If it be yet said, that the sin of simple omitting the duty, is less then the omitting of it after engagements and Vows to the contrary. Answ. 1. It is not so to a Christian, who is called to engage himself: yea, who by Baptism is already engaged; for 1. The man that neither engageth to do, nor doth the duty, faileth twice, whereas he that engageth and performeth not, faileth but once: though that once failing, is, by its being cross to his engagement, not a little aggravated; so that in some respect each fault or failing exceedeth the other: the one is a greater sin considered in it self, but the other is greater considered complexly. 2. The man that engageth not, is more accessory to his own falling, in respect that he used not that mean to prevent it; yet the other when fallen, is more guilty, in respect of the breach of his engagement. 3. The man that will not engage, bringeth him elf under a necessity of fining; for if he perform not, he faileth twice, as is said; if he perform, he faileth, because he engaged not when he was called to it, so his performing is not the performing of a Vow to God, who requireth promising, in some cases at least, as well as performing. 4. The man that Promiseth and Voweth, and also performeth what he Promised and Vowed, his performing is so much the more acceptable, as it proceedeth not only from the awe of a Command, but from a spontaneous and free-will offering of it to God, and so is both Obedience to a Command, and the performance of a Vow; for thus, he chooseth obedience, as it is Psalm 119. 30. It is not so with the other, whether he perform it or not, though we think, that God often letteth the man fall that will not engage, because he sayeth by his refusal that he trusteth not to God for the performance, otherwise he would engage and undertake on his account also; he sayeth withal, that he aimeth to perform, only because he cannot eschew it: And if he could shake off, and be freed from that Obligation to Holiness▪ that he would not out of respect to God, or love to Holiness, take on a new one. 5. The man that engageth not, sinneth more unexcusably in that he will not do that which is the lesser, and in his power. The less and more easy a thing it be to promise and engage (as it is no doubt more easy then to perform) the omission of it is the greater sin, and more inexcusable.
If it be yet said, that the sin of simple omitting the duty, is less then the omitting of it after engagements and Vows to the contrary. Answ. 1. It is not so to a Christian, who is called to engage himself: yea, who by Baptisme is already ingaged; for 1. The man that neither ingageth to do, nor doth the duty, faileth twice, whereas he that ingageth and performeth not, faileth but once: though that once failing, is, by its being cross to his ingagement, not a little aggravated; so that in some respect each fault or failing exceedeth the other: the one is a greater sin considered in it self, but the other is greater considered complexly. 2. The man that ingageth not, is more accessory to his own falling, in respect that he used not that mean to prevent it; yet the other when fallen, is more guilty, in respect of the breach of his ingagement. 3. The man that will not ingage, bringeth him elf under a necessity of finning; for if he perform not, he faileth twice, as is said; if he perform, he faileth, because he ingaged not when he was called to it, so his performing is not the performing of a Vow to God, who requireth promising, in some cases at least, as well as performing. 4. The man that Promiseth and Voweth, and also performeth what he Promised and Vowed, his performing is so much the more acceptable, as it proceedeth not only from the awe of a Command, but from a spontaneous and free-will offering of it to God, and so is both Obedience to a Command, and the performance of a Vow; for thus, he chooseth obedience, as it is Psalm 119. 30. It is not so with the other, whether he perform it or not, though we think, that God often letteth the man fall that will not ingage, because he sayeth by his refusal that he trusteth not to God for the performance, otherwise he would ingage and undertake on his account also; he sayeth withal, that he aimeth to perform, onely because he cannot eschew it: And if he could shake off, and be freed from that Obligation to Holiness▪ that he would not out of respect to God, or love to Holiness, take on a new one. 5. The man that ingageth not, sinneth more unexcusably in that he will not do that which is the lesser, and in his power. The less and more easie a thing it be to promise and ingage (as it is no doubt more easie then to perform) the omission of it is the greater sin, and more inexcusable.
