A Body of Practical Divinity

1. Consider, What is there in Sin, that you should continue in the Practice of it? It is the accursed thing, Josh. 7.11. It is the Spirits of Mischief distilled. (1.) It defiles the Souls Glory; it is like a Stain to Beauty: 'Tis compared to a Plague-Sore, 1 King 8.38. Nothing so changeth ones Glory into Shame as Sin. (2.) Without Repentance Sin tends to final Damnation. Peccatum transit actu manet reatu—Sin at first shows its Colour in the Glass, but afterwards it bites like a Serpent. Those Locusts, Rev. 9.7. were an Emblem of sin, On their Heads were Crowns like Gold, and they had Hair as the Hair of Women, and their Teeth were as the Teeth of Lions, and there were Stings in their Tails. Sin unrepented of ends in a Tragedy. Sin hath the Devil for its Father, Shame for its Companion, and Death for its Wages, Rom. 6.23. What is there in sin then, that Men should continue in it? Say not it is sweet: Who would desire that Pleasure which kills?

1. Consider, What is there in Sin, that you should continue in the Practice of it? It is the accursed thing, Iosh. 7.11. It is the Spirits of Mischief distilled. (1.) It defiles the Souls Glory; it is like a Stain to Beauty: 'Tis compar'd to a Plague-Sore, 1 King 8.38. Nothing so changeth ones Glory into Shame as Sin. (2.) Without Repentance Sin tends to final Damnation. Peccatum transit actu manet reatu—Sin at first shows its Colour in the Glass, but afterwards it bites like a Serpent. Those Locusts, Rev. 9.7. were an Emblem of sin, On their Heads were Crowns like Gold, and they had Hair as the Hair of Women, and their Teeth were as the Teeth of Lions, and there were Stings in their Tails. Sin unrepented of ends in a Tragedy. Sin hath the Devil for its Father, Shame for its Companion, and Death for its Wages, Rom. 6.23. What is there in sin then, that Men should continue in it? Say not it is sweet: Who would desire that Pleasure which kills?