The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

Quest. 2 Now in the second place the question is this, how far may not a believer charge himself with his sin; this is that which hath bred all these vain conceits in the spirits of those Familists: I say no more therefore but this, they make Christ not a King of Saints, but of sin; there is great weight in it, and admirable comfort, if Christians would but be persuaded to make conscience of the word of God. You that are weak not only be persuaded to listen to the word, but also make conscience of what is revealed out of the word: now how far he may not charge himself with his sin, may be conceived of in these conclusions.

Quest. 2 Now in the second place the question is this, how far may not a beleever charge himselfe with his sinne; this is that which hath bred all these vaine conceits in the spirits of those Familists: I say no more therefore but this, they make Christ not a King of Saints, but of sinne; there is great weight in it, and admirable comfort, if Christians would but be perswaded to make conscience of the word of God. You that are weake not onely be perswaded to listen to the word, but also make conscience of what is revealed out of the word: now how farre hee may not charge himselfe with his sinne, may bee conceived of in these conclusions.

First, a believer should not in his judgement ⟨p. 192⟩conceive, nor in his heart be persuaded that any sin, nor all his sins shall ever be able to fasten the guilt of sin upon him, so as to cause revenging justice to proceed against him to his condemnation, if he seriously repent, and amend, and forsake his old ways: for he must not in his judgement conceive, nor in his heart think that ever sin repented of shall be able to fasten guilt upon him so, as to draw out the execution of justice against him: It is one thing to be worthy of condemnation, and it is another thing to fasten guilt and condemnation upon him, as many poor creatures will say, I shall be condemned, and I shall one day perish by the hands of Saul, and these sins will be my everlasting destruction: take heed what you do; for if you are believers, true penitents; you sin highly in so doing, and saying, walk as humbly as thou wilt, and lay thy mouth in the dust, and speak not a word more, and say, it is mercy that thou art not in hell; yet know this also, that all thy sins, and all thy pride shall never be able so to fasten guilt upon thee, as to draw out Gods justice against thee: sin hath a power to make us guilty, and to condemn us, but it shall never fasten its work upon thy penitent soul: remember