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

I might give you several Reasons; one Sin is contrary to God as well as another. There's the same aversion from an eternal Good in all things, though the manner of Conversion to the Creature be different. Again, one Sin is contrary to the Law of God as well as another; there's a contempt of the same Authority in all Sins. God's Command binds, and it is of force in lesser Sins as well as greater; and therefore they that bear any respect to the Law of God, must hate all Sin. Psal. 119.113. I hate vain Thoughts; but thy Law do I love. God hath given a Law to the Thoughts, to the sudden workings of the Spirit, as well as to Actions that are more deliberate: and therefore if we love the Law, we should hate every lesser Contrariety to it, even a vain Thought. And all Sin proceedeth from the same Corruption; therefore if we would subdue and mortify it, we must renounce all Sin. He that hateth any Sin as Sin, hates all Sin; for there's the same reason to hate every Sin. Hatred (Philosophers say) is to the whole Kind. A Man that hates a Toad as a Toad, hates every one of the Kind; with the same kind of hatred must we hate every Sin. Again, one Sin let alone is very dangerous. One Leak in a Ship, if unstopped and neglected, may endanger the Vessel. One Sin let alone, and allowed and indulged, may quite ruin the Soul. A little Leaven leaveneth the whole Lump. A Man may ride right for a long time, but one turn in the end of his Journey brings him quite out of the way. If you do many things, yet if you commit any Sin with leave and licence from Conscience, you are guilty of all Sin: James 1.10. Whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one Point, he is guilty of all: As one condition not observed, forfeits the whole Lease. There is an Indenture drawn between us and God, and every Article of this Covenant must be observed. If we willingly give way and allowance to the least Breach, we forfeit all the Grace of the Covenant.

Use 1. Direction what to do in the Business of Mortification. We must deny all Ungodliness, not a Hoof must be left in Egypt. Grace will not stand with any allowed Sin; and in demolishing the old Building, not one Stone must be left upon another.