1. From God. Sin not; why? because it is an offence to God. Consider how contrary sin is to all the persons in the Trinity. To God the Father as a Lawgiver, being a contempt of his Authority. 1 Joh. 3. 4. Sin is [Greek or Hebrew], a transgression of the Law, that is, an act of disloyalty and rebellion against the Crown of Heaven. Open sin doth as it were proclaim rebellion and war against God; and privy sin is conspiracy against him. All creatures have a Law, Psal. 148. 6. Thou hast set to them a Decree, beyond which they cannot pass. And they are less exorbitant in their motions than we are. It is a greater violation to the Law of Nature for man to sin, than for the Sea to break its bounds. The Creatures have not sense and reason, yet they do not pass beyond the Law which God hath set them. This should prevail with the new creature especially, whose hearts God hath suited to the Law; so that they offer a violence to their own conscience. Take heed of entering into the lists with God, of despising his Authority. Every sin that is committed, slights the Law which forbids it, 2 Sam. 12. 9. Wherefore despisest thou his commandments? God stands much upon his Law, one tittle shall not pass away; and you despise it, go about to make it void, when you give way to sin. Nay, it is an abuse of his Love, 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath showed us; you are children and sons of God, and will you slight his love? Your sins are like Absaloms treason against his Father. The Rechabites are commended for keeping their Fathers command, Jer. 35. Set pots before them, &c. no, our Father hath forbidden us to drink wine. Their Fathers were dead, but ours is living; will you that are sons, renounce God, and side with the Devils party, and commit sin? you to whom the Father hath showed such love, that you should be called his children? Then 'tis a wrong to Jesus Christ, to his Merit, to his Example. To his Merit. Christ came to take away sin; and will you bind those cords the faster which Christ came to loosen? Then you go about to defeat the purpose of his death, and put your Redeemer to shame. You seek to ⟨p. 21⟩make void the great end for which Christ came, which was to dissolve sin. And besides, you disparage the worth of the price he paid down; you make the blood of Christ a cheap thing, when you despise grace and holiness;
1. From God. Sin not; why? because it is an offence to God. Consider how contrary sin is to all the persons in the Trinity. To God the Father as a Lawgiver, being a contempt of his Authority. 1 Ioh. 3. 4. Sin is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a transgression of the Law, that is, an act of disloyalty and rebellion against the Crown of Heaven. Open sin doth as it were proclaim rebellion and war against God; and privy sin is conspiracy against him. All creatures have a Law, Psal. 148. 6. Thou hast set to them a Decree, beyond which they cannot pass. And they are less exorbitant in their motions than we are. It is a greater violation to the Law of Nature for man to sin, than for the Sea to break its bounds. The Creatures have not sense and reason, yet they do not pass beyond the Law which God hath set them. This should prevail with the new creature especially, whose hearts God hath suited to the Law; so that they offer a violence to their own conscience. Take heed of entring into the lists with God, of despising his Authority. Every sin that is committed, slights the Law which forbids it, 2 Sam. 12. 9. Wherefore despisest thou his commandments? God stands much upon his Law, one tittle shall not pass away; and you despise it, go about to make it void, when you give way to sin. Nay, it is an abuse of his Love, 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath shewed us; you are children and sons of God, and will you slight his love? Your sins are like Absoloms treason against his Father. The Rechabites are commended for keeping their Fathers command, Ier. 35. Set pots before them, &c. no, our Father hath forbidden us to drink wine. Their Fathers were dead, but ours is living; will you that are sons, renounce God, and side with the Devils party, and commit sin? you to whom the Father hath shewed such love, that you should be called his children? Then 'tis a wrong to Iesus Christ, to his Merit, to his Example. To his Merit. Christ came to take away sin; and will you bind those cords the faster which Christ came to loosen? Then you go about to defeat the purpose of his death, and put your Redeemer to shame. You seek to ⟨p. 21⟩make void the great end for which Christ came, which was to dissolve sin. And besides, you disparage the worth of the price he paid down; you make the blood of Christ a cheap thing, when you despise grace and holiness;
