Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

Such as revere the divine Majesty dare not go near the borders of Sin. Those who went near the Fiery Furnace, though they did not go into it, were burned, Dan. 3.22. A wise Christian should in all his transactions put those three questions of ^*Bernard to himself; Whether is this I do lawful, or decent, or expedient.

1. *An liceat, an deceit, an expediat.An liceat, an deceat, an expediat.

3. He who Fears God, dares not sin secretly. An Hypocrite may forbear gross sin, because of the shame; but not clandestine secret sin. He is like one that shuts up his Shop-windows, but follows his Trade within doors: But a man Fearing God dares not sin, though he had Gyges's Ring and could walk invisibly, and no eye see him. Levit. 19.14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block before the blind; but shalt Fear thy God. If one should ⟨p. 51⟩curse a deaf man, he cannot hear him; or lay a stumbling block in a blind mans way, he cannot see him: Yea but the Fear of God will make one avoid those sins which can neither be heard or seen by men. Gods Seeing in secret is a sufficient Supersedeas and Counterpoison against Sin.

4. He who Fears God dares not commit sin, though it might bring him in Emolument. Gain is the Golden bait with which Satan fisheth for Souls: this was the last temptation the Devil used to Christ, All this will I give thee,