Christian. Indeed it is dangerous to fall again into the same sin after repentance: yet it is the order of the Prophets to call men to repentance which have fallen from the fear of God,1 and from the repentance which they professed: and God in thus calling them, putteth them in hope of obtaining mercy. And the law had sacrifices offered every day for the sins of all the people, and for particular men, both for their ignorances, and their voluntary sins: which signifieth, that God is ready to forgive the sins of his children though they sin often.2 Abraham twice lied and swore that Sarah was not his wife. Joseph sware twice by the life of Pharaoh. David committed adultery often, because he took unto him Bathsheba, Uriahs wife, and also kept six wives, and ten concubines. Gods will is, that men forgive till seventy seven times: and therefore he will have much more mercy. And for my part, so oft as I shall fall into the same sin, so oft I shall have Christ my advocate and intercessor to the Father for me, who will not damn me for the infirmity which he findeth in me, I will abstain from external iniquity, and I will not make my members servants unto sin: and so long I trust my imperfections shall have no power to damn me: for Christs perfection is reputed to be mine by faith, which I have in his blood:3 God is not displeased, if my body be sick and subject to diseases: no more is he displeased at the disease and sickness of the soul. A natural father will not slay the body of his child, when he is sick, and abhorreth comfortable meats:4 and my heavenly father will not condemn my soul, although through the infirmity of faith, and the weakness of the spirit, I commit sin, and often loath his heavenly word, the food of my soul. Nay, (which is a strange thing) I know it by experience, that God hath turned my filthy sins to my great profit, and to the amendment of my life: like as the good Physician, of rank poison is able to make a sovereign medicine to preserve life.
Christian. Indeed it is dangerous to fall againe into the same sinne after repentance: yet it is the order of the Prophets to call men to repentance which haue fallen from the feare of God,1 and from the repentance which they professed: and God in thus calling them, putteth them in hope of obtaining mercie. And the law had sacrifices offered euery day for the sinnes of all the people, and for particular men, both for their ignorances, and their voluntary sins: which signifieth, that God is readie to forgiue the sinnes of his childrē though they sinne often.2 Abraham twise lied and swore that Sara was not his wife. Ioseph sware twise by the life of Pharao. Dauid committed adulterie often, because he tooke vnto him Bathsheba, Vriahs wife, and also kept sixe wiues, and ten concubines. Gods will is, that men forgiue till seuentie seuen times: and therefore he will haue much more mercie. And for my part, so oft as I shal fall into the same sinne, so oft I shall haue Christ my aduocate and intercessour to the Father for me, who will not damne me for the infirmitie which he findeth in me, I will abstaine from externall iniquitie, and I will not make my members seruants vnto sinne: and so long I trust my imperfections shall haue no power to damne me: for Christs perfection is reputed to be mine by faith, which I haue in his blood:3 God is not displeased, if my body be sicke and subiect to diseases: no more is he displeased at the disease and sicknes of the soule. A naturall father will not slay the bodie of his child, when he is sicke, and abhorreth comfortable meates:4 and my heauenly father will not condemne my soule, although through the infirmitie of faith, and the weaknes of the spirit, I commit sinne, and often loath his heauenly word, the foode of my soule. Nay, (which is a strange thing) I know it by experience, that God hath turned my filthie sinnes to my great profit, and to the amendment of my life: like as the good Phisitian, of rancke poyson is able to make a soueraigne medecine to preserue life.
- 1Isa. 1.8. Jer. 2.1.Isa. 1.8. Ier. 2.1.
- 2Gen. 12. 14, 15. Gen. 20. 2,3. Gen. 42. 25.
- 31. Joh. 21. Dan. 9.6.1. Ioh. 21. Dan. 9.6.
- 4Rom. 8.28.
