Chapter 3 › Answer 3: The third Answer., A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a… by Thomas Brooks (1669) | AskReformation

Skip to content

Negatively, It is not such a turning from sin as never to §1sin more, 1 King. 8.46. For there is no man that sinneth not. Prov. 20.9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean? I am pure from my sin? Prov. 24.16. A just man falleth seven times, ⟨p. 278⟩and riseth again. Eccl. 7.20. For there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good, and sinneth not. Luke 17.4. If he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again unto thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him. Mat. 18.21, 22. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him, till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven. James 3.2. For in many things we offend all; or we stumble all, as the Greek has it. 1 John 1.8. If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us. Ver. 10. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a lyar, and his word is not in us. And what did the continual burnt-offering which was to be made day by day import, but a daily sinning, and expiating of it? &c. Num. 28.3. Such is the universal corruption of humane nature, that the souls of the best, of the purest, and of the holiest men in the world, do from day to day, yea from moment to moment, contract some filth and uncleanness. The choicest Saints can never acquit themselves from sins of infirmity, such as do inevitably and inseparably cleave unto the best of men, especially considering the state and condition wherein they are, carrying still about them corrupt flesh and bloud. Methodius compares the inbred corruptions of man's heart to a wild Fig-tree, growing upon the wall of some goodly Temple or stately Palace, whereof although the main trunk of the stem be broke off, and stump of the root be plucked up, yet the fibrous strings of it piercing into the joynts of the stone work, will not be utterly extracted, but will be ever and anon shooting and sprouting out, until the whole frame of the building be dissolved, and the stone work thereof be disjoynted and pulled in pieces.

:556p. 278–279§2

Secondly, It is not such a turning from sin, as that the true penitent shall never relapse into the same kind of sin any more; for a true penitent may fall into the same sin again and again. It was a sin for the disciples to sleep when Christ had commanded them to watch and pray,¹ and yet they slept again and again. The prophet Jonah was a holy man, and ⟨p. 279⟩yet he relapsed into passion and discontent with God again and again; he was discontent with the work God set him about, therefore he flieth to Tarshish, Jonah 1.2, 3. and sorrows for it, and confesseth that they that trust upon lying vanities forsake their own mercies, Chap. 2.8. and yet when God had showed mercy to Nineveh, he was exceedingly discontented with God again, Jonah 4.1. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And when the Lord, who might have sent him to his grave, or a frowned him to hell, reasons lovingly, sweetly and mildly with him to take him off from his passion, Chap. 4.3, 4. and provides for him in his extremity; yet upon a very small occasion, viz. the taking away of a Gourd or shrub (which God did to convince him of his folly and waspishness of spirit) he breaks out again into the same passion, or worse, as if he had never seen the evil of it, or been humbled for it, Jonah 4.8, 9. I am greatly angry, or I do well to be angry, even unto death. And that is very considerable that Job speaks concerning his friends, Job 19.3. These ten times have ye reproached me, yet are ye not ashamed. It is a sin to reproach any man, it is a greater to reproach a godly man; but yet greater to reproach a godly man under sad and sore afflictions; but yet greatest of all to reproach a godly man under his sufferings, often, frequently; yet saith Job, These ten times have ye reproached me; and yet Job's friends were not only godly, but eminently godly. By this sad instance 'tis evident, that gracious men, yea that men eminently gracious, may fall into the same sin again and again, yea ten times, that is often. Though Christ told his disciples that his kingdom was not of this world,² yet at three several times their pride and ambitious humour put them upon striving for preeminence and worldly greatness. King Jehoshaphat, though he was a godly man, yet he joins affinity with that non such wicked Ahab, for which he was smartly reproved by the Prophet, 2 Chron. 19.2.

Secondly, It is not such a turning from sin, as that the true penitent shall never relapse into the same kind of sin any more; for a true penitent may fall into the same sin again and again. It was a sin for the disciples to sleep when Christ had commanded them to watch and pray,¹ and yet they slept again and again. The prophet Jonah was a holy man, and ⟨p. 279⟩yet he relapsed into passion and discontent with God again and again; he was discontent with the work God set him about, therefore he flieth to Tarshish, Jonah 1.2, 3. and sorrows for it, and confesseth that they that trust upon lying vanities forsake their own mercies, Chap. 2.8. and yet when God had shewed mercy to Niniveh, he was exceedingly discontented with God again, Jonah 4.1. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And when the Lord, who might have sent him to his grave, or a frown'd him to hell, reasons lovingly, sweetly and mildly with him to take him off from his passion, Chap. 4.3, 4. and provides for him in his extremity; yet upon a very small occasion, viz. the taking away of a Gourd or shrub (which God did to convince him of his folly and waspishness of spirit) he breaks out again into the same passion, or worse, as if he had never seen the evil of it, or been humbled for it, Jonah 4.8, 9. I am greatly angry, or I do well to be angry, even unto death. And that is very considerable that Job speaks concerning his friends, Job 19.3. These ten times have ye reproached me, yet are ye not ashamed. It is a sin to reproach any man, it is a greater to reproach a godly man; but yet greater to reproach a godly man under sad and sore afflictions; but yet greatest of all to reproach a godly man under his sufferings, often, frequently; yet saith Job, These ten times have ye reproached me; and yet Job's friends were not only godly, but eminently godly. By this sad instance 'tis evident, that gracious men, yea that men eminently gracious, may fall into the same sin again and again, yea ten times, that is often. Though Christ told his disciples that his kingdom was not of this world,² yet at three several times their pride and ambitious humour put them upon striving for preheminence and worldly greatness. King Jehoshaphat, though he was a godly man, yet he joyns affinity with that non such wicked Ahab, for which he was smartly reproved by the Prophet,

1Mat. 26.40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.
2John 18.36. Mat. 18.1, 2, 3, 4. Mark 9 34. Luke 9.46 . & 22.24, 26.

