Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Argum 3. Because one sin, if loved and lived in, will certainly exclude the Soul out of Heaven. This Text doth plainly intimate, that, that one sin of unmortified Pride, is enough to keep out of Heaven. The like may be said concerning any other sin; one wound may kill a man, as well as a hundred; one leak will as certainly sink a Vessel to the bottom of the Sea as many: So one lust, if loved and lived in, will kill and sink a mans Soul for ever: Therefore the Scripture saith, Repent and turn from [all] your Transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin, Ezek. 18.30. Though a sinner should run from many Iniquities, if there be but one sin left behind ⟨p. 32⟩unturned from, that one will prove the utter and Eternal ruin of his Soul. This is the undoing misery of many, that go far, and bid fair for Heaven, that they leave one unmortified lust behind, which becometh their ruin at last. Jehu went far, but there was a lust of Ambition left in him that was never subdued. Judas went far, but there was a lust of Covetousness never mortified in his heart. Herod went far, and did many things, but there was a lust of Uncleanness that he was never delivered from; and by this means did these men all lose their precious Souls. Know therefore for certain, that if there be but one lust loved and lived in, that will exclude out of Heaven. Tho' a mens sin should be as dear to him as his right hand, or his right eye; if he do not forsake it, he must be cast into Hell fire, where the Worm dyeth not, and where the fire never shall be quenched, Mark 9.47, 48.

Argum 3. Because one sin, if loved and lived in, will certainly exclude the Soul out of Heaven. This Text doth plainly intimate, that, that one sin of unmortified Pride, is enough to keep out of Heaven. The like may be said concerning any other sin; one wound may ki•l a man, as well as a hundred; one leak will as certainly sink a Vessel to the bottom of the Sea as many: So one lust, if loved and lived in, will kill and sink a mans Soul for ever: Therefore the Scripture saith, Repent and turn from [all] your Transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruine, Ezek. 18.30. Though a sinner should run from many Iniquities, if there be but one sin left behind