The retaining of one sin, spoiles a great deal of good in the soul. [ 592]
AS the Philosopher saith, A cup, or some such thing that hath a hole in it, is no cup, it will hold nothing, and therefore cannot perform the use of a cup, though it have but one hold in it;* 1.1 So if the heart have but one hole in it, if it retain the Devil but in one thing; if it make choice but of any one sin to lye and wallow▪ and tumble in, it doth evacuate all the other good, by the entertainment of that one evil, the whole box of ointment will be spoiled by the dropping of that one flie into it: By the Laws of our Kingdom, a man can never have true possession, till he have voided all; and in the State of Grace, no man can have a full interest in Christ, till all sin, i. e. all raigning, domineering sin, be rooted out.