Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	day_n	die_v	eat_v	5,786	5	6.8715	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64834	Sin, the plague of plagues, or, Sinful sin the worst of evils a treatise of sins tryal and arraignment, wherein sin is accused for being, proved to be, and condemned for being exceeding sinful : and that 1. as against God, his nature, attributes, works, will, law, image, people, glory and existence, 2. as against man, his good and welfare of body and soul, in this life, and that to come : with the use and improvement to be made of this doctrine, that men may not be damned, but saved, &c. : being the substance of many sermons preached many years ago in Southwark / by Ralph Venning ...	Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.	1669 (1669)	Wing V226; ESTC R38391	212,020	400

duty to honor Father and Mother but still in the Lord it may be a duty to disobey yea to hate father and mother rather then obey them viz. when to obey them will be disobedience to God whither it be better to obey God or man judge you So that God will not allow us to sin to gratifie the greatest persons the nearest and dearest relations 3 God will not allow us to sin though we should professedly do it for his glory Sin can never directly glorifie God and though he know how to bring good out of evil yet he will not that we should sin for him who needs not us much less our sin God will take and is righteous in taking vengeance though our unrighteousness commend and set off the righteousness of God Rom. 3.5 Though the truth of God have more abounded through thy lye yet thou wilt be found a sinner Rom. 3.7 so that for this good evil must not be done v. 8. they that cast out their Brethren saying let God be glorified yet God will put them to shame Is 66.5 And though they thought in putting them to death they should do God good service yet God reckons it as their serving the devil John 16.2 with Rev. 2.10 When Saul excused his sin under the pretence of Sacrifice it was yet called Rebellion and reputed as witchcraft a most abominable thing 1 Sam. 15. Job upbraids his friends with this irreligious piety saith he Job 13.7 Will ye speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him Surely v. 10. he will reprove you for it Sin is so much the worse for being committed in the name of the Lord men thereby do as it were make God to serve the devils designs Nay 〈…〉 will be no excuse that men like 〈…〉 Jud●● c. sulfill the con●●el and 〈◊〉 will i.e. determination of God as to what eventually shall be if they sin against his revealed will which is the rule by which men are to walk and to which they ought to be obedient ●o that by all this it plainly appears how that God witnesseth against sin that we may not sin for the good of any nor for any good no not for God 4 4 Threatning God witnesseth against sin by threatning men in case they sin he makes penal Statutes against 〈◊〉 in the day thou eatest the forbidden 〈◊〉 thou shalt surely die If sin were not an ●●onourable thing surely God would not have 〈…〉 it on such peril on pain of death of 〈…〉 will be said under the execution of 〈…〉 and ●he just judgment of God 〈◊〉 ● 〈…〉 God is 〈◊〉 with the wicked and that wit 〈…〉 angry with 〈…〉 argues and 〈…〉 by them for he 〈◊〉 〈…〉 displease him 〈…〉 is nor that evil 〈…〉 God to 〈…〉 sometime to 〈…〉 judgment 〈…〉 ●●gry wer● 〈…〉 God would not ●ebuke 〈…〉 who knows the pow 〈…〉 his ●nger and 〈…〉 ●appy they that 〈…〉 do nor withdraw his anger the proud helpers do stoop under him Job 9.13 the helpers of pride so 't is man is apt to be very proud and hath helpers of pride and 't is observeable that the word we read pride signifies strength also to denote that man is very apt to be proud of his strength but all the strong helpers of pride must stoop if he withdraw not his anger The strength of riches Prov. 10.15 the strength of friends and families Psa 49.7 strength and stoutness of spirit must all stoop if his anger break forth if he take but one of his arrows and discharge it against a sinner if he strike him but with one blow of his sword as the phrases are Psa 7 11.-14 Kiss the Son least he be angry and ye perish perishing is at the heels of his anger Psa 2.12 The fear or terror of a King is like the roaring of a Lyon whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul Prov. 20.2 Oh what dread is there then from the anger of the King of Kings when God sets our iniquities before him we are consumed by his anger and troubled by his wrath Psa 90.7 Now we infer that if Gods anger be so terrible and 't is sin that makes God angry that certainly sin is extremely sinful contrary to God or else the God of all grace the God of patience whose name is Love would never be so angry at it and for it 5 God witnesseth against sin by this that it 5 Repent●●● and it only put him upon repenting that he had made man Gen. 6.5 6. God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart and v. 7. God saith It repenteth me that I have made them The repentance of God argues a very great dislike of and displeasure against the wickedness of man Time was though 't were but for a little while that there was no sin and then when God lookt on what he had made he was so far from repenting that 't was wholly hid from his eyes and he was infinitely pleased but when sin had spoil'd the fashion and beauty of his work then indeed he speaking after the manner of men grieves and repents So that 't is not the work of his hand but the work of mans heart that put God on repenting Is God man that he should repent oh what an horrible thing is that which puts the unchangeable God on changing for such a thing repentance is viz. a change It repented the Lord that he had set up Saul to be King 1 Sam. 15. and when men do wickedly God repents that he hath done them good Jer. 18 7.