A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Seventhly, The true penitent would have God to forgive him, not only some of his sins, but all his sins; and therefore 'tis but just and equal that he should turn from all his sins. If God be so faithful and just to forgive us all our sins,¹ we must be so faithful and just as to turn from all our sins. The plaster must be as broad as the sore, and the tent as long and as deep as the wound. It argues horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and wonderful impudency, for a man to beg the pardon of ⟨p. 267⟩those very sins that he is resolved never to forsake. Look, as he that hath any one sin forgiven, hath all sins forgiven; so he that hath sincerely turned from any one sin, he hath turned from every sin; and he that hath not repented him of all known sin, he hath not yet sincerely repented of any known sin, nor as yet experienced the sweetness of forgiveness of sin. He that will not renounce those sins that he would have God to remit, shall be sure to have a hell (of guilt) in his conscience. Of all fools there is none to him, that is very importunate with God to forgive those sins, which he is resolved before-hand to commit; for what Prince (in his wits) will pardon his treasons that is resolved to continue a Traitor? or what Judge will forgive his thievery, that is peremptorily determined to continue a thief? or what Husband will pardon his Wife that is resolved to defile his bed with other Lovers? Such as continue in the practise of those very sins, which they beg a pardon of, shall certainly go without their pardon. Pardon of sin is for that man, and that man is for pardon of sin, that is as truly willing to forsake his sins as he is to receive the pardon of his sins. Who would not look upon that man as a mad man, who should earnestly beg his pardon, and yet before his pardon is sealed, should afresh cut purses, and murder persons before the eyes of the Judge? The pardoned soul is the repenting soul, and the repenting soul is the pardoned soul, Psal. 32.2. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guil. He that begs pardon of sin, and is resolved against turning from sin, shall find no more sweetness in that grand promise of pardon, Prov. 28.13. than devils or damned spirits do. Look as one sin unforgiven, will as certainly undo and damn a man as a thousand;