An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, Others do evil hoping to avoid and escape danger by it; they choose the evil of sin, that they may escape the evil of punishment. As many sin for a little advantage, so others to avoid loss, and that they may sleep in a whole skin. Some will deny what they have done, to save themselves: No body can prove it against us, we will deny it, and so avoid trouble, and keep out of the reach of danger. Yea, for this cause many deny the truth and renounce the ways of God, in which they have walked. Demas forsook Paul, he left the Church of God, that he might keep in with, and close to the world. Upon these pretences and hopes many choose evil, not merely and barely in it self, but as it comes thus clothed: As some choose it through ignorance, so others upon hopes of getting good, and not a few upon hopes of avoiding evil, and keeping out of hazard and harms-way. But what-ever worldly good any gain, or danger they escape, by choosing iniquity, that choice brings them into greater danger, and subjects them to the loss of a greater good.

Thirdly, Others do evil hoping to avoid and escape danger by it; they choose the evil of sin, that they may escape the evil of punishment. As many sin for a little advantage, so others to avoid loss, and that they may sleep in a whole skin. Some will deny what they have done, to save themselves: No body can prove it against us, we will deny it, and so avoid trouble, and keep out of the reach of danger. Yea, for this cause many deny the truth and renounce the wayes of God, in which they have walked. Demas forsook Paul, he left the Church of God, that he might keep in with, and close to the world. Upon these pretences and hopes many choose evil, not meerly and barely in it self, but as it comes thus clothed: As some choose it through ignorance, so others upon hopes of getting good, and not a few upon hopes of avoiding evil, and keeping out of hazzard and harmes-way. But what-ever worldly good any gain, or danger they escape, by choosing iniquity, that choice brings them into greater danger, and subjects them to the loss of a greater good.

This thou hast chosen rather than affliction. The particular iniquity (as hath been showed) was impatience.