A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…A Christian instruction, conteyning the law and the Gospell Also a summarie of the…

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Howe that every sin is of his own nature damnable, and how that notwithstanding, it is not able to damn the faithful.

Hovve that euery sinne is of his ovvne nature damnable, and hovv that notvvithstanding, it is not able to damne the faythfull.

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T. SO far forth as I may judge by thy words, it seemeth to me that thou concludest that every sin is mortal, which is to say damnable, t• all the unfaithful and reprobates, and that they are venial, to wit pardonable, to the chosen & faithful people of god

T. SO farre forthe as I maye iudge by thy words, it semeth to me that thou concludest that euery sinne is mortall, which is to say damnable, t• al ye vnfaithfull and reprobates, and that they are venial, to witte pardonable, to the chosen & faithful peple of god

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D. If thou do understand by damnable, sufficient to damn, & by venial, worthy of pardon: it is certain that there is no sin of his own nature worthy of pardon, but is able to damn. But if thou understand by damnable, the sin that damneth, and by venial, that which receiveth pardon, it is very certain that in this meaning there is no sin that may damn the elect and faithful, but it is pardoned unto them by reason of the merit and satisfaction of Jesus Christ,¹ for the which cause S. Paul saith, that there is no condemnation to those that be ⟨p. 535⟩in Jesus Christ, which do not walk after the flesh, but after the spirit.

D. If thou do vnderstand by damnable, sufficient to damne, & by venial, worthy of pardon: it is certaine that there is no sinne of his owne nature worthy of pardon, but is able to damne. But if thou vnderstand by damnable, the sinne that damneth, and by venial, that whiche receyueth pardon, it is very certaine yt in this meaning there is no sinne that may damne the elect and faithful, but it is pardoned vnto them by reason of the merite and satisfaction of Iesus Christe,¹ for the whiche cause S. Paule saith, that there is no condemnation to those that be ⟨p. 535⟩in Iesus Christe, which do not walke after the flesh, but after the spirite.

1Rom •.

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T. Then are they happy which believe in Jesus Christ.

T. Then are they happie whiche beleue in Iesus Christ.

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D. There are none else blessed but they only. Therefore David saith:¹ Blessed are they whose offences are pardoned, & whose sins are covered, Blessed is the man to whom god imputeth not his sin: he doth not say blessed is the man that is or shall be found without sin, for there is none such, nor never was, nor never shall be, but only Jesus Christ very god and very man. But he calleth that man blessed, who notwithstanding that he be a sinner, he hath yet found grace and pardon for his sins in the sight of God. In the mean while, we must take good heed, if we will be partakers of this blessedness, that we do not abuse that grace of God which is given us in Jesus Christ, least that where our sins should be but venial, we cause them to be twice mortal.

D. There are none else blessed but they only. Therfore Dauid saith:¹ Blessed are they whose offences are pardoned, & whose sinnes are couered, Blessed is the mā to whom god imputeth not his sinne: he doth not say blessed is the mā that is or shalbe foūd without sin, for there is none such, nor neuer was, nor neuer shalbe, but only Iesus Christ very god and very mā. But he calleth that man blessed, who notwithstanding that he be a sinner, he hathe yet found grace and pardon for his sinnes in the sight of God. In the meane while, we must take good héed, if we will be partakers of this blessednesse, that we do not abuse that grace of God which is giuē vs in Iesus Christe, least that where oure sinnes should be but venial, we cause thē to be twice mortall.

1Psalm. 32. Rom. 4.Psalme. 32. Rom. 4.

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What mean it behoveth to keep to fight against sin and to resist it, and to be delivered from it, and how every man ought to fear least he should be hardened therein, and should fight against his own conscience, to the end that sin be not to death.

VVhat meane it behoueth to kepe to fight against sinne and to resist it, and to be deliuered from it, and how euery mā ought to feare least he shuld be hardned therin, and should fight against his ovvne conscience, to the ende that sinne be not to death.

