And this one thing keeps many thousands off from matching, that they think their debts are paid, that they are in good estate, and they think that they are under covert. But to answer it in a word, I wish thee to consider those plain places of Scripture, Gal. 5. 24. Whosoever is in Christ, hath crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts: and that in 2 Cor. 5. 17. Whosoever is in Christ 1is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things 2are become new: and that Jam. 2. 10. If a man fail 3but in one point, (willingly and constantly) he is guilty of the breach of the whole law: in Ezech. 18. 410, &c. The new translation doth not so well express it as the old; If he beget a Son, if he do any of these things, though not all, if he beget a Son that is atheist, or a shedder of blood, if he do one of these things, if not all, but either he eat upon the mountains, or have defiled his neighbours wife, or have oppressed the poor, &c. if he have done but one of these, he shall dye the death, his blood shall be upon his head. Not to name more; I say, out of this I gather, 5that he that allows himself in the least sin, he that respects not all the Commandments, and ⟨p. 56⟩the least small particle in them, that man is not yet matched with the Lord Jesus, and therefore do not deceive your selves with vain words, to think that these excluding signs, and marks, and rules that we give, are inventions of our own, that we are too strict beyond our Commission. Beloved, this plain Word by which you shall be judged at the last day, makes it plain to you, that except there be such a general reformation, except you be new in all points, except all your lusts be crucified, except you respect all the Commandments, and every particle thereof, unless that there be a general sincerity, certainly you are excluded. Therefore I say, take all these together, that though thou be quiet for a while, and free from the arrest, that yet thou art not out of danger, thy sin is but laid asleep, &c. I say, if a man do but seriously consider with himself, if he sit down, but one half hour, and consider what the shortness of his life is, what his danger is, and think there is another place that he must live in, for eternity, and then consider this, I may be surprised on the sudden, as the foolish Virgins;
And this one thing keepes many thousands off from matching, that they thinke their debts are paid, that they are in good estate, and they thinke that they are under covert. But to answer it in a word, I wish thee to consider those plaine places of Scripture, Gal. 5. 24. Whosoever is in Christ, hath crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts: and that in 2 Cor. 5. 17. Whosoever is in Christ 1is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things 2are become new: and that Iam. 2. 10. If a man faile 3but in one point, (willingly and constantly) hee is guilty of the breach of the whole law: in Ezech. 18. 410, &c. The new translation doth not so well expresse it as the old; If hee beget a Sonne, if hee doe any of these things, though not all, if hee beget a Sonne that is atheife, or a shedder of bloud, if hee doe one of these things, if not all, but either hee eate upon the mountaines, or have defiled his neighbours wife, or have oppressed the poore, &c. if he have done but one of these, hee shall dye the death, his bloud shall be upon his head. Not to name more; I say, out of this I gather, 5that he that allowes himselfe in the least sin, he that respects not all the Commandements, and ⟨p. 56⟩the least small particle in them, that man is not yet matched with the Lord Iesus, and therefore doe not deceive your selves with vaine words, to thinke that these excluding signes, and markes, and rules that wee give, are inventions of our owne, that wee are too strict beyond our Commission. Beloved, this plaine Word by which you shall bee judged at the last day, makes it plaine to you, that except there be such a generall reformation, except you be new in all poynts, except all your lusts be crucified, except you respect all the Commandements, and every particle thereof, unlesse that there be a generall sincerity, certainely you are excluded. Therefore I say, take all these together, that though thou be quiet for a while, and free from the arrest, that yet thou art not out of danger, thy sinne is but laid asleep, &c. I say, if a man doe but seriously consider with himselfe, if hee sit downe, but one halfe houre, and consider what the shortnesse of his life is, what his danger is, and think there is another place that he must live in, for eternity, and then consider this, I may be surprized on the suddaine, as the foolish Virgins;
- 1Gal. 5. 24
- 22. Cor. 5. 17.
- 3Jam. 2. 10Iam. 2. 10
- 4Ezek. 18. 10
- 5He that allows himself in the least sin, is not matched to ChristHe that allowes himselfe in the least sin, is not matched to Christ
