A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly,¹ By sinning against our Consciences, and against our Convictions, we make it very evident that we stand in no awe or dread of any such thing as Hell and eternal Damnation is, and is not that Boldness? Is not that Presumption? You scorn possibly to be such puling, whimpering Sinners as to be affrighted with such Bug-bears as everlasting Torments, and everlasting Wrath and Vengeance is; you know the Wages of Sin is Death, and that the Ways you take, lead down to the Chambers of Destruction; and yet though God and Devil stand in the way you will through: Are not these, think you, bold and presumptuous Sinners, that will go on in Sin, though Hell-Fire flashes in their Faces, who, though God should cleave the Ground upon which they walk, and through that Chink should give them a view of Hell; though they should see the Damned tumbling up and down in those Torments, and hear their Yellings and Shriekings, and Roarings; yea, though God should point them out a place in Hell, and tell them, Look, Sinner, yonder is a Place kept void, and heated from the beginning of the World for thee; ⟨p. 164⟩yet are there some such bold and daring Wretches, that they would out-brave all this, and they would sin in despite either of Heaven or Hell; yea, and which is a most sad and dreadful consideration, some there are whose Consciences are already brim-full of extreme horror and anguish, and yet they will venture upon those Sins that have caused that horror, and are not such presumptuous Sinners, they give their Consciences wound upon wound, and though sometimes they roar bitterly, yet they will sin outrageously, even then when they roar and smart for Sin: So that this is a clear evidence of a presumptuous Sin, when a Sin is committed against a Man's own Conscience, against Knowledge, & against Conviction; this makes a Sin to be a presumptuous Sin, when Conscience cries out Murder, Murder, Soul-Murder; when it beseeches with Tears of Blood that they draw from it, to desist from their Sins, and yet is not heard nor regarded; this is presumptuous sinning, sinning with a high hand, and with a brazen Forehead.

Secondly,¹ By sinning against our Consciences, and against our Convictions, we make it very evident that we stand in no awe or dread of any such thing as Hell and eternal Damnation is, and is not that Boldness? Is not that Presumption? You scorn possibly to be such puling, whimpering Sinners as to be affrighted with such Bug-bears as everlasting Torments, and everlasting Wrath and Vengeance is; you know the Wages of Sin is Death, and that the Ways you take, lead down to the Chambers of Destruction; and yet though God and Devil stand in the way you will through: Are not these, think you, bold and presumptuous Sinners, that will go on in Sin, though Hell-Fire flashes in their Faces, who, though God should cleave the Ground upon which they walk, and through that Chink should give them a view of Hell; though they should see the Damned tumbling up and down in those Torments, and hear their Yellings and Shriekings, and Roarings; yea, though God should point them out a place in Hell, and tell them, Look, Sinner, yonder is a Place kept void, and heated from the beginning of the World for thee;