VeR. 101.] SERMONS UPON PSALBI CXIX. 29
one sill allowed in the soul, be it never so small, it forfeits our privi- leges by grace.
But now, because particulars are more effective, and do strike upon the soul with the more smart blow than generals, briefly consider : —
1. We must refrain from every evil way ; not only notorious sins, but those that are plausible and of more reputation in the world, that are not so rank in the nostrils of men, and expose us to such disgrace and dishonour. There are open sins that are found hateful, that have a turpitude in them, and bring shame : Gal. v. 19, ep'ya Tri<^ aapKo<;, 'the works of the flesh are manifest ;' such as murder, adultery, gross oppression, these are rank Aveeds of an ill savour, that stink in nature's nostrils, and are accompanied with shame and disgrace. To refrain from these is little thanks, Luke xviii. 11. The Pharisee wipes his hand of these, ' I am not an adulterer,' &c. Ay ! but he was proud, censorious, and covetous. There are pride, censoriousness, covetousness, and worldliness, cloaked sins that are not of such disgrace in the world, all these should be hated by you. Many times those sins that are majoris infamice, of greater infamy, are not always onajoris reattis, they do not leave the greatest guilt upon you. Un- belief is not infamous in the world, neglect of the gospel of grace, want of love to Christ Jesus, these are great sins: and therefore you must not only abstain from notorious sins, but those which are more plausible, and are not of such ill fame in the world.
2. You must abstain from sins outward and inward, Isa. Iv. 7. The sinner must not only forsake his way, but his thought ; by his way is meant his outward course and practice, but he must make conscience of his thoughts, and secret workings of heart. Practices may be over- ruled by by-ends, but thoughts and desires, these are the genuine immediate motions and issues of the soul, that do come immediately out of the fountain, and are restrained only by grace.
3. Sins profitable and pleasant, as well as those that have no such allurement and blandishment in them. There are many sins tliat have nothing of allurement in them, that are entertained only upon sin's account and evil custom, as rash swearing, blasphemy, malice and the like ; but there other sins that allure and entice the soul by the promise of profit and pleasure, those two bastard goods that do make us often quit the good of honesty and duty. Now, you are to ' deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts,' Titus ii. 12 ; worldly lusts, whatever ■would endanger the soul, all inordinate inclinations that carry you out to these things of pleasing the flesh and gratifying worldly interests.
4. In refraining the feet from every evil wnj, that is, from sins against either table, Kom. i. 18. Mark, God hath owned both tables, not only revealed his wrath against ungodliness, breaches of the first table ; but against unrighteousness, breaches of the second table. Many indeed will not be unjust, intemperate, unkind to their neighbours; ny ! but they express no affection to God by worshijiping him in their hearts, by faith, fear, and love, or in their houses by constant prayer morning and evening, and secret and familiar in closet converses with God ; they are guilty of ungodliness though not of unrighteousness. And there are many that would be much in w^orship, in praying, fasting, and hearing, but they forget their neighbours ; they are unrighteous,
30 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR, CVII.
they do not make conscience in their dealings M'itli men, and in the duties of their relations are unfaithful, many times to the great dis- honour of God ; they do things heathens would boggle at.
5. There are great sins and small sins. Many make not conscience of small offences, count these venial. Certainly he that would have a tender regard to God's law, no sin should seem little to him that is an offence to the great God. It is Satan's custom by small sins to draw us to greater, as the little sticks do set the great ones on fire, and a wisp of straw enkindles a block of wood ; and by small sins we are enticed by Satan. The least sin allowed of is of a deadly and dangerous consequence: Mat. v. 19, 'Whosoever shall break the least of these commandments, and teach men so.' It is treason to coin a penny as well as a pound. To break the least of God's command- ments, to make no conscience of them, because it is a small thing, argues a naughty heart. Bodkins may wound and stab as well as swords. Look, as we read of the prophet, he was devoured of lions, so we read of Herod, he was eaten up by lice. Small sins may be a very great mischief to the soul. Little sins are often the mother of great sins, and the grandmother of great punishments and of plagues from God ; and therefore these lesser sins we must refrain from : ' I kept myself from every evil way.'
6. We must not commit anything that is evil out of a good intention, if it be an evil, but stand at a distance from it. Do not turn aside to any crooked path upon any pretence soever. Some have a good action but a bad aim. Now these do, as it w^re, make God serve the devil ; they do the action which God hath required, but their aim is that which gratifies Satan. There are others that have a good aim but a bad action. These make the devil serve God, as if God could not provide for his own glory well enough without their sin. Therefore, if it be an evil way, refrain it, though you think you may bring good out of it. Saul would be offering sacrifice, an unwarrantable action for him to invade the priestly office, 1 Sam. xiii. 13, 14, He was loath to go to battle until he had sacrificed, and would not tarry till Samuel came. What then ? See what Samuel saith, ' Thou hast done foolishly ; thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God which he commanded thee.' Here was a good aim, but a bad action, and you see how severe judgment fell upon him. I say, he forfeited his kingdom by doing an undue action, though for a good end. • Uzzali he put forth his hand to stay the ark, which was an undue circumstance ; he had a good aim in it, that the ark of God might not be shaken, that it might not fall and be shattered in pieces, and the mysteries of their religion prostituted: 2 Sam. vi. 7, 'And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him tliere for his error, and he died.' Many think to bear out them- selves by good intentions that are drawn into an evil way ; they hope to bring things to a better pass. It is dangerous to step out of God's way ; God's ends can best be brought about by God's way. The judgments of the Lord upon these nations have been mainly for un- Avarrantable actions upon good intentions ; and though usually we have committed one sin to help another, yet there hath been a pretence of a crood intention, a good aim.