Seasonable counsel, or, Advice to sufferers

The causes of this are many, some of which I shall now briefly touch upon.

1. Sin is in the best of men: and as long as it is so, without great watchfulness, and humble walking with God, we may be exposed to shame, and suffering for it. What sin is it that a child of God is not liable to commit (excepting that which is the sin unpardonable)? Nor have we a promise of being kept from any other sin, but on condition that we do watch and pray. Mat. 26.41.

2. 'Tis possible for a Christian to have an erroneous conscience in some things, yea, in such things as (if God by his grace prevents not) may bring us to public justice and shame. Abishai, tho' a good man, would have killed the King, and that of conscience to God, and love to his Master. 1 Sam. 26.7.8, And had David delivered him up to Saul for his attempt, he had in all likelihood died as a Traitor. Peter drew his Sword, and would have fought therewith, a thing for which he ⟨p. 53⟩was blamed of his Master, and bid with a threatening, to put it up again. Mat. 26.52.

2. 'Tis possible for a Christian to have anerroneous conscience in some things, yea, in such things as (if God by his grace prevents not) may bring us to publick justice and shame. Abishai, tho' a good man, would have kill'd the King, and that of conscience to God, and love to his Master.