A Body of Practical Divinity

4. Sin is an act of disingenuity and unkindness; God feeds the sinner, keeps off evils from him, be miracles him with Mercy, but the sinner not only forgets God's Mercies, but abuseth them: he is the worse for Mercy; like Absalom, who as soon as David had kissed him, and took him into favour, plotted Treason against him, 2 Sam. 15.10. Like the Mule, who kicks the Damn after she hath given it Milk. Vas pertusum, [Greek or Hebrew], 2 Sam. 16.17. is this thy kindness to thy Friend? God may upbraid the sinner: I have given thee (may God say) thy Health, Strength, and Estate, thou requirest me evil for good, thou woundest me with my own Mercies; Is this thy kindness to thy Friend? did I give thee life to sin? did I give thee wages to serve the Devil?

4. Sin is an act of disingenuity and unkindness; God feeds the sinner, keeps off evils from him, be miracles him with Mercy, but the sinner not only forgets God's Mercies, but abuseth them: he is the worse for Mercy; like Absolom, who as soon as David had kissed him, and took him into favour, plotted Treason against him, 2 Sam. 15.10. Like the Mule, who kicks the Damn after she hath given it Milk. Vas pertusum, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, 2 Sam. 16.17. is this thy kindness to thy Friend? God may upbraid the sinner: I have given thee (may God say) thy Health, Strength, and Estate, thou requirest me evil for good, thou woundest me with my own Mercies; Is this thy kindness to thy Friend? did I give thee life to sin? did I give thee wages to serve the Devil?

5. Sin is a Disease, Isa. 1.5. The whole head is sick. Some are sick of Pride, others of Lust, others of Envy. Sin hath distempered the [Greek or Hebrew], the intellectual part, 'tis a leprosy in the Head, it hath poisoned the Vitals, Tit. 2.16. Their Conscience is defiled. 'Tis with a sinner as with a sick Patient, his Palate is distempered, the sweetest things taste bitter to him. The Word, which is sweeter then the Honeycomb, tastes bitter to him,