Wesley Corpus

proved that there is no act of our lives too mean to be made a part of our devotion, consequently, to be laid under the strictest rules of his holy gospel. Secondly, I have now to show the danger of not being faithful in that which is least, and to evince that, by neglecting what we call our little actions, we are often led into great and heinous transgressions. It is the observation of the wise son of Sirach, that he who despiseth little things, shall fall by little and little ; and experience will attest this truth, and prove it to every attentive Christian. See we not that vice, as well as virtue, is of a progressive nature, and by degrees encroaches on the hearts of its vo taries ? The evil spirit is too subtle a tempter to show the heinousness of sin at the first glance, and therefore adapts his temptations to the conscience and disposition : and, knowing that mankind (until they become thoroughly reprobate) are averse from monstrous crimes, he ensnares them into little transgressions ; aware that he who is once habituated to small offences will soon lose his horror at sin, shake off his