A62053:554
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission wherein is discovered, the nature, causes, and cure of those sins / by Geo. Swinnock.
London: printed for Geo. Swinnock, 1675
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 44: Another cause of Omissions, is vain excuses men have, that Omissions are little sins, w…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. These little sins (if they be so) will make way for greater. Little wedges open the way in the most knotty wood for bigger. As Thieves, when they go to rob an House, if they cannot force open the doors, or break through the Walls, let in a little Boy at the window, who unbolts and unlocks the door, and so lets in the whole Rabble. Thus the Devil, when men startle at greater sins, and by them he hath no hopes to get possession of their Souls, he puts them upon those sins which they think little, and by these insensibly enters; for they once admitted, open the doors of the Eyes, of the Ears, and of the Heart too, whereby the whole Legion enter, and rule and domineer in their Souls to their ruin. Men do not, indeed they cannot imagine the woeful consequences of neglecting their watch against the least Sin. How many who have been so modest and maidenly at ⟨p. 427⟩first, that they would not so much as give a lascivious person the hearing, when he hath spoken wantonly; yet by giving way to their own foolish thoughts, have at last prostituted themselves to their pleasure without any shame. Sinners increase to more ungodliness, when they once venture down hill, they know not where nor when to stop. Work-men bore holes with little Wimbles, which make way for the driving of great Nails.
2. These little sins (if they be so) will make way for greater. Little wedges open the way in the most knotty wood for bigger. As Thieves, when they go to rob an House, if they cannot force open the doors, or break through the Walls, let in a little Boy at the window, who unbolts and unlocks the door, and so lets in the whole Rabble. Thus the Devil, when men startle at greater sins, and by them he hath no hopes to get possession of their Souls, he puts them upon those sins which they think little, and by these insensibly enters; for they once admitted, open the doors of the Eyes, of the Ears, and of the Heart too, whereby the whole Legion enter, and rule and domineer in their Souls to their ruine. Men do not, indeed they cannot imagine the woful consequences of neglecting their watch against the least Sin. How many who have been so modest and maidenly at ⟨p. 427⟩first, that they would not so much as give a lascivious person the hearing, when he hath spoken wantonly; yet by giving way to their own foolish thoughts, have at last prostituted themselves to their pleasure without any shame. Sinners increase to more ungodliness, when they once venture down hill, they know not where nor when to stop. Work-men bore holes with little Wimbles, which make way for the driving of great Nails.