Reas. 3 Again thirdly: Let it be considered, from whence it should be, that a renewed, or indeed any act of true repentance, though never so great, and intense, should have such a transcendent, eternal, and invincible virtue in it, and privilege annexed to it; for how is it, that repentance doth strengthen ⟨p. 345⟩us against sin, but by restoring the decayed frame of Grace, to a better constitution and greater degree of strength then before; and by raising it, above a mans lusts, and above that lust, more then all other? as in David, when he prayed, Create in me a clean heart, which, through his sin of uncleanness, was in an especial manner, defiled with a proneness to that sin: But yet withal remember, that, that new frame of heart, & strength gotten by that renewed repentance, and that augmentation, and increase of hatred against, and abominating that ⟨p. 346⟩sin wrought by it, is all but a creature; as grace, and every new degree of Grace is: and therefore for preserving us, hath in it self but the power, and force of a created habit, which may be prevailed against, by the sin that is in us; and can no more, nay much less put us into a state of confirmation against any particular sin, then the grace of the Angels could of it self confirm them in a state against all sin. And as for the impression of that bitterness, which in our repentance for that sin fallen into, was made upon our hearts: that also can be supposed to have but ⟨p. 347⟩the like force upon our spirits, that the impression of joy unspeakable and glorious, hath upon the heart in those heavenly raptures, which believers sometimes enjoy; yea and the latter of these will easily be supposed to be of the greater efficacy of the two; and both but creatures: Now those ravishing joys, are not yet such immortal and everlastingly quickening cordials, that put such spirits into a man, as to preserve him from swoons, and faintings of spirit for ever: and though, whilst they abide and are present to the heart, they do then raise it above all ⟨p. 348⟩thing here below: yet when a man hath been a while off from that Mount, and hath conversed a while with things here again below; then that lustre wears away, as the glory that shined in Moses face did: and after a while, the sense and present taste of those joys wears out;
Reas. 3 Againe thirdly: Let it be considered, frō whence it should be, that a renewed, or indeed any act of true repentance, though never so great, and intense, should have such a transcendent, eternall, and invincible vertue in it, and priviledge annexed to it; for how is it, that repentance doth strengthen ⟨p. 345⟩us against sinne, but by restoring the decayed frame of Grace, to a better constitution and greater degree of strength then before; and by raising it, above a mans lusts, and above that lust, more then all other? as in David, when hee prayed, Create in me a cleane heart, which, through his sinne of uncleannesse, was in an especiall manner, defiled with a pronenesse to that sin: But yet withall remember, that, that new frame of heart, & strength gotten by that renewed repentance, and that augmentation, and increase of hatred against, and abominating that ⟨p. 346⟩sinne wrought by it, is all but a creature; as grace, and every new degree of Grace is: and therefore for preserving us, hath in it selfe but the power, and force of a created habit, which may bee prevailed against, by the sin that is in us; and can no more, nay much lesse put us into a state of confirmation against any particular sin, then the grace of the Angels could of it selfe confirme them in a state against all sinne. And as for the impression of that bitternesse, which in our repentance for that sin fallen into, was made upon our hearts: that also can bee supposed to have but ⟨p. 347⟩the like force upon our spirits, that the impression of joy unspeakable and glorious, hath upon the heart in those heavenly raptures, which beleevers sometimes enjoy; yea and the latter of these will easily be supposed to be of the greater efficacie of the two; and both but creatures: Now those ravishing joyes, are not yet such immortall and everlastingly quickning cordialls, that put such spirits into a man, as to preserve him from swounds, and faintings of spirit for ever: and though, whilst they abide and are present to the heart, they do then raise it above all ⟨p. 348⟩thing here below: yet when a man hath beene a while off from that Mount, and hath conversed a while with things here againe below; then that lustre weares away, as the glory that shined in Moses face did: and after a while, the sense and present tast of those joyes weares out;
