The Soul's Conflict with Itself

If Christ will have us pardon our brother seventy seven times, can we ¹think that he will enjoin us more, then he will be ready to do himself, when in case of showing mercy he would have us think his thoughts to be far above ours. Adam lost all by ⟨p. 367⟩once sinning, but we are under a better covenant, a covenant of mercy, and are encouraged by the Son to go to the Father every day for the sins of that day.

If Christ will have us pardon our brother seaventy seaven times, can wee ¹thinke that hee will enjoyne us more, then he will be ready to doe himselfe, when in case of shewing mercy hee would have us thinke his thoughts to be farre above ours. Adam lost all by ⟨p. 367⟩once sinning, but we are under a better covenant, a covenant of mercy, and are encouraged by the Sonne to goe to the Father every day for the sinnes of that day.

1. 1Answ.

Where the work of grace is begun, sin loses strength by every new fall; for hence issues deeper humility, stronger hatred, fresh indignation against our selves, more experience of the deceitfulness of our hearts, renewed resolutions until sin be brought under. That should not drive us from God, which God would have us make use of, to fly the rather to him, since there is a throne of grace set up in Jesus Christ, we may boldly make use of, and let us be ashamed to sin, and not ashamed to glorify Gods mercy in begging pardon for sin. Nothing will make us more ashamed to sin, then thoughts of so free and large mercy. It will grieve an ingenuous spirit to offend so good a God. Ah that there should be such an heart in me, as to tire the patience of God, and dam up his goodness, as much as in me lies; but this is our comfort,