The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

How was the case altered with Judah towards Tamar, when he once saw it was his own act. How was Davids zeal for Justice allayed, as soon as he heard, Thou art the man? This is the most common cause why God is fain to hold our eyes on our transgressions by force, because we are so loth to do it more voluntarily: and why he openeth our sin in such crimson and scarlet colours to us; because we are so apt either to look on them as nothing, or to shut our eyes and over-look them: and why God doth hold us so long on the rack, because we would still ease our selves by uningenuous excuses and extenuations: and why God doth break the skin so oft and keep open our wounds; because we are still healing them by such carnal shifts. This proud sin-excusing distemper needs no other proof or discovery, then our great tenderness and backwardness in submitting to reproofs: How long do we excuse sin, and defend our pretended innocency, as long we can find a word ⟨p. 283⟩to say for it. Doth not daily experience of this sad distemper even in most of the godly, discover fully to us, that most men (yea naturally all) are far proner to over-look their sins, and deal unfaithfully and negligently in the trial; then to be too tender, and to charge themselves too deep.

How was the case altered with Judah towards Thamar, when he once saw it was his own act. How was Davids zeal for Justice allaied, as soon as he heard, Thou art the man? This is the most common cause why God is fain to hold our eyes on our transgressions by force, because we are so loth to do it more voluntarily: and why he openeth our sinne in such crimson and scarlet colours to us; because we are so apt either to look on them as nothing, or to shut our eyes and over-look them: and why God doth hold us so long on the rack, because we would still ease our selves by uningenuous excuses and extenuations: and why God doth break the skin so oft and keep open our wounds; because we are still healing them by such carnal shifts. This proud sin-excusing distemper needs no other proof or discovery, then our great tenderness and backwardness in submitting to reproofs: How long do we excuse sinne, and defend our pretended innocency, as long we can finde a word ⟨p. 283⟩to say for it. Doth not daily experience of this sad distemper even in most of the godly, discover fully to us, that most men (yea naturally all) are farre proner to over-look their sinnes, and deal unfaithfully and negligently in the triall; then to be too tender, and to charge themselves too deep.