-10 If men do evil against God God repents of the good he hath done men but such is his goodness if men repent of their evil God will repent of the evil he thought to do unto them Now as that must be very good that puts God on repenting of the evil so undoubtedly that must be very evil that puts God on repenting of the good he hath done to man 8 God witnesseth against sin by the many great and severe judgments which he hath executed upon ● Executing jud●ment as well as threatned to sinners and which he will in all Ages execute on many and to all Eternity on some sinners for what God hath done shews what God will do as the Apostle infers 2 Pet. 2.3 4 5 6. Sinners do hugely mistake God when they say evil is good in his sight or where is the God of judgment Mal. 2.17 and do no less forget themselves and what God hath done when they say all things continue as they were and therefore scoffingly say where is the promise of his coming viz. to judgment 2 Pet. 3. 'T is true if God should judge as fast as men sin the world would be depopulated and at an end quickly But his

from them yet it is the lea●● for they must part not only with these things but the joy pleasure and delight they had from them These things are most considerable for the use and comfort of them The rich man Luke 12. cheer'd himself not in having much goods but that he expected ease and mirth from them The wicked spend their daies in mirth Job 21.12 and have a brave time on 't as they think they sing care away all the day long and refresh themselves with Requiems and Placebo Songs they chant at the Viol c. and though indeed this frolick joy be a misery of it self for what truer misery then false joy their laughter being but madness yet 't is the best they have in this world But this also must be parted with these crackling of thorns will go out and their mirth will end in woe their joy in sorrow their light in darkness and 't will add to their grief in hell that they were so merry on earth When this evil day comes they will say there 's no pleasure in remembring their good daies It seems Dives was loath to think of this and therefore Abraham saith Son remember but 't was a sad remembrance to remember good as lost and gone for ever they will say then as Adrian did Animula vagula blandula quo vadis non ut soles dabis jocos Oh my poor soul thou wilt laugh and joke and droll no more 3 3 Pat wi●h their peace and ●●cu●i●y or their ins●●sibility They must suffer the loss of all their peace 'T is true● the wicked here have no real and solid peace for there is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isa 48.22 and 57.21 but they have that which they call peace and which is to them instead of peace viz. security and stupidity a seared and benum'd conscience and because of this they think they are in peace but when they come to hell all this will be otherwise Conscience that was sear'd as with a red h●t iron here will feel the flames there and startle at it They that met with no trouble here will be consumed with terrors there Psal 73.13 There are no seared consciences in hell they are all tender and sensible there Then will Conscience awake and rouse up like a Lyon or gnaw like a worm That they shall no longer have the little ease of dissembling their pain as they were wo●● to do here 4 4 With their hope Sinners then must lose the hopes they had of heaven Wicked men have no reason to hope for heaven and yet they will hope though against hope as Abraham and good men hope against hope when they have Gods promise so the wicked hope against hope notwithstanding Gods threatning they will be building their hopes as high as heaven though they build on the Sand and without a foundation but this house must fall and the fall will be great from the hopes of heaven into hell Mat. 7.22 27. The hope of Gods people keeps their heart from breaking and it shall never be ashamed but this hope of sinners will break their heart in hell for there 't will be asham'd when the wicked dies his expectation shall perish and the hope of unjust men perisheth Prov. 11.7 Their hope shall be as the giving up of the Ghost Job 11.20 The Hypocrites hope shall perish and his trust is but as a Spiders web he shall lean upon his house but it shall not stand he shall hold it fast but it shall not endure Job 8 13.-15 where will the hope of hypocrites be when God taketh away his soul will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him No no he will not Job 27.8 9. 5 They must part from 5 From all good company and suffer the loss of all good company they shall no more have the company of one good man in this world the wicked fare the better for Gods people being among them and though they despise and scoff at them and think them not worthy to live yet God himself assures us that the world is not worthy of their converse they are too good for this world Hebr. 11.38 yea though the wicked count good and holy mens lives to be folly and madness yet when they come to die they would be glad with all their hearts that their souls might be in as good a condition as theirs after death Balaam that wicked wretch who loved the wages of and lived in unrighteousness all his daies yet could wish to die the death of the righteous and that his latter end Hebr. his afterward or after state might be as theirs Numb 23.10 Then they would be glad to take hold of the shirt of a Jew one that is so