Answ. No: For Discouragement it self is a sin, another sin, a Gospel sin; now my sin against the Law, is no just cause why I should sin against the Gospel. I confess indeed; there is much evil in every sin, the least sin is worse than the greatest affliction; Afflictions, Judgments, and punishments, are but the Claws of this Lyon; it is more contrary to God than the Misery of Hell: Chrysostom had so great a sense of the evil of it, that when the Empress sent him a threatening Message; Go tell her (said he) Nil nisi peccatum metuo, I fear nothing but sin. And in some respects, the sins of the Godly are worse than the sins of others, for they grieve the Spirit more, they dishonour Christ more, they grieve the Saints more, they wound the Name of God more, they are more against the Love, and Grace, and Favour of God, than other mens sins are. And the Lord doth see the sins of his own People, yea, so far he sees sin in them, that he doth chastise and afflict them for it; not only from their sin, but for their sin; and therefore saith the Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.30. (speaking of the unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper) For this cause many are sick and weak among you. And he doth not speak only of Saints in Appearance, and in Church-Estate, but of such also as were Saints indeed, and therefore he saith, We are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. He puts himself in, We are judged that we may not be condemned with the world.1 Our Saviour Christ saith, Revel. 3. As many a• I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent, it seems then it was for sin committed, else why should he say, Repent? and repent therefore? Repentance is for sin committed already, and these were such as he loved too, whom he threatens thus to rebuke and chastise; and doth any Father rebuke, chastise, or correct his Child only from sin, and not for sin? Was not Moses a gracious and an holy man? and yet for his unbelief and sin, he lost the Land of Canaan: Was not Sampson a good man? and yet by his sin, he lost his Eyes, and his Life too: Was not David a gracious and a holy man? and yet for his sin, the Lord said, The Sword should never depart from his house, and yet Christ had made satisfaction for his sin too, as well then, as for the Saints now.
Answ. No: For Discouragement it self is a sin, another sin, a Gospel sin; now my sin against the Law, is no just cause why I should sin against the Gospel. I confess indeed; there is much evil in every sin, the least sin is worse than the greatest affliction; Afflictions, Judgments, and punishments, are but the Claws of this Lyon; it is more contrary to God than the Misery of Hell: Chrysostom had so great a sence of the evil of it, that when the Empress sent him a threatening Message; Go tell her (said he) Nil nisi peccatum metuo, I fear nothing but sin. And in some respects, the sins of the Godly are worse than the sins of others, for they grieve the Spirit more, they dishonor Christ more, they grieve the Saints more, they wound the Name of God more, they are more against the Love, and Grace, and Favor of God, than other mens sins are. And the Lord doth see the sins of his own People, yea, so far he sees sin in them, that he doth chastise and afflict them for it; not only from their sin, but for their sin; and therefore saith the Apostle in 1 Cor. 11.30. (speaking of the unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper) For this cause many are sick and weak among you. And he doth not speak only of Saints in Appearance, and in Church-Estate, but of such also as were Saints indeed, and therefore he saith, We are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. He puts himself in, We are judged that we may not be condemned with the world.1 Our Savior Christ saith, Revel. 3. As many a• I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent, it seems then it was for sin committed, else why should he say, Repent? and repent therefore? Repentance is for sin committed already, and these were such as he loved too, whom he threatens thus to rebuke and chastise; and doth any Father rebuke, chastise, or correct his Child only from sin, and not for sin? Was not Moses a gracious and an holy man? and yet for his unbeleef and sin, he lost the Land of Canaan: Was not Sampson a good man? and yet by his sin, he lost his Eyes, and his Life too: Was not David a gracious and a holy man? and yet for his sin, the Lord said, The Sword should never depart from his house, and yet Christ had made satisfaction for his sin too, as well then, as for the Saints now.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew]. Revel. 3.19.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Revel. 3.19.