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T. Show me then what remedy we may find to avoid this great mischief.

T. SHewe me thē what remedy we may finde to auoide this great mischiefe.

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D. If we do walk according to the spirit, and not according to the flesh, immediately as soon as our concupiscence doth prick us, we must resist it by the spirit of God, if we do not resist it, it is a token that the spirit of God dwelleth not in us, which is a sure token of the unfaithful who follow their concupiscence without any let, without any fear of God at all, if we do resist it, and that our concupiscence and infirmity doth overcome us, the next remedy is not to suffer the wicked will to proceed any further: if that the violence of the wicked will and our infirmity be so great, that it break forth to the outward work, the other nearest remedy is, not to •ake an occupation of it, nor to return ⟨p. 537⟩any more to it, nor to continue any longer therein, but by true repentance, to correct all such faults, as well inward as outward, and to lead a good life. If it happen us to fall again into any at any time, let us take heed that we sleep not in it, nor yet persevere in it, least that God do leave us, and do harden our hearts, & cast us off into a reprobate sense, to punish our unkindness and frowardness in such sort, that in the end we come to resist the spirit of God,¹ & being vanquished by him in our own harts, we come to blaspheme him, as it doth often times happen to those which do contemn the admonitions that are given unto them, and the remorse of their consciences, & do assure them in their wickedness, for such a sin is without remission, & is called by S. John, the sin unto death. For so much as he that sinneth against the holy Ghost, doth cast of him without whom he can neither ask nor obtain pardon, nor be partaker of Jesus christ, which only is our way & our health. Let us then take heed that we follow not the example of Cain, of Pharaoh, of Saul, ⟨p. 538⟩of Judas, of the Scribes, of the Pharisees, who abode still hardened and obstinate in their sins, but let us follow the example of David, of the woman sinner, of S. Peter, of S. Paul, and such like servants of God, who have acknowledged and forsaken their faults, and returned to God with all their whole heart.

D. If we do walke acording to the spirite, and not according to the flesh, immediatly as soone as our cōcupiscence doth pricke vs, we must resist it by the spirite of God, if we do not resist it, it is a token that the spirite of God dwelleth not in vs, which is a sure token of the vnfaithfull who folow their concupiscence withoute any lette, without any feare of God at all, if we do resist it, and that oure concupiscence and infirmitie doth ouercome vs, the next remedy is not to suffer the wicked will to procéede any further: if that the violence of the wicked wil and our infirmitie be so great, that it breake foorth to the outward worke, the other nearest remedy is, not to ake an occupation of it, nor to retourne

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T. This declaration and admonition is very well worthy to be noted. Now I am very well con tented and satisfied in all those matters that have bin handled between us, whereby I do know the differences of sins, and how God doth judge, & how we ought to understand his law, and that by our free will we may be well lost and damned, & that there is none but God only which can save us through his grace & mercy.

T. This declaration and admonition is very well worthy to be noted. Now I am very well cō tented and satisfied in all those matters that haue bin handled betwene vs, whereby I do know the differences of sinnes, and how God doth iudge, & how we ought to vnderstand his law, and that by our frée wil we may be well lost and damned, & that there is none but God only which can saue vs thorow his grace & mercie.

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FINIS.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Howe that every sin is of his own nature damnable, and how that notwithstanding, it is not able to damn the faithful.

Hovve that euery sinne is of his ovvne nature damnable, and hovv that notvvithstanding, it is not able to damne the faythfull.

What mean it behoveth to keep to fight against sin and to resist it, and to be delivered from it, and how every man ought to fear least he should be hardened therein, and should fight against his own conscience, to the end that sin be not to death.

VVhat meane it behoueth to kepe to fight against sinne and to resist it, and to be deliuered from it, and how euery mā ought to feare least he shuld be hardned therin, and should fight against his ovvne conscience, to the ende that sinne be not to death.