inwardly Rom. 2.28 29. and say we will go with you for God is with you but they will find a great Gulf fixed between them Heaven will not hold any of the wicked nor shall Hell have any of the righteous to hold The wicked shall not stand in judgment nor sinners in the Congregation of the righteous Psa 1.5 Here below they may through in the bad among the good but hereafter God will find them out and separate them and though now many a sinner may separate from the world to joyn with Saints yet then God will separate them from Saints and joyn with sinners and devils they shall be excommunicated from the society of Saints and be deliver'd up to Satan the Executioner of Gods wrath and vengeance and shall have no company but the damned Crew 6 6 They must be without the heaven they hoped for They must be not only without their hopes of heaven but without heaven which they hoped for to have parted with their hopes for possession had been no loss but gain but to part with their hopes and with heaven too is a double loss Whatever shall be the Saints portion they must go without it and be no sharers in it in the least degree And though perhaps as some think the wicked may be permitted to look into heaven as Dives saw Lazarus in Abrahams bosom yet it will be but to heighten the depth of their misery by letting them see what they by their sin have deprived themselves of To lose Heaven is to lose a Kingdome and glory more worth and glorious than all the Kingdomes of this world and their several glories united in one 't is to part with Rest Sabbatisme for so 't is called Sabbaths they cared not for while they lived and Sabbatisme or rest they will have none when they die They gloried in their shame in this world and they shall have shame enough but no glory in the world to come The thoughts of their having been happy though but in conceit and that others are really happy and for ever but they excluded from any share in any happiness 't will cut them to the heart 7 They must suffer the loss of God himself 7 They must

the Angels are ministring spirits for the good of them that shall be heirs of salvation Hebr. 1.14 They incamp round about them that fear the Lord Psa 34.7 And when wicked men or devils would hurt this their charge they rise up in their might Dan. 10.20 Gabriel and Michael joyn against the Prince of Persia Rev. 12.7 Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his Angels and overcame When Balaam hanker'd after the wages of unrighteousness to curse Israel the Angel of the Lord withstood him Numb 22.32 Thus by their protection of the good they shew their detestation of sin in them that would touch Gods Anointed or do his Prophets harm 8 Angels discover themselves to be haters of sin as a most abominable thing by their readiness to execute Gods judgment and vengeance on sinners The Angel that was merciful to Balaams Ass was ready to slay Balaam but that he was reserved to fall by other hands When Herod was so wicked as to assume glory to himself which of right is Gods the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not glory to God Acts 12.23 When God will judge the Angels will execute the judgment written The Angels executed destruction from the Lord against Sodom and Gomorrah Gen. 19.13 because their sin was great When Israel sinned God sent destroying Angels among them great havocks have they made among the Armies of the Aliens They powre out the Vials of Gods wrath on the earth Rev. 16.1 and praised God as they went about their work because God is just in judging ungodly men At the end of the world the Angels will be the reapers and will gather out all that doth offend Mat. 13 39.-41 The Lord will come with his holy and mighty Angels to take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.7 8. I might instance in other things also by which the Angels bear testimony against sin they are present at our worship and observe us which is a great obligation to reverence and a witness against immodesty 1 Cor. 11.10 They take account of our vows Eccl. 5.5 6. better it is thou shouldst not vow then vow and not pay because 't is before the Angel The Apostle chargeth Timothy not only before God but before the Elect Angels to be strictly conscientious 1 Tim. 5.21 They are witnesses of what we do and shall be witnesses of what God will do for he that confesseth Christ shall be owned by him and he that denies Christ shall be denied by him and that before the Angels Luke 12.8 9. 't will be one part of hereafter glory to be like Angels let 's be like them here in witnessing against sin and doing the will of God on earth as they do it in heaven But I proceed to evince that 2 Evil Angels 2 The evil Angels the devil and his Angels witness sin to be sinful not only in their being devils by it and suffering for it but many other ways as I shall evince We use to say that virtues confest by foes and vices confessed by friends are true Surely then by the Devil we shall find that vice and sin is as we have declared it to be and if such a friend of sin as the devil is will confess it to be sinful we may believe him for though he be the Father of Lies yet in this he speaks truth a clear and great truth 1 Then the devil witnesseth against sin by his trembling the devil trembles at this that there is a God James 2.19 Now God was never terrible to the Angels till they sinned then they saw and trembled at the terror of God Sin brought judgment on the devils 2 Pet. 2.4 at this they tremble so that sin is the first cause of devils trembling That then which makes devils tremble at the belief of a God who will be a God of judgment