A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Obs. 4. It is not enough to renounce one Sin, but we must renounce all. For when the Apostle speaks of denying Ungodliness, he intends all Ungodliness: Compare this with 1 Pet. 2.1. Wherefore laying aside all Malice, and all Guile and Hypocrisies; and Jam. 1.21. Wherefore lay apart all Filthiness, and superfluity of Naughtiness. All Sins must be renounced, little Sins and great Sins. Great Sins, as Adultery, Drunkenness, and the like, are manifest, Gal. 5.19. that is, Nature doth abhor them, they stink and smell rank in Nature's Nostrils, even to a natural Conscience. Then for little Sins; Matth. 5.19. Whosoever shall break one of these least Commandments, and teach Men so to do, shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is spoken of Ministers principally, whoever shall give licence by the Gospel to the least Sin, either break it himself, or teach Men so to do, shall have no place, no room among Gospel-Ministers. No Sin can be little that is committed against the great God. Sins are not to be measured by the smallness of the Occasion, or by the suddenness of the Act, but by the Offence done to God, to an Infinite Majesty. The less the Sin, the greater many times it is. It argues much Malice to break with God upon every slight Occasion; there is more unkindness in it, and the more contempt of God; and it argues the greater depravation of Nature. As a little Weight will make a Stone move downward, because of its natural Inclination; so it is a sign we have an inclination that way, when a small Matter can draw us from God. Again, secret Sins must be eschewed, as well as Public; Isa. 55.7. Let the Wicked forsake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts; the Thought as well as the Way is to be forsaken. By Way is meant his outward course of Life, by his Thoughts is meant the hidden workings of his Spirit. Nothing more transient and sudden than the Thought; therefore as we must not do Evil before Men, so we must not think Evil before God. God seeth the Thought, as well as Man the Actions, and infinitely more: The Thoughts are visible to him, and these fall under a Law as well as our Actions. Again, Sins of Temper, to which we are more incident, as well as other Sins to which we have less inclination, they must be mortified.