3. Smaller as well as greater duties: Mat. v. 19, 'Whosoever shall break the least of these commandments, and teach men so to do, shall be least in the kingdom of heaven.' God counteth his authority de- spised, and the commandments and obligatory power of his law to bo made void by him that shall either in doctrine or practice count any transgression of his law so light and venial as not to be stood upon, or iis if it were a trifle to be so nice and exact as not to make conscience (A petty things, such as vain thoughts, light words, or passionate speeches. Deceit of heart is found on both sides. Some are apt to say, ' It is but a little one, and my soul shall live,' as Lot of Zoar. No sin is little that is committed against the great God ; and it argueth the more wickedness to break with God upon every trifling occasion. A little force will make a heavy body move downward, because it is its natural motion. Others are apt to stand much upon lesser things. John xviii. 28, the Jews would not enter into the judgment-hall lest they should be defiled, yet at that very time they sought the life of the Lord of glory. Hypocrites make a great business about small matters, wherein the flesh and self have some special interest, when the weighty common duties are little valued, relished, or insisted on ; by-matters, and the more uncertain points which self hath espoused, are contended for with all zeal and earnestness : Mat. xxiii. 23, ' They reject the weighty tilings of the law, such as faith and love ; judgment and mercy are omitted, while they tithe mint, anise, and cummin ; like one that cometli into a shop to buy a pennyworth, and stealeth a pound's worth, or pays a small debt, that he may run deeper into the creditor's books, and so deceive him of a greater sum.
4. Commandments that require public and private duties; to fail in either consists not with sincerity. In times of trouble many content themselves if their hearts be right: 2 Cor. vii: 1, 'Cleanse yourselves from all filthiuess both of flesh and spirit.' The libertines in Corinth did so. It is no matter whether they own God publicly, or, if they
VeR. 22.] SERMON'S UPON 1 JOHN IIL 203
will, yet, to gratify their neighbours, go to an idol-feast ; as if a wife should prostitute her body, and pretend that she keepeth her heart loyal to her husband. Others make a fair show to the world, but in their family converse are loose and careless. David saith, Ps. ci. 2, ' I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.' If a man be truly holy, he will show it at home as well as abroad, in his family where his con- stant converse is ; yea, in his closet and secret retirements. A chris- tian is alike everywhere, because God is alike everywhere. We strain ourselves to make our best appearance in public, God will be served with our uttermost in private also.
5, There are commands concerning the government both of the in- ward and outward man. We must make conscience of both, or else our conscience is not a good conscience : Isa. Iv. 7, ' Let the sinner forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.' Not only make conscience of our way or our outward actions, but also of our thoughts, and the secret operations of our hearts : James iv. 8, ' Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.' As we should not do evil before men, so not think evil before the holy God ; for those things fall under a law as well as the overt acts.
6. There are some commandments we have no great temptation to break, others that lie more cross to our humours and interests ; there- fore not some or many must be kept, but all. A sanctified judgment must approve all, a sanctiified will choose all, as justly good, neces.sary, and profitable for us ; and in our endeavours we must obey all : Eom. vii. 12, ' The law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.' The law in general, and that commandment which had wrought such tragical effects in his heart, it is all good, how contrary soever to our natural or perverse inclinations. If we set up a toleration in our hearts, we are not sincere : Ps. Ixvi. 18, 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me ; ' that is, if he did cherish it, and secretly foster it. There is something wherein you would be excused by God, and expect favour from him. A man that would keep out the cold in winter shutteth all his doors and windows, yet the wind will creep in, though he doth not leave any open hole for it. We must reserve no sin ; some will remain after the best care and caution. Therefore we must not obey God in some things, and break with him in others, ' Nor trust to our own righteousness and commit iniquity,' Ezek. xxxiii. 13. If the bosom sin be not weakened, your whole righteousness is called in question : Ps. xviii. 23, ' I was upright before him, and kept myself from mine iniquity.' There are some sins most incident to us by temper of body, course of life, or carnal interests. Now we should mainly cross that sin which is most pleasing, and dry up that unclean i.ssue that runneth upon us. Thus for the object.