Sin, the Plague of Plagues

4. It lives in its effects when we are dead and gone; for it follows us to our grave, and there it rots our bodies; when it can no longer reach ⟨p. 204⟩our souls to make them vile, it yet forbears not to make our bodies putrid and vile. He that sinned not saw no corruption, but we that sinned do, and stink within a few days, as Lazarus did. Oh sinful and infectious sin!

Thus far of the names of sin, and how they witness against sin; there remains only one thing more to witness against it, and that is the second thing I mentioned as to sin witnessing against it self. Viz.

2. The Arts or Artifices that sin useth to disguise it self: if sin were not an ugly thing, would it wear a visor? or if it had not evil designs, would it walk disguised and change its name? truth is not ashamed of its name or nakedness, it can walk openly and boldly; but sin is a cheat, a lye, and therefore lurks privily, and puts on false names and colours; for if it should appear like it self (as it sooner or later will to all, for conversion or confusion) it would fright men into dying fits, as it did the Apostle, and when they come to themselves, engage men to abhor and hate it, as he and the Prodigal did. Men would never be so hardy as they are to sin, but that sin hardens them, and hardens them by deceiving them, as the Apostle speaks, Heb. 3.13. take heed lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin: Sin useth all manner of Arts, Methods, and Devices (as Satan doth) to draw us in, to inveigle us; it puts many tricks upon us, and hath all the faculties and knacks of deceiving and cheating us. I may truly say, that sin hath not learnt, but taught all the deceits, the dissimulations, flatteries, and false policies