Chap. 15 The First Corollary. It appears by this, That but few men know what they do, when they sin
are, that they live quietly, and that their consciences flies not in their faces continually.
Certainly, when God shall enlighten the conscience, and bring these things with power to their souls, then sinners will stand amazed and wonder they saw not this before: These things be so clear, that its a wonder I was so blind, that I had not eyes to see these before, and yet who lays these things to heart?
And thus we have done with this first thing in the explanation, the wrong sin does to God in his nature, working against, and striking at God, and in his relations, &c. Now there are, I confess, those things
I most aimed at in this work behind, therefore I will wind up in a word or two, in some corollaries, and consequences, to be drawn from hence: only thus much, when I have told you sin is a greater evil than affliction; yea, a greater evil than all the torments of Hell, as I said in the beginning. Then you may see by what I have said, how this truth results out of these consequences, because it wrongs
God, and God is so infinitely good.
If any man be afflicted, or perish in Hell eternally, it is but the good of a creature, and the comfort of a creature crossed in this, but in sin there is the crossing of the good of an infinite God, and of his glory; and there is more good in God's glory, than in all the peace and comfort of all creatures in the world: and if so, then certainly there must be more evil in sin that is cross to God's glory, than in all pains and torments that are but only cross to the peace and comforts that are in the creature: I say, Hence followeth these corollaries.
CHAP. XV.
The First Corollary.
It appears by this, That but few men know what they do when they sin against GOD.
FIRST from this, Certainly it does evidently appear that there are but few men that know what they do in sinning against God, nor have not known all this while. It was the Complaint of the Prophet
Jeremiah, No man said, What have I done?
Certainly men in ways of sin never say, Oh Lord, what have I done?
Give me but that man or woman that have gone on in ways of sin, that have imagined they have wronged God so much; that they have done so much against the infinite eternal glorious God. They think indeed they have done amiss, what they should not do; but it is another manner of matter, it is not only doing what you should not do, but it is a wrong to the infinite glorious God, and therefore certainly it appears but few men know God, or know sin; neither know what that God is with whom they have to deal.
Neither know what sin is, and how it makes against that God with whom they have to deal; if men did only know God, it were enough to keep them from sin. And there is a notable place in the 1 John 2.
He that said I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. If there be any man in the congregation that said he knows God, and keepeth not his
Commandments, he lies said the Holy Ghost. What, doest thou know God, man or woman? sinner, Man or woman doest thou know
God, that infinite glorious eternal God, with whom thou hast to do? and not to keep his Commandments, but goest on in ways of sin? certainly thou art a liar.
It may be many of you are apt to say, We know God, what need we have so much of God Preached?