A Body of Practical Divinity

2. When a Man lives in the same Sins which he condemns in others. Rom. 2.1. Thou that judgest another dost the same things. As Austin saith of Seneca, He wrote against Superstitions, yet he worshipped those Images which he reproved. One Man condemns another for rash censuring, yet lives in the same Sin himself. A Master reproves his Apprentice for Swearing, yet he himself Swears. The Snuffers of the Tabernacle were of pure Gold. They who reprove and snuff the Vices of others, had need themselves to be free from those Sins. The Snuffers must be of Gold.

3. When a Man sins after Vow. Psal. 56.12. Thy Vows, O God, are upon me. A Vow is a Religious Promise made to God to dedicate our selves to him. A Vow is not only a Purpose, but a Promise. Every Votary makes himself a Debtor, he binds himself to God in a solemn manner. Now to Sin after Vow, to vow himself to God, and give his Soul to the Devil, must needs be against the highest Convictions.

4. When a Man sins after Counsels, Admonitions, Warnings, he cannot plead Ignorance: The Trumpet of the Gospel hath been blown in his Ears, and sounded a Retreat to call him off from his Sins; he hath been told of his Injustice, living in Malice, keeping bad Company, yet he would venture upon Sin. This is to sin against Conviction; it aggravates the Sin, and is like a Weight put in the Scale, to make his Sin weigh the heavier. If a Sea-mark be set up to give Warning that there are Shelves and Rocks in that place, yet if the Mariner will fail there, and split his Ship, it is Presumption; and if he be cast away, who will pity him?