If this viper is not crushed in the egg. By Thomas Brooks. Romans chapter 7, verse 13. We can see how terrible sin really is. There is infinitely more evil in the least sin than there is in the greatest miseries and afflictions that can possibly come upon you. There is more evil in the least sin than there is in all the troubles that ever came upon the world. Yes, there is more evil in sin than there is in all the miseries and torments of hell. The least sin is rather to be avoided and prevented than the greatest sufferings.

If this viper is not crushed in the egg, it will soon become a deadly serpent. Sin, if but thought on and pondered, will break out into action, and action into habit, and then both body and soul are eternally and irrecoverably damned. If this serpent can but wriggle in its head by an evil thought, then it will soon deceive the soul, as you see in that sad instance of Adam and Eve. The least sin is very dangerous.

Caesar was stabbed to death with a small needle. Herod was eaten up by small worms. Pope Adrian choked to death on a gnat. A scorpion is little, yet is able to sting a lion to death. The least spark may consume the largest house. The smallest leak may sink the greatest ship. A whole arm has been gangrened by a pick of the little finger. A pinch of poison diffuses itself into the whole body until it strangles the vital spirits and turns out the soul from the body.

The sobering reality is that sin is not a minor fault. Sin enslaves. Sin deceives and hardens. Sin and unrepentant sinners are the only things that God hates. Sin brings death and eternal damnation. The least sin will lock the soul up in God's prison, hell, forever and ever. Nothing but the sin-atoning sacrifice of Jesus can wash away the least sin.