A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

To sin habitually, wilfully, indulgently, with full consent and greediness is not compatible with the hope and profession of a Christian: This spot is not the spot of Gods children: ¹but they have their blemishes, they sin of infirmity, though not of wilfulness. Sin in it own nature is opposite to grace: but all sins are not altogether incompatible with grace, that is, they hinder not the graceful operation of faith, hope, and love. The remainders of Original corruption, under which the regenerate must labour so long as they live: sins of simple ignorance, and of unavoidable infirmity, which through weakness the faithful run into every day: these do not stop the lively work of faith in receiving the promises of mercy, but even at the very instant, when these have abode in the soul, faith can and doth make faithful plea for mercy, or otherwise none could plead for mercy before the throne of Grace: For in many things we sin all. ²Sins of forgetfulness, inconsideration, and passion, whereunto there is not advised consent, these are as moats in the eye, which do somewhat trouble the clear sight of faith, but notwithstanding them, the heart principally adhereth unto God: and though now and then through infirmity a Christian be overtaken with them, yet may he upon good grounds be assured of Gods love. Anger, pettishness, impatience, inordinate fear are sins which the godly ought and do watch against, and for which they ought and must judge themselves: but if through infirmity they be over-taken to speak an hasty or unadvised word, they must not therefore cast off their confidence: notwithstanding such slips, they may cry in faith, and be heard in their supplications. If any man sin, ³(to wit of infirmity, as they do who walk in the light, and addict themselves to the serious study of holiness) we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous, ⟨p. 122⟩and he is the propitiation for our sins. What answer the Lord gave to Paul touching his temptations, My grace is sufficient for thee: ⁴that may be said of the infirmities of the Saints, such sins as be mere and absolute infirmities, God of his Grace, revealed in the covenant of grace, is pleased to grant unto them a pardon of course.