Sin, the Plague of Plagues

But yet for all this, men are loth to believe this, which (say they) crosseth Scripture expression and their experience: the Scripture mentions the pleasures of sin, Heb. 11.25. and we find the pleasure on't. Thus men are apt to plead for sin, and be its Advocate, and can hug any Scripture that doth but speak of (though it disown and disallow) any such thing as sinful pleasures: As to that misunderstood Text, let me say this, that Moses cannot be charged with any sin from whence he drew pleasure, and therefore by the pleasures of sin are not meant such as slow from, but such as lead unto sin; he declined the pleasures which would have inclined him to sin. Pleasures are allurements and baits to draw to sin, as it was to Eve, the Tree was pleasant to the eyes, and inviting; but the taste and digestion found no pleasure, but bitterness from the fruit: thus Moses lived where pleasures were, and such as tended or were abused to sin, yea, such as he could not have enjoyed without committing the great sin (which the Egyptians did) viz. afflicting the people of God, and being cruel to them, instead of delivering them. So that this Scripture speaks nothing in favour of sin, or that there are any pleasures to be had by or from it.

Yet if we should take the Text as interpreted by them, all that can be said of it, is but this, that it speaks as they think, not that there are (but there are thought to be) pleasures of sin. 'Tis an ordinary thing for the Scripture to speak of such a thing, as if it were, and to say it is, which is but supposed to be by others. As for instance, ⟨p. 254⟩1 Cor. 8.4-6. there are Gods many, and Lords many, not that really there was any such, but by others they were reckoned such: So in this Text he speaks (after the manner of men) concerning the pleasures of sin, as they are reputed; and this is confirmed by a passage of the Apostle,