ous sin will obscure and cloud all your graces and spiritual excellencies.! Look, as one spot in the face spoils all the beauty, and one blot upon the copy obliterates the whole copy, and as one drop of ink coloureth a whole glass of clear water ; so one scandalous sin wiU blot and blur all former acts of piety and holiness, it will stain all a man's duties and services, it will deface all a man's contentments and enjoyments, it will dash and rase out all those golden characters of righteousness and goodness that have been stamped upon the soul. The Babylonians beholding the enormities of the Jews, cried out, ' These are the people of the Lord, these are come out of the Lord's land,' Ezek. xxxvi. 20. David's one act of folly with Bathsheba made the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. When one commended Alexander for his many noble acts, another objected thus against him, Ay, but he killed Calisthenes : he was valiant and successful in the wars ; ay, but he killed Calisthenes : he overcame the great Darius ; ay, but he killed Calisthenes : his meaning was, that this one unjust and unrighteous action clouded and darkened all his most noble deeds. 2 A Christian cannot after his conversion fall into a scandalous sin, but it will be objected against him by every one, to the defacing and darkening of all his spiritual glory. When Naaman the Syrian was cured, and as some think converted, by the prophet Elisha, he offers gold and rich garments, but he bows in the house of Rimmon ; he seems to be very devout and religious, but he bows in the house of Rimmon ; he pro- mises to offer to none but the Lord, but yet he bows in the house of Rimmon. This Rimmon, like the fly in the alabaster box, spoiled all his best intentions and highest resolutions ; and thus one scandalous vice disgraceth all the noble virtues that be in a Christian, 2 Kings V. 1.3 Oh, such a man is a very holy man, but — and such a one is a very gracious, experienced disciple, but — and such a one is a very wise and understanding man, but — and such a one is a very active, stirring saint, but^&c, and this ' hut' mars all. If there be but one crack in the honey-glass, there the wasp will be buzzing ; and if there be but one scandalous sin that a Christian falls into in all his life, how will the wicked be still a-buzzing of that about, both in city and country ! O sirs, there are no sins that opens so many mouths, and that sads 80 many hearts, and that swells so many eyes, and that endangers so many souls, as scandalous sins do ; and therefore above all keeping keep off from them. 0 sirs, as you would not harden sinners, as you would not encourage sinners, as you would not tempt sinners, as you would not stumble sinners, yea, as you would not have a hand in the damnation of sinners, take heed of scandalous sins, Rom. xiv. 13. 0 sirs, as you would not provoke the great God, 1 Kings xi. 9, as you would not crucify afresh the Lord of glory, and put him to an open shame, as you would not set the Comforter a-mourning, that alone can comfort you, as you would not raise a hell in your own consciences, and as you would not darken the church's glory, fly from scandalous sins as you would fly from hell itself. I have read of holy Polycarp,
^ The Bchoolmen say that if a sow do but wallow in one miry or dirty hole, she ia filthy, &c. » Plutarch in vila.
* One flaw in a diamond takes away the lustre and the price of it ; and if we fall but once into a puddle, it will defile us, and make every one point at lu.
Heb. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 325
that religious martyr and bishop of Smyrna, how that in the time of the fourth persecution, under Marcus Antonius Verres, when he was commanded to swear but one oath, made this answer, ' Fourscore and six years have I endeavoured to do God service, and all this while he never hurt me, and how then shall I speak evil of so good a lord and master, who hath thus long preserved me ? ' And being further urged to swear by the pro-consul, he answered, ' I am a Christian and cannot do it ; let heathens and infidels swear if they will, I cannot do it were it to the saving of my life/ 1 This holy man would rather sacrifice his life than fall into a scandalous sin. 0 Christians, pray and watch, and watch and pray, that you may never be left to stain your own honour, or the honour of your profession, by falling into scandalous sins ! Well, friends ! remember this, it is not infirmities, but enormities, it is not weaknesses, but wickednesses, that will cast the crown from ofi" your heads, and that will strip you of all your glory ; and therefore, as you would hold fast your crown, keep at an everlasting distance from scandalous sins, &c. But,
[2.] Secondly, Declare and evidence the reality and poiver of holi- ness hy your cordial thankfulness for so rare ajeioel, and for so great a mercy. ^ 0 sirs, one drop, one spark of holiness is more worth tban heaven and earth, and how then can you but be thankful for it? Wilt thou be thankful to that God that made thee a man ? and wilt thou not be thankful to the same God that made thee a saint ? Wilt thou bless him that made thee a creature ? and wilt thou not bless the same God that has made thee a new creature ? Wilt thou praise him for the heavens that are but the workmanship of his hands ? and wilt thou not praise him for holiness, which is the workmanship of his heart ? Ps. viii. Tell me, 0 Christian, is not holiness a soul-mercy ? and what mercies wilt thou be thankful for, if not for soul-mercies ?^ Tell me, 0 Christian, is not holiness of all mercies the most neces- sary mercy ? The want of other mercies might have troubled thee, ay, but the want of holiness would have damned thee ; and wilt thou not be thankful for holiness, which is the one thing necessary ? Tell me, 0 Christian, is not holiness an incomparable mercy ? What is thy health, thy wealth, thy wit, to holiness ? Darest thou mention thy birth, thy breeding, thy arts, thy parts, thy honour, thy greatness, or thy advancement in the world, in that day wherein holiness is spoken of P Surely no. And wilt thou not then be thankful for such an incomparable mercy as holiness is ? Tell me, 0 Christian, is not holiness a peculiar mercy, a peculiar treasure that God entrusts but few men with ? Does not the world lie in wickedness ? 1 John v. 19. Are not the multitude in all places strangers, yea, enemies to holiness ? And how then canst thou but be thankful for holiness ? Yea, once more tell me, 0 Christian, is not holiness a mercy-sweetening mercy ? Is it not the beauty of holiness that puts a beauty upon all thy mercies ? Is it not holiness that bespangles all thy comforts and contentments ? Oh, how sour would all thy mercies taste, and how pale and wan would
^ Euseb. Hist., lib. ii. cap. 15, [Rather iv, 15 : and see the ' Circular Epistle ' on the * Martyrdom. ' — G.]
* Ps. ciii. 1-5, or, as the original \rill bear, ' bow the knee, 0 my soul.'