is exceeding sinful 2 As great as their judgment is and greater though it be like to be yet they acknowledge it just and so by consequence sin to be unjust and sinful The justness of judgment confest is a confession of the vileness of the sin which brings the judgment Say the devils Mat. 8.29 Art thou come to torment us before the time they confess that the Son of God was to judge them to torment that they had no exception to make against being tormented but only as to the time they are reserved in chains to judgment 2 Pet. 2.4 Jude 6. and say they art thou come to torment us before the time before the judgment of the great day to which we are reserved they deny not their being worthy of this death or that their damnation is just and therefore do confess the ugliness and filthiness of sin 3 They witness sin to be sinful in tempting men to sin They used to say that surely they must be good men whom Nero hated and persecuted so may we say that must needs be evil which the evil one tempts men to as that is good which he hates and persecutes he is the evil one and the Tempter Can that be good that the evil one tempts us to Can any good come out of this Nazareth Can any good come from hell 'T is enough to evince sin to be sinful that 't is of the devil 't is a clear proof of the evil of sin that the devil tempts to it 4 The devil tells us that sin is an ugly thing by this that he turns himself into an Angel of Light that he the more effectually lead us into darkness If he should come like a devil like an enemy all would be shy of him but he comes disguized and puts on the face of a friend and so puts tricks on us and cheats us and indeed doth prevail more by his wily subtilties then by his power If the devil had come to Eve and bespake her thus I was once a glorious Angel and lived above in the Court of Heaven but I have sinned and am cast down to hell do thou also eat the forbidden fruit and thou shalt be like me would this have taken Surely no So if he did come and tempt men to sin and tell them 't is the ready way to hell would this prevail with them to swear and whore c. No no the devil is subtil an old Serpent he colours and paints sin covers his hook with a bait c. and draws men in ere they are aware He is a deceiver but least he should be known he puts on a good garb and cloaths himself with false light 2 Cor. 11.13 14. And indeed as this is the danger least as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so our minds should be corrupted the same way 2 Cor. 11.3 so this disguize and subtil transformation proves sin to be a monstrous ugly thing why else doth the devil paint it why doth he pretend good when he intends evil this proves the

sorry with a sharp Epistle he doth not repent of it because it wrought such sorrow in them as wrought repentance to salvation not to be repented of as appear'd in their indignation against revenge upon themselves and zeal for God as he there speaks in their behalf Lastly It fully appears that godly men abhor sin by this that they desire to die upon no account more then this to berid of sin that they may sin no more but be holy as he which hath called them is holy they groan for a change upon this account 2 Cor. 5.4 mortality and corruption are conjoyn'd 1 Cor. 15. and this is not laid aside till that be and therefore they desire not only to be in Christ where there is no condemnation Rom. 8.1 but to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 which is best of all for there is no sin no nor temptation to it There was never a temptation to sin in heaven since the devil was cast out nor will never be for the devil shall never be there nor corruption neither for that ceaseth when mortality is swallowed up of life So that upon the whole the witness of godily men is unexceptionable notwithstanding their having sinned I now proceed to shew 2 That wicked men themselves are witnesses of 2 Wicked men and against the sinfulness of sin that it is an ugly shameful and an abominable thing that which they are ashamed to own Let us hear some of the Heathens speak their sense of it Cicero tells us he thought not that man worthy the name of a man that spent one day in the pleasures of the flesh yea he faith further that after death he thinks there 's no greater torments then sin and another speaks after this manner that he thought it one of the greatest torments that men should have in another life to be bound to the sins they most delighted in in this life Socrates would die rather then consent to a sin of injustice and one of them saith Socrates was not unhappy in being put to death but they unhappy that put him to death he suffer'd but they sinned another hath a saying of mens living in pleasure much like that of S. Paul concerning the wanton widow 1 Tim. 5.6 she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their reason of these things said by them concerning sin was because sin degraded man and was a degeneration that such live the life of a beast and not of a man which is a life of reason and virtue whence Plotinus saith the pleasures of the body do so interrupt the happiness of the soul that 't is the souls happiness to despise the bodies pleasures Sin say the Stoicks is the worst kind of suffering and he is the only miserable man that is wicked the greatest punishment of sinners is sin Seneca I could produce many more to this purpose but I shall not take in the witness only of these or such other brave magnanimous and well-bred Heathens but the very Herd of wicked men the very dregs of them shall give in testimony will they nill they by their thoughts words or works