law of God day and night, for then he must throw off his Calling; but the meaning is this, he is very sedulous and watchful of all opportunities both night and day, to get and keep his heart up in holy meditation; and why is he so much in holy meditation? 'Tis surely, that he may be much, yea alwayes in holy action; and when it may be said of a man, that his meditation is not in the Law of God, neither day nor night, or that he never considers the wayes of God, this is an undeniable evidence that he neither keeps in the way, or observes any one line or letter of the Law at any time. It is our sin, and that no small one, not to consider our own wayes, how much more is it sinful not to consider the wayes of God! To consider our own wayes, is a great part of our work: If we consider not our own wayes, they will soon be crooked wayes. The Prophet adviseth the Jewes, (Hag. 1.5.) Consider your wayes; the Text is, Set your heart upon your wayes; that is, ponder your wayes; as if he had said, the reason why your feet are so often in bad wayes, is, because your hearts are so seldome upon your wayes. Now, if not to consider our own wayes be so sinful, and subjects us to every sin, then much more is it sinful not to consider the wayes, the word and truths of God, and much more doth the neglect of this lead or lay us open and obnoxious to every sin. This neglect is not only a special sin in it self, and an effect of sin, but the general cause of all other sins:
