An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Secondly, Breaking out is a great aggravation of a mans sin. It argueth strength in sin, impudency in sin, desperateness in sin. And this breaking out of sin is not breaking out only as water in an overflowing time or tide or so, but like breaking out of the fire indeed rather, or if you will like water breaking out of some fountain; now you know if a water break out of a fountain, there is not the less water in the fountain, but rather an increase of it. And as the fire when it breaks out, the breaking out makes it not less but more, as when an house is on fire it will keep in a long while, but when it breaks out at the roof or so then it flames the more and increaseth with more violence; So it is no diminution to sin that it breaks out, as many foolish people are ready to say, that will speak horrible wickedly in their passion, I will let it go, as good out as in; they foolishly think there is so much less corruption within, and that is a diminution of sin, but it is an aggravation of sin, and noteth impudence in sin.

Secondly, Breaking out is a great aggravation of a mans sin. It argueth strength in sin, impudency in sin, desperatness in sin. And this breaking out of sin is not breaking out only as water in an overflowing time or tide or so, but like breaking out of the fire indeed rather, or if you will like water breaking out of some fountain; now you know if a water break out of a fountain, there is not the less water in the fountain, but rather an increase of it. And as the fire when it breaks out, the breaking out makes it not less but more, as when an house is on fire it will keep in a long while, but when it breaks out at the roof or so then it flames the more and increaseth with more violence; So it is no diminution to sin that it breaks out, as many foolish people are ready to say, that will speak horrible wickedly in their passion, I will let it go, as good out as in; they foolishly think there is so much less corruption within, and that is a diminution of sin, but it is an aggravation of sin, and noteth impudence in sin.

And blood toucheth blood.] That is, as some will have it, one gross and abominable sin, that is accounted a bloody sin, follows another. But some take it thus, one murder follows another, one oppression follows another; Blood toucheth blood, now thy wickedness is broken out there is no end of it, but one murder follows another. Pareus thinketh it hath reference to those times in the 2 King 15. where you may read what murders there were and how blood touched blood at that time, as if the Prophet here had said, they being used to murder, there is now nothing but murders, you hear of murders in this place, and in that place, and in the other place. Thus we may soon have it amongst us, if the Lord did not raise up means to keep in and subdue the rage of ungodly men, if it get head and overcome the opposition that it hath, blood will then touch blood, one messenger shall not have done his relation of one horrid and cruel murder, but another messenger will be at his heels to tell you of another more horrid and vile than that. So it is in some countries, there comes one