26 FIRST SERMON is a little one, and my soul shall live. Even the philosopher tells us, that sometimes the very smallest error proves most dangerous. How little soever it be in its own nature, it becomes heinous by the allow- ance. It is as much treason for a private man to coin silver as gold pieces, because the royal authority is as much violated by the one as the other. This then we must first and principally remember to set ourselves against all sin. In confession none to be dissembled, in supplication none to be excepted, in conversion none to be reserved : never give over so long as any is left. O Lord, yet it works, yet it lives, yet it tempts, yet it pains me. Sin bath not done accusing me, let not thy mercy have done forgiving sin. Sin hath not done rebelling in me, let not thy grace have done subduing sin. When men kill snakes or vipers, so long as they see them pant, or offer to thrust out a sting, they strike them still. Sin, like the thief on the cross, when it is fast nailed and kept from its old tyranny, yet will, as much as it can, revile, and spit out venom upon Christ. 0 therefore give it not over, break the legs ofit, crucify -it clean through, till it be quite dead. None can pray or turn unto God in truth, or hope to be delivered from judgments in mercy, so long as he holds fast any known sin. Can any man look to receive benefit by the blood of Christ, who hugs the villain that shed it ? is it not treason knowingly to harbour and enter- tain a traitor ? Whosoever laves and holds fast sin, lies unto God in every prayer that he makes. This serves to prove and humble us for our hypo - crisy and halvings with God, in our conversions from sin, and confessions of it; we are willing to pray for the pardon of them all, we would have none hurt us, but when it comes to parting, and taking all away,
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