1. All the Commandments must be taken notice of, small and great. 1. Small, we cannot dispense with our selves in the least: Mat. 5. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. We are apt to say it is but a little one, and my soul shall live. No sin can be little that is committed against the great God. It argueth the more wickedness and corruption to break with God upon every trifling occasion. A little force will make an heavy body move downward. As small so great. The Ceremonialist is apt to stand much upon lesser things: Joh. 18. 28. the Jews would not enter into the Judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled, yet they sought the life of the Lord of Glory. Hypocrites make a great business about small matters, and in the mean time reject weighty duties, [Greek or Hebrew], Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Like one that cometh into a Shop to buy a pennyworth and steals a pound's worth, or is punctual in paying a small debt that he may get deeper into our Books, and cheat us of a greater sum, comply in circumstances and terms, which yet have their place, but make no conscience of greater.
1. All the Commandments must be taken notice of, small and great. 1. Small, we cannot dispense with our selves in the least: Mat. 5. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. We are apt to say it is but a little one, and my soul shall live. No sin can be little that is committed against the great God. It argueth the more wickedness and corruption to break with God upon every trifling occasion. A little force will make an heavy body move downward. As small so great. The Ceremonialist is apt to stand much upon lesser things: Ioh. 18. 28. the Iews would not enter into the Judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled, yet they sought the life of the Lord of Glory. Hypocrites make a great business about small matters, and in the mean time reject weighty duties, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tythe of mint, and annise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Like one that cometh into a Shop to buy a penniworth and steals a poundsworth, or is punctual in paying a small debt that he may get deeper into our Books, and cheat us of a greater sum, comply in circumstances and terms, which yet have their place, but make no conscience of greater.
