8go S I N A S T N G. Book IV. S [ M I L E. D I S P A R I T Y. borne when they are bound up or to fay, one Sin fevered from a Multiwde, thJt a tied together, yet if fevered, tome Perfon may be guilty of, and charged upon the Part of them may be borne and eaSoul; though it fhould bejudged the !eafr, no Mau fily carried. . is able to ftand under the Guilt, or Burden of it. •· For the leaft Sin being again!l: an infinite God, deferves an infinite Puniihment. 2. The lea!l Sin being a Breach of the Law, brings a Soul under Wrath, and the Curfe thereof. 3· The leaft is not done away without Chri!l:'s Blood, nothing but that only can wafh it away, or ckanfe from it. Now that which makes Sin to be fo great a Burden to a Child of God is, (I.) Becaufe it fees God againfr the Soul, it makes him to become a Man's Enemy, and to fight againft him, &c. (2.) Becaufe it is a Burden unto God himfelf, hence he cries out, I am prejfed under you, as a Cart is prejfed wilb Sheaves, Amos ii. '3· Nothing is more oppof1te to God than Sin, or is more loathfome to him. (3. ) Becaufe it wounds, bruifes, and lays the Soul itfelf a bleeding. (4.) Becaufe it brings the Soul under the dreadful \1\Trath of an angry God, yea binds down under ever– la!l:ing Wrath, caufing a final Separation from God and Chrift for ever. N F E R E N C E ~ I. WHAT infenfible Creatures are unconverted Sinners! If. Moreover, what a fore and grievous thing it is to have this Burden !aid upon the Soul! . _ Ill. It may ftir up fuch who feel this Weight, to call: it off, ·by Repentance and Faith: Remember Chrift hath borne it for thee, that thou mighteft go free. 'l"he Lord haJb laid on him the Iniquities of us all, Ifa. liii. 6. IV. It fhews us what a wonderful Mercy it is to be freed from this Burden. Saints are delivered from the Power and Dominion, Guilt and Condemnation of it, throuah the Lord Jefus Chri!l:, Rom. vi. 14. 0 S I N A S 1l I N Ci. 'l"he Sting of Death is Sin, I Cor. xv. 56. P A R A L L E L ~ I. DEATH is like a venomous Serpent, that hath a cruel and tormenting Sting, and this Sting is Sin. II. The Sting of fame Serpents, in the Flefh, is very painful, it makes fuch to cry out exceedingly: So fuch who feel themfelves ftung with Sin, cry out, like as thoft: did in Afls ii. 36. The Pain and Torment of a wounded Confcience is intolerable, as many can experience, and the Hi!l:ory of Francis Spira abundantly fhews. IH. The Venom or Sting of fame Serpents is mortal, it killeth the Body: So Sin, that Venom of Death and the Devil, killeth both Body and Soul. IV. If a Serpent biteth or ftingeth any one Part, the Venom and Contagion fpread– eth over all the Body, and defiroyeth the whole Man: So the Sting and P01fon of Sin, which entered by one Man's Offence, hath infected and killed all the Lump of Man– kind, Rom. v. 15, 18. Moreover, he that harboreth but one Sin in his Bofom, it will de!l:roy his whole Soul if this Sting be but in his Tongue, it is like tht Poifon of Afps, his Life mull: go for it, without fpeedy help. V. No Salve or Medicine could heal the Bodies of thofe who were {lung with thofe fiery Serpents in the Wildernefs, till they looked up to the Brazen Serpent, no Phyfi– cian on Earth could cure them : So no Work of Man can cure the Biting of Death and 'the Devil, or Sting of Sin, but the Venom thereof rageth and reigneth, tormenting_ the Confcience, until the Soul looks up by a true and lively Faith to Jefus Chrift. VI. As the Sting of a Serpent muft be pulled out, before the Perfon fiung can be cured; fo Sin mufi be lifted, pulled, or worked out of the Heart and Life of a Sinner, by the Spirit, before he can be either healed or faved. VII. As fome Serpents cannot hurt when they have loll: their Sting, fo De1th cannot hurt a Soul, whofe Sin is taken away by Jefus Chrift. SIN
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