The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

To conclude, it must cost many bitter cries and pitiful lamentations, many a salt tear, deep sighs, sobs, and groans, great dejection of mind, and abasing of ones self, long exercise in the School of Affliction, much strife and struggling, and many a pluck and wrestle (like true Israelites) with God himself, our own conscience, and the fears and terrors of Hell, before we can come to obtain a blessing at his hand, to be assured we are reconciled to him.

To conclude, it must cost many bitter cryes and pittifull lamentations, many a salt teare, deepe sighes, sobs, and grones, great deiection of minde, and abasing of ones selfe, long exercise in the Schoole of Affliction, much strife and struggling, and many a plucke and wrestle (like true Israelites) with God himselfe, our owne conscience, and the feares and terrours of Hell, before we can come to obtayne a blessing at his hand, to be assured we are reconciled to him.

And yet for all that, we are not free from falling any more after we be once risen: for every day we fall, yea, oftentimes a day, and therefore have need of a continual and every day Repentance.

And yet for all that, wee are not free from falling any more after we be once risen: for euery day we fall, yea, oftentimes a day, and therefore haue need of a continuall and euery day Repentance.

The greater question is, whether we may fall again ⟨p. 500⟩into the same sin, whereof truly we have repented, especially if it be a gross and heinous sin? I answer, The best man in the World hath no privilege this way, but that as he may lye long in his sin, so he may fall again into it: and as he may fall once, so may he fall twice, and so may he fall oftener, and how oft the word (for ought I know) setteth not any stint; neither are the Mercies of God, nor Merits of Christ to be restrained to so narrow bounds, but that where sin aboundeth, there grace doth more abound. Howbeit, he that shall so do, spoileth himself of much comfort, and greatly shaketh the assurance of Faith, which every Christian ought to labour for; seeing a continual relapse into one and the same offence, is a fearful argument of a man forsaken and given up of God; yet all comfort is not wholly to be denied to such a one: for