A Body of Practical Divinity

6. Sin is an irrational thing; it makes a Man act not only wickedly, but foolishly. It is absurd and irrational to prefer the lesser before the greater, the Pleasures of Life, before the Rivers of Pleasures at God's right hand for evermore? Is it not irrational to lose Heaven for the satisfying or indulging the Lust? as Lysimachus, who for a draught of Water lost a Kingdom. Is it not irrational to gratify an Enemy? in sin we do so. When Lust, or rash Anger burn in the Soul, Satan warms himself at this fire. Mortalium errores epulae sunt daemonum, Mens sins feast the Devil.

6. Sin is an irrational thing; it makes a Man act not only wickedly, but foolishly. It is absurd and irrational to prefer the lesser before the greater, the Pleasures of Life, before the Rivers of Pleasures at God's right hand for evermore? Is it not irrational to lose Heaven for the satisfying or indulging the Lust? as Lysimachus, who for a draught of Water lost a Kingdom. Is it not irrational to gratifie an Enemy? in sin we do so. When Lust, or rash Anger burn in the Soul, Satan warms himself at this fire. Mortalium errores epulae sunt daemonum, Mens sins feast the Devil.

7. Sin is a painful thing; it costs Men much labour in pursuing their sins. How do Men tyre themselves in doing the Devil's drudgery, Jer. 9.5. They weary themselves to commit iniquity. Peccatum est sui ipsius poena. What pains did Judas take to bring about his Treason? He goes to the High-Priest, and then after to the Band of Soldiers, and then back again to the Garden. St. Chrysostom saith, Virtue is easier than Vice. 'Tis more pains to some to follow their sins, than to others to worship their God. While the sinner travails with his sin, in sorrow he brings forth; it is called serving divers Lusts, Tit. 3.3. not enjoy, but serve: why so, because not only of the slavery in sin, but the hard labour; it is serving divers Lusts. Many a Man goes to Hell in the sweat of his brows.