The Soul's Conflict with Itself

True it is, that sin is not so sweet ¹in the committing, as it is heavy and •itter in the reckoning. When Adam ⟨p. 354⟩had once offended God, Paradise it self was not Paradise to him. The presence of God which was most comfortable before, was now his greatest terror, had not God out of his free infinite and preventing mercy come betwixt him and hell, by the promise of the blessed seed. This seed was made sin to satisfy for sin; sin passive in himself ²to satisfy for sin active in us.

True it is, that sinne is not so sweet ¹in the committing, as it is heavy and •itter in the reckoning. When Adam ⟨p. 354⟩had once offended God, Paradise it selfe was not Paradise to him. The presence of God which was most comfortable before, was now his greatest terrour, had not God out of his free infinite and preventing mercy come betwixt him and hell, by the promise of the blessed seed. This seed was made sin to satisfie for sinne; sinne passive in himselfe ²to satisfie for sinne active in us.

1. 1Answ.
2. 22 Cor. 5. 21

When God once charges sin upon the soul, Alas who shall take it off? When the great God shall frown, the smiles of the creature cannot refresh us. Sin makes us afraid of that which should be our greatest comfort; it puts a sting into every other evil; upon the seizing of any evil, either of body, soul, or condition, the guilty soul is embittered and enraged; for from that which it feels, it fore-speaks to it self worse to come. It interprets all that befalls, as the messengers of an angry God, sent in displeasure to take revenge upon it. This weakeneth the courage, wasteth the spirits, and blasteth