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{The Application
Application For the Godly
Directions For Carrying On a Constant Holy Course of Life
Put Yourselves in Upright Condition
Do Not Allow Yourselves to Practice Any Known Sin}
Do not allow yourselves to practice even the least known sin. Do not use, “This is just a little one,” as any excuse for present or past sin.325
There is no sin that can properly be called little. The least iniquity will cost either the blood of Christ or the blood of your own souls.
Little sins are spreading sins. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). Elijah’s cloud started the size of a man’s hand, but in a few hours clothed the whole sky in black (1 Kings 18:44–45). You will find to be substantial in your repentance that which you deemed as nothing in the commission.
Little sins are leading sins. The child put through the window will open the door to let in the adult thieves. When Gad came into the world, his mother said, “Behold a troop comes” (Genesis 30:11).326 When the messenger of the king of Israel came to the prophet, he said to shut the door and hold it fast against him. “Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” (2 Kings 6:32). Shut the door against every sin; for whose messenger is it? Look behind and see who comes after. “Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” The devil is not far off whenever sin knocks for admission. The door that is opened to the messenger is likely to stand open for the master to enter. Take heed brethren that you do not tolerate any sin. Little sins, if allowed, become great sins. Allowing sin desolates the conscience and greatly spoils our peace. I will not say what grace may be in the heart, but certainly there is only a little tenderness in the conscience that does not declare war against the least of sins.
Beloved, if at any time sin does get possession of your hearts, let it be by surprise rather than surrender. Be so watchful, that if possible, you may not be surprised by sin or taken unawares. But whatever you do, see that you do not surrender yourselves to it. Be so jealous that sin may not steal in on you in a disguise, but when you see what it is, be as wary of it as of the devil. Will you let a known enemy lodge with you? Brethren, do not shut your eyes against sin or open your doors to it. Do not shut your eyes against it, but be willing to know it. With respect to anything you may have a mind to do, do not just persuade yourselves that it is not sinful and that it may be lawful enough for all you know. Rather, examine it and look at it impartially, and if you find it to be sin, do not receive it into your heart. I cannot really say which of the two are in the worse case: those who are not willing to know what they are doing or those who know that what they do is evil.327 But this I can say: if there is any knowledge of God in them, neither the one nor the other are likely to know if they are in a state of grace. Such winking will blind their eyes, and such walking will blot their evidence of grace. Both hinder that progress in holiness that is necessary to build them up in comfort. If you want to be sure that the Lord is yours, keep close to Him. If you want to be close to God, keep clear of sin. And if you want to keep clear of sin, keep your windows open, but your doors shut. See who it is that knocks before you let him in. An open eye and a tender conscience will be the best security to both your grace and peace.
325This editor wishes to take the liberty at this point of recommending Thomas Brooks’s Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices for help in the battle against sin.
326In the context of Genesis 30:11, the Hebrew גד (without vowel pointing, which is of post-biblical origin) can mean either “troop” or “fortune,” and is the name of Gad, the son of Jacob. Besides “Gad,” the KJV and NKJV render it “troop,” but many other versions render it “fortune.”
327This advice does not contradict “Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience” (1 Corinthians 10:25 ESV). In this case, purchasing and eating meat is not at all sinful and meat that has been sacrificed to idols does not undergo physical or moral change. Absent evidence or substantial suspicion to the contrary, we may charitably presume the innocence of those with whom we deal. On the contrary, Alleine speaks of our own actions and our responsibility to evaluate our lives in detail in the light of God’s Word.
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