and sad experiences that sin is an ugly because finful thing Sinners are asham'd of sin 1 When before they commit it 2 After they have committed it 1 Sinners are asham'd of sin before and think it an ugly thing when they commit it For 1. though they are so daring and impudent as to sin yet they have not the courage to consider what 't is they are going about or at least to speak one what they think concerning sin they know that when they sin their conscience will accuse them and they shall find regrets which they are loath to feel much more to utter and declare therefore they dare not ask themselves what 't is they are about to do or are a doing to catechize themselves and say is there not a lye in or at my right hand Is 44. It argues that men are afraid they shall find what they have no mind to meet with when they are loath to entertain themselves with a few forethoughts concerning it but rush like horses into the battel The Scripture speaks as if 't were impossible for men to be so wicked if they were but considerative without which they act not like men if they think of it and yet sin they care not dare not speak out their thoughts but had rather conceal their shame and pain as well as they can then tell any body what fools they have been and how foolishly they have done If sin had any thing of Noble or Honorable in it why do they not proclaim its virtues and thereby their own in loving it If they think it good why do they call it by its name if they think it evil why do they but think it so 't is only because they are asham'd on 't that any body should know what they think as Psa 14.1 the fool hath said in his heart there is no God It seems he had not the hardiness nor heart to say it with his mouth he whisper'd and mutter'd or wish'd but was loath to be heard their speaking thus within speaks out this that they are ashamed of what they think and dare not utter it 2 Sinners dare not commit sin till they have given it a new name they sin not under the name and notion of sin no woe unto them they call as good evil so evil good Is 5. Revenge they will not own but a vindication of their Honor a doing right to their reputation Covetousness is a fordid thing they say theirs is but frugality and good husbandry Drunkenness is unmanly because unmanning 't is beastial they confess but theirs is only good fellowship in the liberal use of the creature Pride must be called decency and being in the fashion Fornication but a trick of Youth or gratifying nature Thus do men disguize sin for surely did they call it by its own name and but look it in the face they know they shall find it such an ugly Hag as were not fit for the imbraces of men no nor of devils This their new-naming it condemns it 3 This argues their being asham'd on 't that they do what they do as much as they can in the dark yea as they foolishly think in the dark from Gods sight also and do thereby implicitly confess that if men or God saw them they should be asham'd of what they do time was when they that were drunk were drunk in the night it being a business of shame And Eph 5.11 12. the Apostle tells us that 't is a shame to speak of what 's done by some in secret and therefore it seems they themselves do it secretly because they are asham'd it should be known and talkt of And indeed 't is a general rule given by Christ himself that he who doth evil hateth the light because his deeds are evil and he cannot endure that they should

of grace quis nisi mentis inops c. 'tad wont to be said who but fool● refuse gold when 't is offer'd them But ala● there are such fools as refuse Christ and heaven and happiness offer'd them and will no be entreated to be reconciled that they ma● be saved but are set against the glory 〈◊〉 God and their own salvation now again●● these do the stones of the street and the d●● of the Apostles feet bear witness Luke 1● 40. Luke 9.5 and 10.10 11. Indeed the● is not a sin but the Creation in whole and 〈◊〉 the several parts doth bear witness agains● the very dullest and worst-natured creatu● have exceeded man the Oxe and Ass a● Dives his dogs had more humanity then Dives himself and were witnesses against his cruelty In short whatever duties they teach by that they convince of and bear witness against the sins which are contrary to them duties and whatever sins they convince of they teach the duties contrary to them sins There remains yet another thing to prove the sinfulness of sin by the creatures which I shall but touch and that is as they are instruments in the hands of God to punish sinners which they do with much readiness as if they were revenging themselves as well as vindicating God witness the plagues of Aegypt The four Elements have born their testimony often Fire burnt Sodom Water drown'd the old World the Earth swallowed up Corah c. the Air hath conveyed infection in times of plague the Sun Moon and Stays have been warriours and fought in their courses against sin the beasts of the field and sowls of the air have done the like but I only hint these things Two ways they shew their displeasure and his whose creatures they are against sin in punishing sinners 1 By withdrawing their influences Deut 28.23 the heaven shall be brass and the earth iron that shall not rain nor drop dew this shall not bring forth fruit See Hos 2.18.22 2 By acting contrary to their ordinary course and nature for waters to stand on an heap Exod. 15.8 fire not to burn Dan. 3. are unwonted and contranatural things and they do this to witness against the contranaturalness of sin and both these were witnesses against the sin of persecuting Gods Israel This