I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. To that I say no more, but desire you to consider the Instance that is here before you: The Disciples slept, our Lord and Saviour Christ comes and wakens them; yea, and he chides them too; what, saith he, cannot ye watch with me one hour, watch and pray, and yet they slept again; and he comes and wakens them again, and admonisheth them again, and yet they slept again. Possibly therefore, a man may fall into the same Sin again, and again, yea, even after Admonition, and yet it may be a Sin of Infirmity: Yet how many poor souls are there, that are mistaken here on the right hand, and do think that their Sins are no Sins of Infirmity, when indeed they are.

Answ. To that I say no more, but desire you to consider the Instance that is here before you: The Disciples slept, our Lord and Savior Christ comes and wakens them; yea, and he chides them too; what, saith he, cannot ye watch with me one hour, watch and pray, and yet they slept again; and he comes and wakens them again, and admonishe•h them again, and yet they slept again. Possibly therefore, a man may fal into the same Sin again, and again, yea, even after Admonition, and yet it may be a Sin of Infirmity: Yet how many poor souls are there, that are mistaken here on the right hand, and do think that their Sins are no Sins of Infirmity, when indeed they are.

Quest. But if there be such mistakes, how shall we then know, whether our Sins be Sins of Infirmity?

Answ. 1 First, Negatively: That is no Sin of Infirmity which is a gross, foul, scandalous Sin, committed with deliberation, and consultation: It is said of David, that he turned not aside to the right hand, or to the left, save only in the matter of Uriah: It seems then, that in this matter he did turn aside; but why is it said that he turned aside here, and not in other things? did he not Sin at other times? Yes, very often: but there is a difference between missing ones way, and turning aside out of ones way; a man may ignorantly miss his way, or unadvisedly; but he that turns aside out of his way, doth it voluntarily, and deliberately: and so did David here in this case, and not in others; this act was a foul fact, which he was able, and had strength to avoid, committed with much deliberation, and therefore it was no Sin of Infirmity. So that if a mans Sin committed, be a gross, foul, scandalous Sin, committed with deliberation, and consultation, this is no Sin of Infirmity.