A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Name: A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures
Author: Ezekiel Hopkins

A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures by Ezekiel Hopkins ...

Ezekiel Hopkins 1634–1690London: printed by E.H. for Nathanael Ranew, 1693

[13], 314, [2], 82 p. · 77k words · Wing H2735 · ESTC R37910

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Sermon 2: THE GREAT EVIL and DANGER OF LITTLE SINS, FROM

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:103–118 of 462

:103p. 77–78

If Satan prevails with us to go with him one step out of our way, we are in danger to stop no where till we come to the height of all Profaneness; he will make us take a second, and ⟨p. 78⟩a third, and so to travel on to Destruction; for each of these is but one step; the last step of Sin is but one step, as well as the first; and if the Devil prevails with us to take one step, why should he not prevail with us to take the last step as well as the first step, seeing it is but one? Your second Sin no more exceeds your first, than your first doth your Duty; and so of the rest. We should not therefore account any Sin small, but look upon them as the spawn of all the vilest Abominations: And as you would abhor Death and Hell, so abhor the least Sin; because it hath a Plot upon us in subserviency to greater Sins, that without infinite Mercy, will certainly bring to, and terminate in Death and Hell.

If Satan prevails with us to go with him one step out of our way, we are in danger to stop no where till we come to the height of all Prophaneness; he will make us take a second, and ⟨p. 78⟩a third, and so to travel on to Destruction; for each of these is but one step; the last step of Sin is but one step, as well as the first; and if the Devil prevails with us to take one step, why should he not prevail with us to take the last step as well as the first step, seeing it is but one? Your second Sin no more exceeds your first, than your first doth your Duty; and so of the rest. We should not therefore account any Sin small, but look upon them as the spawn of all the vilest Abominations: And as you would abhor Death and Hell, so abhor the least Sin; because it hath a Plot upon us in subserviency to greater Sins, that without infinite Mercy, will certainly bring to, and terminate in Death and Hell.

:104p. 78–80

¹Sixthly, Consider that those Sins that we commonly call the least, are indeed the greatest and vilest Provocations. Some Sins are Sins of greater Infamy and Scandal; other Sins are Sins of greater Guilt and Sinfulness, rude and blustering Sins. Those Sins that are of greater Infamy, are such as make him that commits them, a scandalous person; and these are

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