By these tentations it comes to pas that a Christian 1though he cannot fall finally from Christ, yet he may fall very dangerously from his former estate. First the graces of god may be by his default lessened in him: else Paul would not have given out these exhortations aquench not the spirit. bGrieve not the holy spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Secondly the graces of God may be buried in him & covered for a time, so that he may be like a man in a trance, who both by his own sense ⟨p. 107⟩& by the judgement of the physician is taken for dead. This was the estate of Peter, who though he confessed that Christ was the son of the living Lord cyet he denied him & forswore him at the voice of a Damsel. Thirdly he may fall again into the same sin after repentance. Indeed this is a dangerous fall, yet it may befall a true christian. Otherwise when as the Israelites gods people had fallen away from him by their sins, & idolatries, he would not still have offered them mercy das he doth by his prophets: And ePaul prayeth the Corinthians in Christs stead that they would be reconciled to God: who nevertheless had once before been reconciled to God. Fourthly, he may commit a sin of presumption, which is a fearful sin, being done wittingly of knowledge and willingly, and with some wilfulness. Therefore David prayed fkeep thy servant presumptuous sin: and to show himself to be in danger of it, he prayeth further, let them not have dominion over me. Lastly, he may fall into despair of Gods mercy for a time, and this is a dangerous sin. For he which despairs, makes all the promises of God to be false: and this sin of all other is most contrary to true saving faith. In this estate was David, when ⟨p. 105⟩being in trouble, he said, gthis is my death. And Paul shows that the incestuous man might have fallen into desperation, hwhen he saith: Comfort him, least he be swallowed up of overmuch heaviness. And it must be remembered that the Church of Rome erreth in this, that she teacheth desperation to be a sin against the holy Ghost; This sin against the holy Ghost is a blasphemy spoken against the known truth of Gods word, of a wilful and obstinate malice. But desperation may arise through ignorance of a mans own estate: through horror of conscience for sin: through an often relapse into some sin:
By these tētatiōs it coms to pas that a Christiā 1though he cannot fall finally frō Christ, yet he may fall very dangerously frō his former estate. First the graces of god may be by his defalt lessned in him: else Paul wold not haue giuen out these exhortatiōs aquench not the spirit. bGrieue not the holy spirit of God, by whō ye are sealed vnto the day of redemptiō. Secondly the graces of God may be buried in him & couered for a time, so that he may bee like a man in a traunse, who both by his own sense ⟨p. 107⟩& by the iudgement of the phisition is takē for dead. This was the estate of Peter, who though he cōfessed that Christ was the son of the liuing Lord cyet he denied him & forswore him at the voice of a Damsel. Thirdly he may fal againe into the same sin after repentance. Indeed this is a dangerous fal, yet it may befal a true christian. Otherwise whē as the Israelits gods people had fallen away frō him by their sins, & idolatries, he wold not stil haue offered thē mercie das he doth by his prophets: And ePaul praieth the Corinthians in Christs stead that they would be recō ciled to God: who neuertheles had once before bene reconciled to God. Fourthly, he may commit a sinne of presumption, which is a fearefull sinne, being done wittinglie of knowledge and willinglie, and with some wilfulnesse. Therefore Dauid prayed fkeepe thy seruant presumptuous sinne: and to shewe himselfe to be in danger of it, hee prayeth further, let them not haue dominion ouer mee. Lastly, hee may fall into dispaire of Gods mercie for a time, and this is a dangerous sinne. For he which dispaires, makes all the promises of God to bee false: and this sinne of all other is most contrarie to true sauing faith. In this estate was Dauid, whē ⟨p. 105⟩being in trouble, hee said, gthis is my death. And Paul shewes that the incestuous man might haue fallen into desperation,
- 1Dangerous fals of a Christian.
- a1. Thess. 5 19.
- bEph. 4. 30▪
- cMat. 16. 16. 26. 70.
- dEsa. 14. 18.
- e2. Cor. 5. 20.
- fPs. 19. 13.
- gPsal. 77. 11.
- h2. Cor. 2. 2.
