Little sins carry with them but little temptations to sin, and then a man shews most viciousness and unkindness, when he sins on a little temptation. It is devilish to sin without a temptation; it is little less than devilish to sin on a little occasion. The less the temptation is to sin, the greater is that sin.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that even minor sins carried out without significant temptation reveal a person's true moral character.
Thomas Brooks suggests that the severity of a sin is not determined by the temptation behind it but rather by the moral choice of the person committing the sin. When individuals commit wrongs in the absence of strong temptation, or when they choose to sin over trivial matters, it reflects a deeper unkindness and maliciousness within them, highlighting that lesser temptations can lead to greater moral failings.
In practice
This quote could be shared during a discussion about moral integrity in a community meeting.
Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking his own righteousness, and living really and purely upon the righteousness of Christ.
Grace and glory differ very little; the one is the seed, the other is the flower; grace is glory militant, glory is grace triumphant.
He is the best preacher, not that tickles the ear, but that breaks the heart.
Ah! sinner, remember this, there is no way on earth effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth, and power of sin, but by believing in a Saviour. It is not resolving, it is not complaining, it is not mourning, but believing, that will make thee divinely victorious over that body of sin that to this day is too strong for thee, and that will certainly be thy ruin, if it be not ruined by a hand of faith.
Self is the only oil that makes the chariot-wheels of the hypocrite move in all religious concerns.
Humility can weep over other men's weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces.
Fantasy flows in where fact leaves a vacuum.
Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember...I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things β terrible, yes, but great.
The future is as irrevocable as an inflexible yesterday.
If you suffocate my blackness, you've got to realize that's supremacy.
Don't run your life by what's legal or illegal. Run your life based on what's right or wrong.
The rule of law means that law and justice are upheld by an independent judiciary. The judgments of the European Court of Justice have to be respected by all. To undermine them, or to undermine the independence of national courts, is to strip citizens of their fundamental rights. The rule of law is not optional in the European Union. It is a must.
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