A helpe to true happinesse. Or A briefe and learned exposition of the maine and fundamentall points of Christian religion. By Mr. Paul Bayne

QVEST. VI.

6. Q. IS Sinne such a filthy thing?

A. Yea, it is the most fil∣thy, and loathsome thing in the world.

Here is further offered to our consideration, the nature of sinne, whose punishment is mentioned to bee so ex∣ceeding great. The point is this: That Sinne is the most filthy of all other things: And so indeed it is, and there∣fore is called, Filthinesse it selfe, 1 Cor. 7.1. and in sun∣dry other places. And it cannot be otherwise, since it is nothing else but the cor∣ruption of the Soule, now deuoid of the life of God.

The beauty of a humane body is great, but when the Soule hath left it, what is more lothsome then the cor∣ruption of it, when now it is a dead carcase? Thus the beauty of the Spirit was ad∣mirable, while it liued the life of God in Knowledge, righteousnesse, and holines, but when God hath forsa∣ken it (who is the Soule of our soules) no further in lightning or sanctifying it, there entreth all kinde of sin, as a spirituall corruption, be∣ing in comparison of all o∣ther things most detestable:* 1.1 The more excellent the thing is, the worse is the cor∣ruption thereof. Againe, in matters naturall, and morall there is nothing filthy, and loathsome in any regard,

but that the same is in sinne by proportion. Nakednes is shamefull, Sinne is a spiri∣tuall nakednesse: Some dis∣eases are filthy, as the Le∣prosie; Sinne is a spirituall Leprosie. Lamenesse is a deformity, so is crookednes, Sinne is a lamenesse depra∣uing all spirituall motion; and a spirituall crookednes. Blacknes is foule and feare∣full; Sinne beares the blacke Image of the Deuill the Au∣thour thereof. Wee count excrements comming out of the draught filthy, yet they defile not a man, but Sinne that commeth out of the Soule doth pollute him. We count dunghills, and smel∣ling puddles filthy, but sinne casts foorth so filthy a sauor as it were, in the nostrills of

God, that hee could not smell a sauour of rest till it was remoued by that sweete incense of Christs death, who to that ende offered himselfe a Sacrifice of sweet smelling sauour vnto God.* 1.2 What filthy Creatures haue any filthy properties, but they are in sinne proporti∣onably: Hence sinners are compared to dogges, and swine the filthiest Creatures. What morall vices are most filthy? Drunkenesse & those filthinesses not to be named; Sinne is a spirituall drunke∣nesse, and a turning from the chast loue of God to the loue of euery base thing.

[Vse 1] First, this sheweth what they are growne vnto, who sticke not to glory of their shame. Men hide not thei••

sinnes but are come to So∣domlike impudency. Some proud Peacocks vaunt in prancking themselues, some thinke their fury a thing be∣comming them well: Some esteeme it as a thing praise-worthy, when they can vse their wit and tongue to deri∣sion, and to the circumuen∣ting of others. Some are of that minde, when they can prodigally flie out, and make light of all others, that then they are jolly men: Some are as proud of the vanitie and curiosity of their mind, as if the quintessence of wit, consisted therein. The Moores, because blacknes, is naturall to them, count their blacke hue beautifull: Children are not ashamed, and Mad-men glory of their

nakednesse: thus it is with Sinners in conceiuing of their spirituall deformity.

[Vse 2] Secondly, this should teach vs to labour to purge out sinne, to cleanse our selues from it, as a thing fil∣thy and abhominable: Wee would not suffer spots in our face, nor lint or other soile on our clothes: surely we cannot make cleane any thing, but wee may thence take the rise of this thought, How carefull wee ought to be to cleanse our heart: We would not haue any naturall infirmities which are vn∣seemely or filthy, as wrie mouthes, foule breathes, lamenesse, or halting in our gate &c. but a tongue speak∣ing peruersly, rotten speach, crooked walking from Gods

Law, and the direction thereof, are farre more vn∣comely then the other: as the sense doth ioy to be vni∣ted to an obiect pleasing and well proportioned vnto it; so it is auerse and doth flie from those that are other∣wise. If wee go by a soule stincking place, we stop our noses, and hast away; If an vgly shape present it selfe we shut our eyes, and indure not the view of it: Thus our soules should with indigna∣tion, turne from all filthy and abhominable vices.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Corruptio optimi est pessima.
• * 1.2

  Eph. 5.2.