Branch 10. If sin be so great an evil, then, how justifiable and commendable are all those means which are used to keep men from sin ? IIow justifiable are a mi- nister's admonitions and reproofs ? Tit. i. 13., " Rebuke them sharply ;" or cuttivgly ; a metaphor from a chirurgeon that searches a wound, and cuts out the proud flesh that the patient may be sound ; so God's minis- ter come* with a cutting reproof, but it is to keep you from sin, and to save your souls. Si merito ohjnrgaverit te aliquis, scito quia prn/uit, Seneca. Esteem them your best friends who would keep you from sin- ning against God. If a man were going to poison or drown himself, were not he hw- friend who would hinder him from doiu^ it ? All a minister's reproofs are but to keep you from sin, and hinder you from self-murder; all is in love, 2 Cor. v.. 11., " Knowing the terror of the Lord, we per- suade men." 'Tis the passion of most to he angry with them that would reclaim them from sin, Amos v. 10., " They hate him that rcbuketh in the gate." Who is angry with the physician for prescribing a hitter potion, seeing it is to purge out the peccant hiimonr ? 'Tis mercy to men's souls to tell them of their sins. And sure- ly those are priests for the devil, 2 Cor. xi.
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OF THE SIXTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
15., who see men go on in sin, and ready to drop into hell, yet never pull them back by a reproof, nay, perhaps flatter them in their sins. God never made ministers as false glasses, to make bad faces look fair; such make themselves guilty of other men's
sms.
Branch. 11. If sin be so great an evil, — the evil of evils, — then see what a bad choice they make, who choose sin to avoid affliction : as, if to save the coat from being rent, one should suffer his flesh to be rent. It was a false charge that Elihu brought a- gainst Job, xxxvi. 21., Thou hast chosen iniquity rather than affliction. This is a bad choice. Affliction hath a promise made to it, 2 Sam. xxii. 28., but sin hath no pro- mise made to it. Affliction is for our good, but sin is not for our good ; it would entail hell and damnation upon us. Spira chose iniquity rather than affliction, but it cost him dear ; he at last repented of his choice. He who commits sin to avoid suff'ering, is like one that runs into a lion's den to avoid the stinging of a gnat.
Branch 12. If sin be so great an evil, see then what should be a Christian's great care in this life, to keep from sin ; " Deli- ver us from evil." Some make it all their cai'e to keep out of trouble ; they had ra- ther keep their skin whole than their con- science pure ; but our care should be chief- ly to keep from sin. How careful are we to forbear such a dish, as the physicians tells us is hurtful for us, — it will bring the stone or gout : much more should we be careful that we eat not the forbidden fruit, which will bring divine vengeance, 1 Tim. V. 22., " Keep thyself pure." It hath al- ways been the study of the saints to keep alooff off" from sin, Gen. xxxix. 9., •' How can I do this great wickedness, and sin agqjnst God ?" Ps. xix. 13., " Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins." It was a saying of Anselm, " If sin were on one side, and hell on the other, I would ra- ther leap into hell, than willingly sin a- gainst my God." O what a mercy is it to be kept from sin ! We count it a great . mercy to be kept from the plague and fire, but what is it to be kept from sin ?
Branch 13. Is sin so great an evil ? see hen that which may make us long for hea-
ven, when we shall be perfectly freed from sin, not only from the outward acts of sin, but from the inbeing of sin. In heaven we shall not need to pray this prayer, " Deli- ver us from evil." What a blessed time will it be, when we shall never have a vain thought more ? Then Christ's spouse shall be sine macula et ruga, — without spot or wrinkle, Eph. v. 27. Now there is a dead man tied to the living ; we cannot do any holy duty, but we mix sin ; we cannot pray without wandering, — we cannot believe without doubting, — but then, our virgin- soul shall not be capable of the least tinc- ture of sin, but we shall all be as the angels of God. In heaven we shall have no temp- tation to sin. The old serpent is cast out of paradise, and his fiery darts shall never come near to touch us.
Use 2d. Exhortation. And it hath two distinct branches.
Branch 1. To all in general. If sin be so great and prodigious an evil, then, as you love your souls take heed of sin. If you taste of the forbidden fruit, it will cost you dear, — it will cost you bitter tears, — it may cost you lying in hell, — O therefore flee from sin !