1. It is not the bare Act of sin in it self considered, that must determine the case: but the Act compared with the Life of Grace, and with true Repentance. Whoever hath the Love of God and Life of Grace, is in a state of Salvation: And therefore whatever sin consisteth with the fore-described Essentials of Sanctification, (viz. The Habitual ⟨p. 348⟩devotion of the soul to God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and the Habitual renunciation of the Flesh, ehe World and Devil) consisteth with a state of life. And true Repentance proveth the pardon of all sin: And therefore whatever sin consisteth with Habitual Repentance, (which is the Hatred of sin as sin,) and hath Actual Repentance when it is observed, and there is time of deliberation, consisteth with a state of Grace. Now in Habitual Conversion or Repentance, the Habitual Willingness to leave our sins, must be more then our sinful Habitual Willingness to keep it. Now you may by this, much discern as to particular acts, whether they are consistent with Habitual hatred of sin. For some sins are so much in the power of the will, that he that hath an Habitual hatred of them, cannot frequently commit them; And some sins are also of so heinous a nature or degree, that he that Habitually hateth sin, cannot frequently commit them: nor at all, while his Hatred to them is in Act: And he that truly Repenteth of them, cannot frequently return to them: because that showeth that Repentance was indeed either but Superficial, or not Habitual. But some sins are not so great and heinous, and therefore do not ⟨p. 349⟩•o much debtor the soul, and some are not so fully in the power of a sanctified will (as •assions, thoughts, &c.) and therefore may •fter be committed in consistency with Habitual Repentance or Hatred of sin. To examine particulars, would be tedious and digressive.
1. It is not the bare Act of sin in it self considered, that must determine the case: but the Act compared with the Life of Grace, and with true Repentance. Whoever hath the Love of God and Life of Grace, is in a state of Salvation: And therefore whatever sin consisteth with the fore-described Essentials of Sanctification, (viz. The Habituall ⟨p. 348⟩devotion of the soul to God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and the Habitual renunciation of the Flesh, ehe World and Devil) consisteth with a state of life. And true Repentance proveth the pardon of all sin: And therefore whatever sin consisteth with Habitual Repentance, (which is the Hatred of sin as sin,) and hath Actual Repentance when it is observed, and there is time of deliberation, consisteth with a state of Grace. Now in Habitual Conversion or Repentance, the Habitual Willingness to leave our sins, must be more then our sinfull Habitual Willingness to keep it. Now you may by this, much discern as to particular acts, whether they are consistent with Habitual hatred of sin. For some sins are so much in the power of the will, that he that hath an Habitual hatred of them, cannot frequently commit them; And some sins are also of so heynous a nature or degree, that he that Habitually hateth sin, cannot frequently commit them: nor at all, while his Hatred to them is in Act: And he that truly Repenteth of them, cannot frequently return to them: because that sheweth that Repentance was indeed either but Superfi•ial, or not Habitual. But some sins are not so great and heynous, and therefore do not ⟨p. 349⟩•o much deterr the soul, and some are not so fully in the power of a sanctified will (as •assions, thoughts, &c.) and therefore may •fter be committed in consistency with Ha•itual Repentance or Hatred of sin. To ex•mine particulars, would be tedious and digressive.
