All sin to be repented of, and the reason why. [ 1168]
IF seven thieves shall enter a mans house,* 1.1 six of them being overcome, and the seventh lie lurking in some secret corner, the Master of that house cannot but sleep in danger. A Bird falling into a snare, or a Mouse being taken in a trap; if the one be but held by the claw, or the other by the end of the tail, they are both in as much danger, as if their whole bodies were surprised. Thus it is, that all sin, and the least sin,* 1.2 must be repented of. Pharaoh being smitten with many plagues, is willing at last to let the People go, so as they would leave their sheep, and their cattle behind them. No, saies Moses, that cannot be; all the flocks and heards shall go along with us, ne ungula quidem, not a hoof shall be left: And Sathan, like Pharaoh, would keep something of sin in us, which may be as a pledge of our returning to him again; though sin be taken away, yet he would have the occasi∣ons of sin to remain: Leave gaming, (saies he) but let not the cards and dice be burnt; thou maist cease to be a fornicator, but do not pull out thy wanton eye; thou must not hate thine enemy, yet what necessity is there, that thou shouldest love him? This is the voice of Sathan. But God be speaks the sinner after another manner, he will have all sin to be repented of; non remanebit ungula, not so much as the occasi∣on of sin shall remain; which if it do, Sathan will make a re-entry, and then the end shall be worse then the beginning.