The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…

1.^†. That though this were true (which indeed is heinous) yet it is no sufficient cause why thou shouldst despair; seeing that this is the common case of all the Children of God in this life, who vow so oft to forbear some sin^a till perceiving their weakness nor able to perform it, they vow that they will vow no more. Their Vows show the desires of their spiritual Man; their breaking, the weakness of their corrupt flesh. And our oft slips into the same sins, Christ foresaw, when he taught us to pray daily; Our Father, forgive us our trespasses. ⟨p. 412⟩And why doth Christ enjoin thee (who art but a sinful man) to forgive thy brother seven times in a day, ³if he shall return seven times in a day, and say, it repenteth me? But to assure thee that he (being the God of mercy and goodness it self) will forgive unto thee thy seventy times seven-fold sins a day which thou hast committed against him,⁴ if thou return unto him by true Repentance.⁵ The Israelites were cured by looking (though with weak eyes) on the Brazen Serpent, as oft as they were stung by the fiery Serpent in the Wilderness: to assure thee that upon thy tears of repentance, thou shalt be recovered by •aith in Christ as often as thou are wounded to death by sin.

1.^†. That though this were true (which indeed is hainous) yet it is no sufficient cause why thou shouldst despair; seeing that this is the common case of all the Children of God in this life, who vow so oft to forbear some sin^a till perceiving their weakness nor able to perform it, they vow that they will vow no more. Their Vows shew the desires of their spiritual Man; their breaking, the weakness of their corrupt flesh. And our oft slips into the same sins, Christ foresaw, when he taught us to pray daily; Our Father, forgive us our trespasses.