do the creatures continue to do upon occasions to this day they are always bearing witness though men observe it not which also infers their further sinfulness and this shall suffice as to the witness of the whole Creation Next If any should say notwithstanding all these witnesses we cannot put sin to death without a Law if there be no Law to condemn sin we cannot condemn it I shall therefore proceed to shew that there is a Law against sin which condemns sin as worthy of death for being guilty of the death of many and attempting the death of all so that we may legally and ought by Law to condemn and put sin to death For 5 The Law witnesseth against and condemns Sin The Law of God is without sin in it self 5 The Law doth witness against sin and 't is against sin in others The Law being holy just and good that which breaks the Law must be unholy unjust and evil The Law discovers the authority wisdome will and goodness of God in its primary intention and promulgation for 't was to life sin must therefore be exceeding sinful it being against all this The Law discover'd mans d●ty and mans happiness 't was the whole of man in both these senses how evil is sin then that is a contradiction of and contrariety to both the duty and happiness of man so that sin being a transgression of Gods good Law the sinfulness of sin appears by the Commandment More particularly 1 The Law is against sin before 't is committed 2 After 't is committed 1 The Law is against sin before 't is committed 't is against its being to be committed its holy and wholly against sin for it forbids sin all sin whither of Omission or Commission whither in thought word or deed whither against God or against man the voice and cry of the Law is thou shalt not sin so that in this sense by the Law is the knowledge of sin viz. what is sin as well as what sin is Rom. 7.7 Is the Law sin God forbid nay I had not known sin but by the Law for I had not known lust or concupiscence to be a sin except or unless the Law had said thou shalt not covet thou shalt not lust The Law shews that lust is sin by forbidding it yea the Law doth not only forbid sin but forbids it upon great and severe penalty upon no less then pain of death on the peril of a curse for this it saith cursed be every one that doth not and continueth not to do all things which are written in the Law Gal. 3.11 So that the Law is utterly against the commission of sin 2 The Law is against sin after 't is committed and here even by the commandment sin appears to be exceeding sinful after commission For 1 The Law discovers as before what is sin so now what sin is how displeasing to God how destructive to man and that as 't is a transgression of the Law of God made for the good of man no sooner is sin committed but the Law is so far from indulging or justifying it or the sinner or from concealing it that it discovers it and the displeasure of God against it Rom. 3.20 yea not only discovers sin but 2 It condemns the sinner the Law is not against the righteous against such there is no Law nor condemnation but this Law which like a good Magistrate is an incouragement to them that do well is a terrour to evil doers saith the Apostle Rom. 7.9 when the commandment came and shew'd me sin as in a Perspective-glass sin revived it got the victory over me was too strong for me for the Law strengthened it against me 1 Cor. 15.56 and I died I was dead in Law I had sentence of death within me as he speaks in another case The transgressed Law worketh wrath Rom. 4.15 it sends abroad terrours thundrings and flashes of wrath it discovers wrath to them that by sin have made work for wrath Thus the Law is against sin before and after the commission of it Yet further to shew how the sinfulness the malignity of sin appears by the Commandment as 1 Thus That it takes occasion from its being prohibited and forbidden by the Law to sin against and transgress it the more It hath such a malignity such an enmity in it that it will not be subject to the Law of God Rom. 8.7 it strives to break this bond in sunder and to cast this cord far from it the Law stands in its way and therefore it rusheth upon the breaking of it with the more violence sin grows angry and swells like a river pent up and stopt in its course Thus

peace though we walk in the imaginations of our heart to add drunkenness to thirst the Lord will not spare them but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against them and when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come upon them as travel upon a woman with child and there will be no escaping 1 Thes 5.3 There are some other inferences yet to be spoken to and of them I shall say but a few things in brief Time spent in sin is worse then lost Sin being so sinful 2. I infer that time spent in sin is worse then lost Most of the pastime in the world is lost time but sinning time or time spent in sin is worse then lost it must be accounted for and who can give a good account of evil doing while men live in sin they do nothing but undo themselves Man was not sent into this world only to eat drink sleep and play much less to sin yea that he might not sin but as into a great Work-house to work for the glory of God Joh. 17.4 and so to work out his own Salvation and that with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 but they that live in sin work out their damnation and many times without fear or trembling of which they will have great store when they come to receive their just doom and damnation Time is a most precious Commodity for on this moment depends Eternity and as men sow in this seed-time they will reap in that harvest Time is a Prophet for Eternity as men live here they are like to live for ever they that sow sin must reap death Galat. 