Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

Fifthly, we confess that by these sins thus committed, the Conscience of a regenerate man is wasted and wounded, and overcome by the power of sin, and such a particular grievous Guilt contracted, as must first be washed away by some particular repentance, before that man can be again qualified to take actual possession of his inheritance, or to be admitted unto glory. In which case that of the apostle is most certain, that the very righteous ¹shall scarcely be saved. For we are to note that as some things may indispose a man for the present use, or dispossess him of the Comforts and Emoluments, which yet are not valid enough to devest him of the whole right and state in a living: so some sins may be of so heavy a nature as may unqualify a man for an actual admittance into Heaven, or possession of glory, which yet do not nullify his Faith, nor extinguish his Title and interest unto it. Thus we see that sin may in the most holy have great power; the examples whereof are all written for our learning, to teach us what is indeed within us, how circumspectly we should walk, how watchful over our hearts, how steadfast in our Covenant, lest we fall after the example of those men, and so break our bones as David did. For one great sin presumptuously committed, will bring either such a hardness of heart, as will make thee live in a wretched security and neglect of thy service, and peace with God; Or such a woeful experience of his wrath and heavy displeasure against sin, as will even bruise thy Conscience, and burn up thy bowels, and make thee go drooping and disconsolate it may be all thy days.

Fifthly, we confesse that by these sinnes thus committed, the Conscience of a regenerat man is wasted and wounded, and overcome by the power of sinne, and such a particular grievous Guilt contracted, as must first bee washed away by some particular repentance, before that man can be againe qualified to take actuall possession of his inheritance, or to be admitted unto glory. In which case that of the apostle is most certaine, that the very righteous ¹shall scarsely be saved. For wee are to note that as some things may indispose a man for the present use, or dispossesse him of the Comforts and Emoluments, which yet are not valid enough to devest him of the whole right and state in a living: so some sinnes may bee of so heavie a nature as may unqualifie a man for an actuall admittance into Heaven, or possession of glory, which yet doe not nullifie his Faith, nor extinguish his Title and interest unto it. Thus we see that sinne may in the most holy have great power; the examples whereof are all written for our learning, to teach us what is indeede within us, how circumspectly wee should walke, how watchfull over our hearts, how stedfast in our Covenant, lest wee fall after the example of those men, and so breake our bones as David did. For one great sinne presumptuously committed, will bring either such a hardnesse of heart, as will make thee live in a wretched securitie and neglect of thy service, and peace with God; Or such a wofull experience of his wrath and heavie displeasure against sinne, as will even bruise thy Conscience, and burne up thy bowels, and make thee goe drooping and disconsolate it may be all thy dayes.