A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

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 ⟨p. 79⟩commonly reputed great and crying Sins by the World. If a Man be a Swearer, or a Drunkard, a Whoremonger, or an Adulterer, or a Murderer; These Sins make a Man a Scorn and a Reproach to all that pretend to Civility. But now there are other Sins that are inward and spiritual Sins, that are indeed more sinful, though less scandalous; such as Unbelief, Hypocrisy, Hardness of Heart, Slighting and Rejecting of Christ, Resisting the Holy Ghost, and the like. Now herein lies the great mistake of the World in estimating of Sin: At the naming of the former, we are ready to tremble, and so indeed we ought; and not only so, but we ought to shun and avoid those that are guilty of them, as Monsters of Men. But now we have no such abhorrency against the latter; if the Life be free from gross Enormities, we look upon Unbelief and Impenitency but as small and trivial sins. Now those Sins that we thus slight, are incomparably the greatest and the vilest Sins. Murder, Adultery, Blasphemy, and the rest of those crying Impieties, could not damn the Soul, were it not for Unbelief and Impenitency: It is not the Swearer, ⟨p. 80⟩or the Drunkard that perish; but it is the Unbeliever: He that believes not is condemned already, John 3.18. And so hating of God, and a secret scorning and despising of Holiness, and the Ways of God; these are Sins that do not defile and pollute the outward Man; and many doubtless are guilty of them, that are of a fair and civil Life and Conversation; and yet these are Sins that may out-vie with the most horrid Sins for the hottest and lowest place in Hell. We see then what small heed is to be given to the Judgment of the World concerning small Sins: Those that the World counts little Sins, may be great and heinous in the sight of God; for God judgeth not as Man judgeth; he is a Spirit, and therefore spiritual Sins and Provocations, such as Inordinacy in the Thoughts, Desires and Affections, these are Sins possibly that are more heinous in God's Sight, than more carnal and grosser Sins are.