Page:Comer's conflict, or, The beginner's battle with the devil, when essaying to come to Christ by faith.pdf/16

 16 The Comer's Confict ; or,

not as your thoughts, for God thought that fin worthy of death, Num. xv. 32, 35. Uzzah's putting his hand to the ark, and touching it when it tottered, ſeemed to be but a ſmall fin, and yet you know he was ſmitten in- ſtantly with death for it, 2 Sam: vi. 7. It is dangerous to give even a little wrong touch to a tottering ark. 2. Conſider the nature of every fin; though ſome are comparatively ſmall, and others greater; that is, by reaſon of ſeveral aggravations, more heinous in the fight of God than others; yet, in themſelves none are ſmall. The leaſt fin is againſt an infinite God; and infinite authority, and ſo, objectively conſidered, an infinite evil; and therefore cannot be expiated without infinite ſatisfaction, and it is not little promiſes, or little threatenings that your little ſins do flight; yea, there is no little ingratitude towards God in little fins, there is great unkindneſs to God in lit- tle fins: To diſpleaſe God, your beſt friend, for a little fin; O ungrateful thing! Is this your kindneſs to your friends? ' The wages of every ſin is death eternal. It is not little miſery that every fin doth expoſe yon to. Will you make light of the wrath of the infinite God? Then do not make light of little fins. In a word, remember that boldneſs in little ſins, will be an encouragement to greater. Sin is of an encroaching and bewitching nature ; a little thief may open the way to a greater. The devil tempts people to go from one degree to another: he tempts them to the reverſe of the bleſſed man, mentioned Pſal. i. 1. He tempts them to walk in the counſel of the ungodly; having taken a walk with them, he tempts them next to ſtand in the way of ſinners, which is more ; and then having ſtood a while with them, he tempts them laſt of all to ſit on the ſeat of even to the height of wickedneſs. The devil firſt makes you fit down with a drunkard, then to drink with him, and at laſt to be drunk. Thus he leads people from unclean thoughts to unclean looks, words, and actions: therefore, let faith refit this temptation, and ſet you upon your watch againſt that which you call a little fin. No man that ever ſaw fan truly, can call any ſin little or ſmall, nor can it ever be, till there be a little law to break, a little God to offend, a little guilt to contract, a little wrath to incur; all which are impoſſible to be, blaſphemy to wiſh, and madneſs to expect.