This point affordeth two useful directions.1 One is in regard of sins past to judge our selves for them, and upon our selves to lay the whole blame: and not to think it a sufficient excuse to lay the blame upon any other. Many will say when they are taken in some notorious sin, The Devil owed me a spite, and now hath paid me it, thinking thereby to extenuate their sin;2 which conceit Eve had, when she said, The Serpent beguiled me. And if any man have been any occasion of their sin,3 they will lay the blame upon them, as Adam did upon Eve. But had they been resolute in their own will, nor Satan, nor any of his instruments could have made them to sin. They who thus think to shift off sin, do bring the greater load upon their own souls. For this keeps them from that degree of humiliation and contritiona which would move God to pity them. When men in truth lay load on themselves,5 God is ready to ease them. For to such as Labour and are heavy loaden Christ saith, Come unto me, I will give you rest. But on such as by the shifting of sin think to ease themselves, God will lay load. Whatf loads of woe did Christ lay upon the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees, who put off all burdens from themselves? What a load was laid ont Saul, that by mincing his sin sought to ease himself? andu what ease was given to David, that laid the burden of sin upon himself?9 Now whether it be safest so to shift off sin, as to provoke God to lay the burden of it on us, or so to burden our selves as to move God to ease us, judge you. Is there not now more need of true confession, then false justification.
This point affordeth two vsefull directions.1 One is in regard of sinnes past to iudge our selues for them, and vpon our selues to lay the whole blame: and not to thinke it a sufficient excuse to lay the blame vpon any other. Many will say when they are taken in some notorious sinne, The Diuell owed mee a spight, and now hath paid mee it, thinking thereby to extenuate their sinne;2 which conceit Eue had, when shee said, The Serpent beguiled mee. And if any man haue beene any occasion of their sinne,3 they will lay the blame vpon them, as Adam did vpon Eue. But had they beene resolute in their owne will, nor Satan, nor any of his instruments could haue made them to sinne. They who thus thinke to shift off sinne, doe bring the greater load vpon their owne soules. For this keepes them from that degree of humiliation and contritiona which would moue God to pitie them. When men in truth lay loade on themselues,5 God is ready to ease them. For to such as Labour and are heauy loaden Christ saith, Come vnto mee, I will giue you rest. But on such as by the shifting of sinne thinke to ease themselues, God will lay loade. Whatf loades of woe did Christ lay vpon the hypocriticall Scribes and Pharisies, who put off all burdens from themselues? What a loade was laid ont Saul, that by mincing his sinne sought to ease himselfe? andu what ease was giuen to Dauid, that laid the burden of sin vpon himselfe?9 Now whether it be safest so to shift off sin, as to prouoke God to lay the burden of it on vs, or so to burden our selues as to moue God to ease vs, iudge you. Is there not now more need of true confession, then false iustification.
- 1The blame of sin to be laid upon ones self.The blame of sinne to be laid vpon ones selfe.
- 2Gen. 3. 13.
- 3—12.
- aIsa. 66. 2.
- 5Math. 11. 28.
- fMath. 23. 13.
- t1. Sam. 15. 20, 21, 22, 23.
- u2. Sam. 12 13
- 9Vera confessions, non falsa defensione opus habet. Aug. de Nat. & gra c. 53.
