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

Quest. But how may this appear; That notwithstanding the sins of Gods own People do grieve the Spirit of God, are a dishonour to Jesus Christ, and do wound the Name of God, and the Profession of Christ so much; That yet the Saints have no reason to be discouraged, or cast down?

Quest. But how may this appear; That notwithstanding the sins of Gods own People do grieve the Spirit of God, are a dishonor to Jesus Christ, and do wound the Name of God, and the Profession of Christ so much; That yet the Saints have no reason to be discouraged, or cast down?

Answ. 1 First: They know, or they may know, that they shall never be condemned for their sin, whatever it be. There is no Condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus (saith the Apostle.) Christ was made sin for them; and if Christ be made sin for me, then my sin shall never hurt me. Luther is bold here,¹ for (saith he) Christ is made sin damning, our sin is sin damned: I confess indeed (said he) that I have sinned, but sin damning is stronger than sin damned, and Christ was made sin damning for me. The thing is true, though the expression be strange; Christ was made sin for Saints, therefore their sin shall not hurt them. It stands not with the Justice of God to exact the payment of one debt twice. Now the Lord Jesus Christ hath not only been arrested, but in Goal for the debt of the Saints and People of God, and he hath paid it to the utmost farthing, he hath paid it better than they could have paid it themselves, if they had gone to Hell: for if a Godly man had gone to Hell, and been damned for ever, he would have been always paying, but the debt would never have been paid: Christ paid it all down for the present. And if you look into Scripture, you will find, That the Lord doth not condemn a man, no not a wicked man, barely for the act of his former sin, but because he will not turn from it. Psal. 7.11. The Lord is angry with the wicked every day: verse 12. If he turn not, he will whet his Sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready; he hath prepared for him the Instruments of death, he ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutor: The Lord hath prepared Instruments of Death against every wicked man; but yet notwithstanding, though a man be never so wicked, if he turn unto the Lord, God will not discharge those Instruments of Death upon him, yea, though his sins have been never so great; but, saith the Text, If he turn not (not because he hath sinned before only, but because he turns not from his sin) he will whet his Sword; he hath bent his Bow, and made it ready. Now there is always in the Saints and People of God, a turning disposition, although they do sin against God; there is always (I say) a turning disposition in them, and therefore the Lord will not discharge the Instruments of death upon them, surely then, they have no reason to be quite discouraged in this respect.