6.8 Time is to be redeemed Eph. 5.16 and every day to be numbred greatly valued and improved that we may apply our hearts to wisdom Psal 90.12 and this is wisdom the fear of the Lord and this understanding to depart from evil Job 28.28 This is wisdom to know and do what is the acceptable will of God Mat. 7.24 Eph. 5 15-17 We may be said to be but not to live if we live not to God and all time that is not so spent is but mis-spent and worse then lost poor distracted persons that have lost their understanding They that mock at sin are worse then fools wear out their days to less loss and disadvantage then sinners do 3. Then they that make a mock at sin are worse then fools and mad-men fools make a mock at sin Prov. 14.9 tell them as Lot did his sons in Law the danger they are in the judgments that hang over their head and our is to them as Lot was to them as one that mocketh Gen. 19.14 they laugh at it as if God were not in earnest when he threatens sinners and as if they that preach against sin were but ridiculous persons It s a sport to fools to do mischief Prov. 10.23 and there are that sport themselves in their way to Hell as if 't were but a recreation Oh what fools are they that laugh at their own folly and destruction too 'T is a devilish nature in us to mock at the calamity of others but to laugh at our own seems to be worse then devilish There are many too many that mourn under affliction yet laugh over their sins that sigh weep when they feel any burden on their bodies but make merry at that which destroys their soul Can any thing be more mad then these that laugh mock and make sport at that which is a burden and weariness to God Isa 1.14 Amos 2.13 which is the wounding piercing and crucifying of Christ Jesus Zach. 12.10 Heb. 6.6 which is a grief to the Spirit of Consolation Eph. 4.30 which is a trouble to holy Angels Luke 15. which is a wrong to and the undoing of their own souls Prov. 8.36 and such is sin 4. It cannot be well with men in their sin Sin being so sinful infectious and pernicious it can never be well with a man how well soever he be while he is in his sins Was it well with Dives though he fared deliciously every day no it was better with Lazarus that lay at his gate full of sores for that 's wel● that ends well which it never doth with sinners if judgment be not executed speedily 't will surely for they are condemned already being sons of death and perdition No man hath cause to envy the prosperity of sinners 't is not good enough to be envied but 't is bad enough to be pitied they are but fatted and thereby fitted to destruction Prov. 1.32 the prosperity of fools shall destroy them their folly alone doth it but their prosperity doth double it and do it with a vengeance the prosperous sinner is in the worst case of all sinners they are set in slippery places and shall be cast down from their height to the depth of destruction Psal 73.18 5. Sin being so sinful It concerns us to be religious betimes it greatly concernes persons and hugely obligeth them to be religious betimes that they may prevent a great deal of sin which without being early religious and strictly so they cannot possibly do how precious and dear should that be to us which prevents the being of what is so pernicious and destructive how industriously careful should we be to keep our selves from that which will keep us from happiness and how ambitious to enjoy that which capacitates us for the enjoying of God for ever and gives us the first-fruits of it here We cannot be too soon nor too much religious but the sooner and more the better If ever you mean to be religious there is no time more proper then now the present now no day to to day Eccl. 12.1 remember now thy Creators as the word is viz. God in Christ for he ●reated all things by Christ Jesus Eph. 3.9 Col. 1.16 Remember now in the days of thy youth before the evil days come when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them not only no pleasure in the evil days of sickness death and judgment that evil day which I put far from me but I have none in the remembrance of my youthful days Youth is the most proper season of all our days and now is the most proper season of all our youth to remember God in If you say we will do that when we are old 't is now spring-time with us and no month to May we will think of Religion in a Winters night Oh do not boast of to morrow as young as thou art thou art old enough to dye this night thy soul may be taken from thee and be in Hell to morrow Take the Wise-mans counsel Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes yes Sir with all our heart we will take this counsel we like it well this is pleasing Doctrine

