The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

As unto the first of these, there are three false Notions, whereby the Deceitfulness of Sin, deludes the Souls of Men.

The First is, that it is that one Sin alone wherein they would be indulged. Let them be spared in this one thing, and in all other they will be exact enough. This is the Composition that Naaman would have made in the Matters of Religion, 2 Kings 5.18. And it is that which many trust unto. Hence it hath by the Event been made to appear, that some Persons have lived long in the Practice of some gross Sins, and yet all the while used a Semblance of great diligence in other Duties of Religion. This is a false Notion whereby poor Sinners delude their own Souls. For suppose it possible that a man should give himself up unto any Lust, or be under the Power of it, and yet be observant of all other Duties, yet this would give him no Relief as unto the Eternal Condition of his Soul. The Rule is peremptory unto this purpose, Jam. 2.10, 11. One Sin willingly ⟨p. 281⟩lived in, is as able to destroy a Mans Soul, as a thousand. Besides, it is practically false. There is no man that lives in any one known Sin, but he really lives in more, though that only bears the chiefest Sway. With some such Persons, these Sins appear unto others, who observe their Frame and Spirit, though they appear not to themselves; In some they are manifest in themselves, although they are hidden from others, 1 Tim. 5.24. But let no man relieve himself with thoughts that it is but one Sin, whilst that one Sin keeps him in a constant Neglect of God. Hence,

The First is, that it is that one Sin alone wherein they would be indulged. Let them be spared in this one thing, and in all other they will be exact enough. This is the Composition that Naaman would have made in the Matters of Religion,