But alas, the practise •• the world is far otherwise, great sins are little sins, little sins are no sins: Nay, after a little custom, great sins are also little or nothing, and so at last men make no bones of gross and grievous ⟨p. 12⟩sins: and for the most part men search so superficially, that they scarce find any thing to be sin: such excuses are made, such distinctions are devised, such mitigations, such qualifications, such colours are cast upon all sins; as now up and down the world, gross sins are called into question, whether they be sins or no: and the great transgressions of the law are counted small matters, necessary evils or inconveniences, tolerated to avoid other evils: and what is he counted but a curious and a precise fool, which stands upon them: Ignorance after five and thirty years preaching is counted no sin, blind devotion in Gods service no sin, lip labour in praying, vain and customable swearing, mocking of religion, and the professors thereof, no sin: profaning of the Sabbath, contemning of preachers, abusing of parents▪ no sins pride in apparel, superfluity in meats, beastly and ordinary drunkenness, fornication, no sins. Nay, deceits, Cozenages, oppressing usury, ⟨p. 13⟩notorious bribery, and covetousness, that mother sin; these are counted no sins: these beams are made but moats by profane men, & they are so minced and carved, or there is some such necessity of them, or some such other flourish or varnish must be cast upon them, as that they are little or none at all. Alas, alas, is not that a simple & a silly search where such blocks as these are, lye unspied? what are molehills, when such mountains are not seen? Moats will be little regarded, where such beams are not discerned: but it is clear, that therefore there is no true trial nor diligent search made: for a true convert will search his heart for all, and will spare none: He deals in searching his own heart, as a good Justice of peace in searching for traitors or Seminary Priests. He seeks not superficially, but most exactly, and leaveth never a corner unsought, and he thinks great sins to be infinite, and little sins great, and judgeth no sin so small, but that it deserveth the […] ⟨p. 12⟩[…] ⟨p. 13⟩⟨p. 14⟩anger of God, & therefore he wonders at the mercy of God, which throws us not all down to hell in a moment:
But alas, the practise •• the world is farre otherwise, great sinnes are little sinnes, little sinnes are no sinnes: Nay, after a little custome, great sinnes are also little or nothing, and so at last men make no bones of grosse and grieuous ⟨p. 12⟩sins: and for the most part men search so superficially, that they scarse finde any thing to be sinne: such excuses are made, such distinctiōs are deuised, such mittigations, such qualifications, such colours are cast vppon all sinnes; as now vp and downe the world, grosse sins are called into question, whether they be sins or no: and the great transgressions of the lawe are counted small matters, necessarie euils or inconueniences, tollerated to auoyd other euils: and what is he counted but a curious and a precise foole, which stands vpon them: Ignorance after fiue and thirtie yeares preaching is counted no sinne, blind deuotion in Gods seruice no sin, lippe labour in praying, vaine and customable swearing, mocking of religion, and the professors thereof, no sin: prophaning of the Saboath, contemning of preachers, abusing of parents▪ no sinnes pride in apparel, superfluitie in meates, beastly and ordinarie drunkennes, fornication, no sinnes. Nay, decites, Cosonages, oppressing vsury, ⟨p. 13⟩notorious briberie, and couetousnes, that mother sinne; these are counted no sinnes: these beames are made but moates by prophane men, & they are so minced and carued, or there is some such necessitie of them, or some such other flourish or vernish must be cast vpon thē, as that they are little or none at all. Alas, alas, is not that a simple & a silly search where such blockes as these are, lye vnspied? what are moulehils, when such mountaines are not seene? Moates will be little regarded, where such beames are not discerned: but it is cleare, that therefore there is no true trial nor diligent search made: for a true conuert will search his heart for all, and wil spare none: He deales in searching his owne heart, as a good Iustice of peace in searching for traytors or Seminarie Priests. He seekes not superficially, but most exactly, and leaueth neuer a corner vnsought, and he thinkes great sinnes to be infinite, and little sinnes great, and iudgeth no sinne so small, but that it deserueth the 〈…〉 ⟨p. 12⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 13⟩⟨p. 14⟩
