Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1756] The great danger and disgrace of lying under the guilt of one eminent Sin.

WHen one commended Alexander for his many noble acts,* 1.1 another ob∣jected against him, that he killed Calisthenes; He was valiant and suc∣cessefull in the Wars;* 1.2 true, but he killed Calisthenes; He overcame the great Darius; so, but he killed Calisthenes: His meaning was, that this one unjust act poysoned all his better deeds: And there was Naaman the Syrian, a Man plentifully commended, 2 Kings 5. 1. When he was cured and converted by Elisha; First hee's charitable, offers gold, and garments, but he excepts bow∣ing in the house of Rimmon; he is devout, and begs earth for sacrifice, but ex∣cepts Rimmon; he is Religious, and promiseth to offer to none but the Lord, yet excepts Rimmon: This Rimmon,* 1.3 like the Fly in the Alablaster-box, spoyled all the good intentions. Thus one spot in the Face spoyls all the beauty, one Vice in the Soul disgraceth a great deal of Virtue; O such a Man is an honest Man, a good Man, but—Let every Man take heed, this is that, but, which the Devill ayms at; 'Tis true, we must hate all sin, and every sin sowrs, but to the repentant Christian it shall not be damnable, Rom. 8. 2. there is in all

corruption, to most affliction, to none damnation that are in Christ; One Sin may disgrace us, and sowr us, but to our comfort upon true Repentance we are mad•• sweet again by the all-perfuming bloud of our Saviour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Qui••. Curr.
• * 1.2

  Plutarch. in vita.
• * 1.3

  In facie plus offendit na∣vus, &c. Plutarch. in Moral.