The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…

but assuredly such and greater madness it is when we feel our consciences clogged with a heavy burden of sin, in stead of seeking ease in coming to Christ by a lively faith, to fall into utter desperation and thereby to add a treble weight to the already intolerable burden of sin, which lieth upon our consciences until they be pressed down into the torments of hell. Every one would esteem him a most desperate wretch, who having offended such a gracious Prince, as would most surely forgive him upon his unfeigned sorrow for his fault, should in stead of humbling himself and asking pardon desperately refuse his Princes mercy, and with all deny his truth in his promises his mercy, justice, and even disavow him for being a lawful Prince. But such and much more wickedness do they desperately commit who having offended God by their grievous sins, who is so gracious & merciful, that he would most certainly forgive them upon their true repentance, in stead of humbling themselves by unfeigned sorrow, do desperately refuse to be partakers of his mercy, and not only so but deny the infiniteness of his mercy; justice, truth in his promises, and consequently his godhead and being. And therefore when (the weight of sin pressing us) Satan persuadeth us to despair of mercy and forgiveness, let us in any case resist this tentation, and boldly say unto the tempter; it is enough and too much that I have offended my gracious God with my other sins, though I do not ad thereunto this sin which is greater then all the rest, the weight of my other wickedness is already too too heavy upon ⟨p. 545⟩my conscience, & therefore far be it from me to load it with a far more unsupportable burden; I have already too much dishonoured my good God by my horrible sins, and therefore I will in no case more dishonour him, now then in committing all my other sins, by denying his mercy, justice, truth, and even the godhead it self; for what were this but being already in a burning fever to cast my self into the fire, or being gone over the shoes in the filthy puddle of sin to plunge my self over head and ears, and even to drown my self in the bottomless gulf of desperation?

but assuredly such and greater madnesse it is when wee feele our consciences clogged with a heauy burthen of sinne, in stead of seeking ease in comming to Christ by a liuely faith, to fall into vtter desperation and thereby to add a treble waight to the already intollerable burthen of sinne, which lieth vpon our consciences vntill they be pressed down into the torments of hell. Euery one would esteeme him a most desperate wretch, who hauing offended such a gratious Prince, as would most surely forgiue him vpon his vnfained sorrow for his fault, should in stead of humbling himselfe and asking pardon desperately refuse his Princes mercy, and with all denie his truth in his promises his mercy, iustice, and euen disauow him for being a lawfull Prince. But such and much more wickednesse doe they desperately commit who hauing offended God by their grieuous sinnes, who is so gratious & mercifull, that he would most certainely forgiue them vpon their true repentance, in stead of humbling themselues by vnfained sorrow, doe desperately refuse to bee partakers of his mercy, and not onely so but deny the infinitenes of his mercy; iustice, truth in his promisses, and consequently his godhead and being. And therefore when (the waight of sinne pressing vs) Sathan perswadeth vs to despaire of mercy and forgiuenes, let vs in any case resist this tentation, and boldly say vnto the tempter; it is inough and too much that I haue offended my gratious God with my other sinnes, though I doe not ad thereunto this sin which is greater then all the rest, the waight of my other wickednesse is already too too heauy vpō