Little do they consider the necessity of this doctrine, who never think of their sins, or of seeking any discharge, but when they have committed some heinous notorious sin, which bringeth them to some open shame, and then acknowledge that sin only, as if, that excepted, they were clean from all sin. I deny not, but that good use may be made of fastening the mind upon one principal sin, which seemeth most horrible to the conscience, and maketh the party most ashamed, and whereby he conceiveth Gods wrath to be most provoked, as the Israelites, who said,p We have added to all our sins THIS EVIL: and Ezra, who said,q Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? And David, where he said,r Deliver me from blood-guiltiness. For by this means our corruption and vileness will appear in our sight much greater. Yet are we not to rest only in acknowledgement of such sins alone. If we observe the fore-named confessions of Ezra and David we shall find many other sins reckoned up.
Little do they consider the necessitie of this doctrine, who neuer thinke of their sinnes, or of seeking any discharge, but when they haue committed some hainous notorious sinne, which bringeth them to some open shame, and then acknowledge that sinne onely, as if, that excepted, they were cleane from all sinne. I denie not, but that good vse may be made of fastening the mind vpon one principall sinne, which seemeth most horrible to the conscience, and maketh the partie most ashamed, and whereby he conceiueth Gods wrath to be most prouoked, as the Israelites, who said,p We haue added to all our sinnes THIS EVILL: and Ezra, who said,q Should we againe breake thy commandements, and ioyne in affinitie with the people of these abominations? And Dauid, where he said,r Deliuer me from bloud-guiltinesse. For by this meanes our corruption and vilenesse will appeare in our sight much greater. Yet are we not to rest onely in acknowledgement of such sinnes alone. If we obserue the fore-named confessions of Ezra and Dauid wee shall find many other sinnes reckoned vp.
- p1. Sam. 12. 19.
- qEzr. 9. 14.
- rPsal. 51. 14.