we had rather mind this then to be holy we will be dehonaire and jovial we care not for severe Preachers of strictness and devotion we will laugh and sing drink and dance away our time while we have it c. But mistake not Solomon speaks Ironically and hath something else to say take all and then if thou rejoyce 't will be with trembling rejoyce but let thy heart cheer thee but walk in th● ways of thine heart and eyes but but what Know thou that for all these things thou mus● come to judgment and how wilt thou answer for thy vanities and follies thy pride and wantonness thy drunkenness and debauchery then Oh remember thy Creator before that evil day come and prevent a life of sin which is the miserablest life in the world and God hath promised that if thou seek him early thou shalt find him and in finding him thou findest all Prov. 8 17-21 Remember him in thy youth for memory is then in its prime and most flourishing shall he that gave thee thy being and memory be forgotten by thee If God should not remember thee what would become of thee and see what 's like to become of thee if thou forget God Psal 50.22 How good how excellent soever thy memory be I am sure thou hast a very bad one if thou forget and do not remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth The young mans glory is his strength whether of memory c. and wilt thou give thy strength to sin which is due to God Mark 12.30 Gods Sacrifices were to be young the first ripe fruits and the first-born which is the strength Gen. 49.3 were to be dedicated to God and he will not be put off with less now Gods chiefest Worthies have been and are his young men 1 Joh. 2.13 14. Gods men of valour are young men the Princes of this World like the Romans of old make up their Armies of young men the flower of their Army is Romana juventus of young and strong men and shall the King of Kings be put off with what 's decrepit and worn out no he will not Mal. 1.8.13.14 go offer it to thy Governour will he be pleased with or accept such persons no nor will God who is a great King the Lord of Hosts whose Name is dreadful They that have been religious betimes are greatly famed and honoured in and by the Scripture-Records God is taken with and remembers the kindness of their youth Jer. 2.2 Abel though dead is yet spoken of with an honourable testimony even that of God himself for serving God so young and so well Heb. 11.4 Joseph was very early religious so was Samuel Jeroboams little Son is not to be forgotten for God hath honoured him King Josiah Daniel and the three Children or young men of Israel are all inrolled in the Court of Honour and Heaven And in the New Testament St. John is called the Disciple whom Jesus loved his Bosom-favourite and Darling and the reason usually given is because he came to Christ and became his Disciple while yet very young 't is the command of Timothy that he knew the Scriptures from a Child 2 Tim. 3.15 Many Parents are afraid to have serious and divine things taught their children lest it make them melancholy and dispirit them but is there any thing better to fit them for service to God o● man then Religion or any spirit comparable to that true greatness and gallantry of spirit which is in being afraid to sin We should teach children moral and religious courage and bravery which is more in fearing to sin then t● dye and to make Moses his choice to prefer th● reproaches of Christ before the treasures an● pleasures of this world and this way are the● like to attain better names and greater estates to enjoy more pleasure and preferment then any this world can confer upon them They are best bred who are taught to love and serve God best and they attain most honour who honour God for them will God himself honour I speak not in derogation of any thing that 's civil handsom and gentile but would press to more to what 's commendable to God and in his sight of great price to remember him in the days of youth For evil days are a coming sickness old age death is approaching the Judge is at the door and certainly that 's best while we are young that will be best when we are old and dye and that can be worth very little at the beginning which will be worth nothing at the end of our days The sins of youth will lye heavy upon an old age yea if God give repentance to thee when thou art old 't will cost thee the dearer that thou didst repent no sooner and thou wilt regret it that thou hast been so long in sin and art now to live but a little while to testifie thy conversion 'T was sad with Job to possess the sins of his youth Job 13.23 24. Youthful sweets do often prove old ages bitterness and the pleasures while young cost pains when old which made King David pray to God that he would not remember against him the sins of his youth Psal 25.7 I suppose this may suffice though much more might be added to shew how much persons are concerned to be religious betimes seeing sin is a thing so dangerous and destructive To welcome the the Gospel 6. Sin being so pernicious how welcome should the Gospel be which brings the good and happifying news of a Savior and how to be saved from sin the cause of wrath and wrath the effect of sin how beautiful should their feet be that bring this blessed Receipt to us Rom. 10.15 had we the gout or stone what would we not give for a Recipe an infallible medicine to cure us We use to welcome Chirurgions though they put us to pain and Apothecaries though they bring us loathsom drugs yea so dear is health that we not only thank but reward them too Oh what a welcome then should Christ his Gospel have who come with saving health to cure us of the worst of diseases and plagues viz. that of sin methinks we should press with violence and be so violent as to besiege Heaven and take it by force and we should no less hasten to receive the Gospel and take into us the wine and milk thereof and the waters of life seeing we may have them so freely for coming for indeed our Salvation cost Christ Jesus dear but he offers it us at a cheap rate and methinks we should not let Heaven be so thinly and Hell so populously inhabited when Salvation may be had at an easier rate then going beyond Sea for it Rom. 10 6-10 with Deut. 30 12-14 Oh seeing 't is so faithful a saying and worthy to b● received be not so unworthy as to refuse it and with that to refuse thy own Salvation But I shall take an occasion from hence to pass