A44439:292
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures by Ezekiel Hopkins ...
London: printed by E.H. for Nathanael Ranew, 1693
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 4: The Nature, Danger, Aggravations, and Cure of Presumptuous Sinning, &c. ON
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.
Doct. That it is not a Christians own, but God's Power only that can preserve him from the Commission of the most daring and presumptuous Sins. 1And yet truly, if any Sins are easy to be resisted and overcome, they are the Sins of the grosser sort; for many times it is with Sins, as with over-grown Bodies; the vaster the Bulk of them is, the less is their force and activity. The Soul hath great advantage ⟨p. 247⟩to lay hold on great Sins, and to keep them off at Arms length, when less Sins flip in, and seize upon the heart unperceivably.
Doct. That it is not a Christians own, but God's Power only that can preserve him from the Commission of the most daring and presumptuous Sins. 1And yet truly, if any Sins are easie to be resisted and overcome, they are the Sins of the grosser sort; for many times it is with Sins, as with over-grown Bodies; the vaster the Bulk of them is, the less is their force and activity. The Soul hath great advantage ⟨p. 247⟩to lay hold on great Sins, and to keep them off at Arms length, when less Sins flip in, and seize upon the heart unperceivably.
- 1Advantages that men have to keep themselves from presumptuous Sins.
For, First,1 Great and presumptuous Sins seldom make an assault upon the Soul but they give warning before-hand to prepare for resistance. The Stratagems of War, if they are but discovered, they usually prove unsuccessful; as strong Liquors taking vent, lose their strength and spirits; so is it in this holy War also; the Soul may easily foresee gross Sins, and therefore may more easily avoid them: If a Man feels in himself sinful Thoughts stirring, and sinful Desires struggling, hereupon an Assault is made, and the Devil hereby gives us warning what Sins we should especially watch against. Are they lascivious Thoughts? Beware of Uncleanness. Are they wrathful Thoughts? Beware of Murder. Are they murmuring thoughts? Beware of Blasphemy. Are they worldly Thoughts and Desires? Beware of Oppression and Injustice. Thus these Giant-like Sins stand forth in view, and send open defiance to the Soul, and bid