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

O says one, I am a man or woman of a rebellious heart, I have so sleight a Spirit, so unholy, and uneven a conversation, that when I reflect upon my heart and life, I cannot but be discouraged I know indeed, it is a great evil, for a man to labour under a •ore temptation, or a sad desertion; but were my heart good my life good, my conversation good, I should not be discouraged; but as for me, I have committed, and do commit such and •uen great sins, have I not reason, and just reason now to be discouraged▪

O saies one, I am a man or woman of a rebellious heart, I have so sleight a Spirit, so unholy, and uneven a conversation, that when I reflect upon my heart and life, I cannot but be discouraged I know indeed, it is a great evil, for a man to labor under a •ore temptation, or a sad desertion; but were my heart good my life good, my conversation good, I should not be discouraged; but as for me, I have committed, and do commit such and •uen great sins, have I not reason, and just reason now to be discouraged▪

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