A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

why, what is it that makes the Swearer open his Throat as wide as Hell against Heaven and God himself, but only that he fancies that a big, full-Mouthed Oath makes his Speech more graceful and stately? And what is it that makes the Company-keeper run into all Excess with Riot, and to drown himself in all Sensuality, but only that he may comply with his Debauched Companions, and not disgust them by any singularity and reservedness? And ⟨p. 180⟩can these things be called Temptations? Are these things matters of such weight, as deserve to be put in the Balance against the Soul's Eternal Happiness and Glory? Is it possible that Men that have Noble and Immortal Souls in them, should ever so far debase them, as to bring them into competition with, nay to make them to be the Price of such Vile Nothings as these are? And yet tell these Men that they hereby rouse up God's Wrath against them that burns to the lowest Hell; tell them that they destroy their precious Souls; tell them that they get nothing by such sins as these are, unless they reckon Damnation for Gain: Why, yet let God frown, and Hell triumph, and their Souls perish, they will on, and will not raise the Rate of sinning, nor put the Devil to more charges, and so they are Damned for nothing. Is not this most desperate boldness and presumption? And therefore do not lay the blame of your sins upon the violence of Temptation, or upon the restless importunities of the Devil; when God shall at the last Day call, Sinner stand forth, what's the reason you committed such and such Sins ⟨p. 181⟩that had nothing in them to commend them, That left nothing after them but Shame without, and Terrors within? will you then plead as now usually you do, that Temptations were too hard for you, and the Devil too strong for you to resist? No, no it will then be made apparent, that the Devil was falsely charged with multitudes of Sins that he never knew of till they were committed: And therefore when Men sin upon slight Temptations, it is not from the power of Temptations, it is not from the importunity of the Devil that they sin, but only from a presumptuous resolution, that they will sin whatever it cost them, and that's the first Trial.

why, what is it that makes the Swearer open his Throat as wide as Hell against Heaven and God himself, but only that he fansies that a big, full-Mouth'd Oath makes his Speech more graceful and stately? And what is it that makes the Company-keeper run into all Excess with Riot, and to drown himself in all Sensuality, but only that he may comply with his Debauched Companions, and not disgust them by any singularity and reservedness? And