One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

3. Conatu: In endeavour. We must keep all, Conatu, licet non eventu, it is our labour, though not our success. Those that dispense with any Commandment voluntarily and willingly, have never yet learned the way of true obedience to God: 2 King. 5. 17, 18. In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the House of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow my self in the house of Rimmon: When I bow my self in the House of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing. This is to set up a toleration in our hearts, and to make Satan some allowance, to part stakes between God and the Devil. There is something wherein we would be excused, and expect favour in fashions, customs, ways of profit and advantage. The endeavour must be to keep all, though the success be not answerable. A Mariner that is beaten back by the winds, yet proveth to hold on his course to make his Port. A man that would sit warm shutteth the door and windows, yet the wind will creep in, though he doth not leave any open passage for it.

Now the Reasons why we are to have respect to all the Commandments are these following:

1. Because they are all ratified by the same Authority: There is a connection between them, as there is between links in a chain, take away one and all falleth to pieces: Jam. 2. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. The authority of the Law is lost if men may pick and choose as they please: He that said, Thou shalt do no murder, hath also said, Thou shalt keep my Sabbaths. A quatenus ad omne, the argument holds. Do one thing as a duty, and that will enforce the practice of all duties that we are convinced of: