By this it may appear, that there is one manner of sinning in the godly, and another in the ungodly, though they fall both into one sin. A wicked man, when he sinneth in his heart he giveth full consent to the sin: but the godly though they fall into the same sins with the wicked, yet they never ⟨p. 79⟩give full consent, for they are in their minds, wills, and affections partly regenerate, and partly unregenerate, and therefore their wills will partly abhor that which is evil: according as saint Paul saith of himself qI delight in the law of God according to the inner man, but I see an other law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind, and leading me captive, &c. And that the godly man never giveth full consent to sin: it is evident by three tokens. First, before he cometh to do the sin, he hath no purpose nor desire to do it: but his purpose and desire is to do the will of God contrary to that sin. Secondly, in the act or doing of the sin, his heart riseth against it, yet by the strength of temptation, and by the mighty violence of his flesh, he is haled and pulled on to do wickedness. Paul saith of himself, that he was sold under sin, that is, he was like a slave, who desireth to escape out of his Masters hands, and yet is fain in great misery to serve him. Thirdly, after he hath sinned he is sore displeased with himself for it, and truly repenteth. As rPeter before the denying of his Master, had no purpose to do it, ⟨p. 80⟩but rather to die in his cause. In the act he had a striving with himself, as appeareth by this that first he answered faintly, I know not what thou sayest: and yet after when the assault of Satan more prevailed, he fell to swearing, cursing and banning. After his fall he repented himself and wept bitterly for it. All was contrary in Judas, who went to betray his master with full intent and purpose: for the devil long tempting him unto it, entered into him, that is, made him, yield, and resolve himself to do it. fAfterward when Christ was betrayed and condemned, Judas was not sorrowful for his sin with a godly sorrow, but in despair of mercy hanged himself.
By this it may appeare, that there is one maner of sinning in the godly, and another in the vngodly, though they fall both into one sinne. A wicked man, when he sinneth in his heart he giueth ful consent to the sin: but the godly though they fall into the same sinnes with the wicked, yet they neuer ⟨p. 79⟩giue full consent, for they are in their minds, willes, and affections partly regenerate, and partly vnregenerate, and therefore their willes will partly abhorre that which is euill: according as saint Paule saith of himselfe qI delight in the lawe of God according to the inner man, but I see an other lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe of my minde, and leading mee captiue, &c. And that the godlie man neuer giueth full consent to sinne: it is euident by three tokens. First, before hee commeth to doe the sinne, hee hath no purpose nor desire to doe it: but his purpose and desire is to doe the will of God contrarie to that sinne. Secondly, in the act or doing of the sinne, his heart riseth against it, yet by the strength of temptation, and by the mightie violence of his flesh, hee is haled and pulled on to doe wickednesse. Paule saith of himselfe, that hee was solde vnder sinne, that is, hee was like a slaue, who desireth to escape out of his Maisters handes, and yet is faine in great miserie to serue him. Thirdly, after hee hath sinned hee is sore displeased with himselfe for it, and truelie repenteth. As rPeter before the denying of his Maister, had no purpose to doe it, ⟨p. 80⟩but rather to die in his cause. In the act hee had a striuing with himselfe, as appeareth by this that first hee answered faintly, I knowe not what thou saist: and yet after when the assault of Sathan more preuailed, he fell to swearing, cursing and banning. After his fall he repented himselfe and wept bitterly for it. All was contrarie in Iudas, who went to betra•e his maister with full intent and purpose: for the diuell long tempting him vnto it, entred into him, that is, made him, yeelde, and resolue himselfe to doe it. fAfterward when Christ was betraied and condemned, Iudas was not sorrowfull for his sinne with a godly sorrow, but in dispaire of mercie hanged himselfe.
- qRo. 7. 22.
- rMath. 26. 69. 70. 71. 72.
- fJohn 12. 2. 27.Iohn 12. 2. 27.
