And though it may be truly […] that ⟨p. 75⟩neither Satan nor our own consciences,1 can ever aggravate unto us too much, the intrinsical sinfulness, the heinousness and vileness of our sins in their due and proper colours, and true aggravations of them, which we can never come to see enough, as not to hate nor loath, and mourn for as we ought; yet Satan and our own consciences may in the representation of our sins, put such false apprehensions and such aggravations upon them, as may make us apprehend too much about them; as when it is suggested, that they are such as are not compatible with the state of grace; or that they are utterly unpardonable: he may likewise use them as inductions to prove a false conclusion. And also although our sins if truly can never be enough represented, if it be in order to drive a man more to Gods free grace, and unto Christ; yet to present them singly, and alone, and to hold the mind & intention of it so to them, as to cause us to forget our own mercies, and in such a manner, as thereby Gods mercies and all comforts are hidden and concealed from us; this is that is Satan's practice, and is the cause of this deep bondage we thus here speak of. And in this respect that name [Greek or Hebrew], the accuser, is given this evil spirit in a direct and full opposition to that special name and office of the holy Ghost [Greek or Hebrew], the comforter or pleader for us: because as the holy Ghost maketh intercession in our own hearts unto God for us, and upon true repentance helpeth us to make apologies for our selves, (as the word is) ⟨p. 76⟩2 Cor. 7. 11. and comforteth us by discovering our graces given us of God, as 1 Cor. 2. 12. and by pleading our evidences, and witnessing with our spirits that we are the sons of God: so on the contrary, satan is [Greek or Hebrew], an accuser, by laying to our charge the guilt of our sins, by impleading our evidences, misrepresenting our estates, thereby to deject us, and swallow us up with sorrow, as 2 Cor. 2. 7. And further, because in these accusations his scope is to misrepresent our estates to us, & falsely to disquiet us, therefore he is yet more especially called [Greek or Hebrew], a slanderer, as one that falsely and lyingly calumniateth and slandereth all our graces, all Gods dealings towards us, all our dealings towards him:
And though it may bee truly 〈…〉 that ⟨p. 75⟩neither Satan nor our own consciences,1 can ever aggravate unto us too much, the intrinsecall sinfulnesse, the hainousnes and vilenes of our sinnes in their due and proper colours, and true aggravations of them, which we can never come to see enough, as not to hate nor loath, and mourne for as we ought; yet Satan and our owne consciences may in the representation of our sinnes, put such false apprehensions and such aggravations upon them, as may make us apprehend too much about them; as when it is suggested, that they are such as are not compatible with the state of grace; or that they are utterly unpardonable: he may likewise use them as inductions to prove a false conclusion. And also although our sinnes if truly can never be enough represented, if it be in order to drive a man more to Gods free grace, and unto Christ; yet to present them singlely, and alone, and to hold the minde & intention of it so to thē, as to cause us to forget our owne mercies, and in such a manner, as thereby Gods mercies and all comforts are hidden and concealed from us; this is that is satans practice, and is the cause of this deep bondage wee thus here speak of. And in this respect that name 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the accuser, is given this evill spirit in a direct and full opposition to that speciall name and office of the holy Ghost 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the comforter or pleader for us: because as the holy Ghost maketh intercession in our owne hearts unto God for us, and upon true repentance helpeth us to make apologies for our selves, (as the word is) ⟨p. 76⟩2 Cor. 7. 11. and comforteth us by discovering our graces given us of God, as 1 Cor. 2. 12. and by pleading our evidences, and witnessing with our spirits that wee are the sonnes of God: so on the contrary, satan is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, an accuser, by laying to our charge the guilt of our sinnes, by empleading our evidences, misrepresenting our estates, thereby to deject us, and swallow us up with sorrow, as 2 Cor. 2. 7. And further, because in these accusations his scope is to misrepresent our estates to us, & falsely to disquiet us, therefore hee is yet more especially called , a slanderer, as one that falsely and lyingly calumniateth and slandereth all our graces, all Gods dealings towards us, all our dealings towards him:
- 1A Caution.
