A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Use 2 Secondly, Another use we may make of this Doctrine is this; Is there so great an Evil and Danger in little Sins? Then here behold a woeful Ship-wrack of all the Hopes, and of all the Confidences of Formalists and Self-Justitiaries, that hope to appear before God upon the account of their own Innocency and Harmlessness. Hence learn that a quiet, civil, honest Life, free from gross and scandalous Impieties is no good Plea or Title for Heaven; yet truly this is that alone that the generality, especially of the Ignorant rely upon, their Lives are harmless their Dealings upright, none can justly challenge them that they have done them any wrong; were they presently to appear before God's Judgment-seat, they know nothing by themselves that deserves Eternal Death; therefore if God save any Persons in the World, sure they are in the number of them. But is it so indeed? What do you know nothing by your selves? Had you never so much as a Thought in you that stepped awry? Did you never lodge a Thought in you that had in it the least Vanity, Impertinency, or Frivolousness? Have you never uttered a Word that did so much ⟨p. 89⟩as lisp against the Holy Law of God? Will you dare to tell God you never yet flid an Action that Innocency it self would be ashamed to own? Have your Lives in every part been as strict and holy as the Law of God commands them to be? if not, it is in vain to plead for Heaven that your Conversations have been honest, civil and harmless, or that you have been Religious, and maintained a constant Course of holy Duties and good Works. I would not here be mistaken by any as if I were preaching against Morality, or condemning Civility and common Honesty. No, by no means, they are excellent things, and the practice of them very commendable; and I heartily wish there were more of them to be found in the Lives of those that call themselves Christians: But if this be all you can say for your selves, believe it the guilt but of one of your least Sins will out-weigh all these; and you, and all this your Righteousness must sink down together into Hell. If this be all Men have to plead for Happiness, a civil, fair, and honest Conversation: This may be; and yet Men may indulge themselves in little Sins, ⟨p. 90⟩which will most certainly ruin and destroy them.

Ʋse 2 Secondly, Another use we may make of this Doctrine is this; Is there so great an Evil and Danger in little Sins? Then here behold a woful Ship-wrack of all the Hopes, and of all the Confidences of Formalists and Self-Justitiaries, that hope to appear before God upon the account of their own Innocency and Harmlesness. Hence learn that a quiet, civil, honest Life, free from gross and scandalous Impieties is no good Plea or Title for Heaven; yet truly this is that alone that the generality, especially of the Ignorant relie upon, their Lives are harmless their Dealings upright, none can justly challenge them that they have done them any wrong; were they presently to appear before God's Judgment-seat, they know nothing by themselves that deserves Eternal Death; therefore if God save any Persons in the World, sure they are in the number of them. But is it so indeed? What do you know nothing by your selves? Had you never so much as a Thought in you that stept awry? Did you never lodge a Thought in you that had in it the least Vanity, Impertinency, or Frivolousness? Have you never uttered a Word that did so much