A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

¹First, Therefore the great evil and danger that there is in little Sins appears in this, that the least Sin is a most high Affront and Provocation of the Great God. An Infinite Holiness is opposed, and an Infinite Justice is incensed by them. Though I am not of the Opinion of the Stoic Philosophers, that all Vices are equally heinous; yet this I account certain, that there is in the least Sin as flat a repugnancy and contradiction to the Holy Will of God as in the greatest. Hath not God forbidden vain Thoughts and idle Words, as strictly as he hath forbidden Murder, Adultery, Blasphemy, and Hatred of himself, with all those abominable Sins that defile the mouths of those that name them? And is it not as much his Will that he should be obeyed in those Commands, as in these? Have you any more Dispensation in the Scripture to speak an idle Word, than you have to blaspheme the Name of God? Have you any more liberty allowed you to swear little Oaths, than you have to swear and ban by whatsoever is sacred and holy in Heaven, or dreadful in Hell? Or to take the reverend Name of God in ⟨p. 53⟩vain, more than to curse him to his very Face? Are you more permitted to think evil against your Neighbour, than you are to murder him? No certainly; there are no such Dispensations can ever be found in the Word of God; and I assure you, God will never dispense with any Sin farther than he hath revealed; and why then will you dare to dispense with your selves more in little Sins than in great Sins? Oh, our Consciences will never bear with any patience those great and crying Sins: Will they not? and do you think that God's Holiness will bear with your little Sins? Believe it, these little Sins do arm God's terrible Power and Vengeance against you And as a Page may carry the Sword of a great Warrior after him, so your little Sins do, as it were, bear the Sword of God's Justice, and put it into his hands against you. And woe unto us if the holy and jealous God deal in fury with us for our small Provocations.

¹First, Therefore the great evil and danger that there is in little Sins appears in this, that the least Sin is a most high Affront and Provocation of the Great God. An Infinite Holiness is opposed, and an Infinite Justice is incensed by them. Though I am not of the Opinion of the Stoick Philosophers, that all Vices are equally hainous; yet this I account certain, that there is in the least Sin as flat a repugnancy and contradiction to the Holy Will of God as in the greatest. Hath not God forbidden vain Thoughts and idle Words, as strictly as he hath forbidden Murder, Adultery, Blasphemy, and Hatred of himself, with all those abominable Sins that defile the mouths of those that name them? And is it not as much his Will that he should be obey'd in those Commands, as in these? Have you any more Dispensation in the Scripture to speak an idle Word, than you have to blaspheme the Name of God? Have you any more liberty allow'd you to swear little Oaths, than you have to swear and ban by whatsoever is sacred and holy in Heaven, or dreadful in Hell? Or to take the reverend Name of God in