A Golden Chain

Whether the child of God after repentance for some grievous sin, do fall into the same again, and come to repentance the second time. Ans. The case is dangerous, as we may see by comparison in the body. If one fall into the relapse of an ague or any other strong disease, it may cost him his life: and the recovery will be very hard. Christ said to the man that had bin sick eight and thirty years, after that he had healed him, Behold, thou art whole, sin no more least a worse thing befall thee. ¹And the unclean spirit returning takes to him other seven spirits worse then himself. Indeed we find no particular example of recovery after a relapse, in the scriptures; yet no doubt a recovery may be. Reasons are these. I. Promise is made of remission of sins in Christ without any term of time: without any limitation to any number or kinds of sin: save only the blasphemy against the H. Ghost. Therefore there may be a repentance and salvation after a relapse.² II. Christ tells Peter that he must forgive, not till seven times only (which peradventure he thought to be very much) but seventy seven times, ³and that in one day, if one return seventy times and say, it repents me. Now if we must do this, which have not so much as a drop of mercy in us in comparison of God: he will no doubt often forgive, even for one sin, if men will return and say, it repents me;⁴ considering that with him is plentiful redemption, and he is much in sparing.

VVHether the child of God after repentance for some grieuous sinne, doe fall into the same againe, and come to repentance the second time. Ans. The case is dangerous, as wee may see by comparison in the bodie. If one fall into the relapse of an ague or any other strong disease, it may cost him his life: and the recouerie will bee verie hard. Christ said to the man that had bin sicke eight and thirtie yeres, after that he had healed him, Behold, thou art whole, sinne no more least a worse thing befall thee.