:557p. 279–280§2

And Jehu went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord. Now though this gracious Prince was thus reproved and saved, even by a miracle of mercy, ⟨p. 280⟩2 Chron. 18.1, 2, 3, 30, 31. compared; yet soon after he falls into the same sin again, and joins himself with Ahaziah King of Israel, who did very wickedly, 2 Chron. 20.35, 36. and for which he is severely reproved in verse 37. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavan of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, because thou hast joined thy self with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works, and the Ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Let was twice overcome with wine, &c. and Abraham, though the father of the faithful, yet falls once and again into the same sin, Gen. 12.11, 12,¹ 13. compared with Chap. 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 13. Peter falls once and again into the same sin, and John twice worshipped the Angel, and Sampson (who is by the Spirit of the Lord numbered amongst those Worthies of whom this world was not worthy, Heb. 11.32, 33, 38.) fell again and again into the same gross sin, as is evident in the 14, 15, & 16. Chapters of the book of Judges. And the Church confesses, that their backslidings are many, Jer. 14.7. By all which 'tis most evident, that good men may fall again and again into the same sin; and no wonder, for though their repentance be never so sincere and sound, yet their graces are but weak, and their mortification but imperfect in this life, and therefore 'tis possible for a gracious soul to fall again and again into the same sin; if the fire be not wholly put out, who will think it impossible, that it should catch and burn again and again?

And Jehu went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord. Now though this gracious Prince was thus reproved and saved, even by a miracle of mercy, ⟨p. 280⟩2 Chron. 18.1, 2, 3, 30, 31. compared; yet soon after he falls into the same sin again, and joyns himself with Ahaziah King of Israel, who did very wickedly, 2 Chron. 20.35, 36. and for which he is severely reproved in verse 37. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavan of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, because thou hast joyned thy self with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works, and the Ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Let was twice overcome with wine, &c. and Abraham, though the father of the faithful, yet falls once and again into the same sin, Gen. 12.11, 12,¹ 13. compared with Chap. 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 13. Peter falls once and again into the same sin, and John twice worshipped the Angel, and Sampson (who is by the Spirit of the Lord numbred amongst those Worthies of whom this world was not worthy, Heb. 11.32, 33, 38.) fell again and again into the same gross sin, as is evident in the 14, 15, & 16. Chapters of the book of Judges. And the Church confesses, that their backslidings are many, Jer. 14.7. By all which 'tis most evident, that good men may fall again and again into the same sin; and no wonder, for though their repentance be never so sincere and sound, yet their graces are but weak, and their mortification but imperfect in this life, and therefore 'tis possible for a gracious soul to fall again and again into the same sin; if the fire be not wholly put out, who will think it impossible, that it should catch and burn again and again?

1Mat. 26. Gal. 2.11, 12, 13

:558p. 280–281§2

I readily grant, that the Lord hath graciously promised to heal the backslidings of his people (Hosea 14.4. and so Jer. 3.22.¹ Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings; behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.) But I can no where find in all the Scriptures, that God hath engaged himself by any particular promise or promises, that Christians truly converted, truly penitent, shall never fall again and again into the same sins, after their conversion. I cannot find in all the book of God, where God has engaged himself to give such strength or power against this sin or that, as that a Christian shall be for ever (in this life) put out of all possibility of falling again and again into the same sins. ⟨p. 281⟩No person on earth can show such a promise, that when a Christian has been thus or thus troubled, grieved, humbled or melted for his sins, that then God will assuredly preserve him from ever falling into the same sins again. The sight of such a promise under God's own hand, would be as life from the dead to all real Christians, who fear nothing more than the sin of backsliding. Certainly, there is no such power or infinite virtue in the greatest horrors or terrors, troubles or sorrows that the soul can be under for sin, nor in the fullest, sweetest or choicest discoveries of God's rich grace and free love to the soul, as for ever to fence and secure the soul from relapsing into the same sin again and again. Though grace be a glorious creature, yet 'tis but a creature; grace is but a created habit, that may be prevailed against by Satan's temptations, and by the strong, secret, and subtle workings of sin in our hearts. But this must be carefully minded and remembered, that though the Saints may and do sometimes relapse, yet they do not relapse in such a manner as wicked men do relapse. For,

I readily grant, that the Lord hath graciously promised to heal the backslidings of his people (Hosea 14.4. and so Jer. 3.22.¹ Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings; behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.) But I can no where find in all the Scriptures, that God hath engaged himself by any particular promise or promises, that Christians truly converted, truly penitent, shall never fall again and again into the same sins, after their conversion. I cannot find in all the book of God, where God has engaged himself to give such strength or power against this sin or that, as that a Christian shall be for ever (in this life) put out of all possibility of falling again and again into the same sins. ⟨p. 281⟩No person on earth can shew such a promise, that when a Christian has been thus or thus troubled, grieved, humbled or melted for his sins, that then God will assuredly preserve him from ever falling into the same sins again. The sight of such a promise under God's own hand, would be as life from the dead to all real Christians, who fear nothing more than the sin of backsliding. Certainly, there is no such power or infinite vertue in the greatest horrors or terrors, troubles or sorrows that the soul can be under for sin, nor in the fullest, sweetest or choicest discoveries of God's rich grace and free love to the soul, as for ever to fence and secure the soul from relapsing into the same sin again and again. Though grace be a glorious creature, yet 'tis but a creature; grace is but a created habit, that may be prevailed against by Satans temptations, and by the strong, secret, and subtile workings of sin in our hearts. But this must be carefully minded and remembred, that though the Saints may and do sometimes relapse, yet they do not relapse in such a manner as wicked men do relapse. For,

1See Jer. 3.1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14.