An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

2. There are occasional means, which do not directly, but occasionally promote ¹the salvation of believers. And they are,

1. 12. The occasional means, as

1. Their very sins. These are Occasions passivae, passive occasions, merely ¹because sin of it self hath such a deadly nature, that it is not ordinable to salvation; only the Omnipotency, the Wisdom and Goodness of God make the former sins the godly have committed to be admirable antidotes and preservatives against future sin. Thus Pauls blasphemy and persecution was overpowered to promote his salvation by making him more active. Even as one grief doth cure another sometimes, or the burning of fire is taken out by fire, which made one not afraid to say, That he got good by his sins, more than by his graces. Hence Rom. 8. many learned men do not exclude sins themselves from that comfortable expression of the Apostle, All things shall work together for their good.

1. Their very sinnes. These are Occasiones passivae, passive occasions, meerly ¹because sinne of it self hath such a deadly nature, that it is not ordinable to salvation; only the Omnipotency, the Wisdome and Goodnesse of God make the former sinnes the godly have commitred to be admirable antidotes and preservatives against future sinne. Thus Pauls blasphemy and persecution was overpowred to promote his salvation by making him more active. Even as one grief doth cure another sometimes, or the burning of fire is taken out by fire, which made one not afraid to say, That he got good by his sinnes, more than by his graces. Hence