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…

Thirdly, This Church-Saintship therefore doth consist with many imperfections ¹and weaknesses, so that we need a constant and daily remission of sin through the blood of Christ. This is greatly to be observed, because some have dreamed of such a perfection in this life, that if not alway, yet for some time, we may be without any sin at all; and therefore they tell us of Saints in the Church which need no pardon or forgiveness; as if to be a Saint in the Church, and a Saint in Heaven were all one: but our Saviour in directing all to pray for the forgiveness of sin (I say all that are to pray, are to pray so) doth plainly confute this. And the Apostle John saith, That if we say we have no sin in us, we deceive our selves; and indeed we sin in saying so. And this is the more to be observed, because the dear children of God think this title of Saint too glorious and great to apply to themselves, who are compassed about with such infirmities. How can I be called a Saint, and yet so dull, so sluggish, so froward, earthly, and often disordered in heart? But you are to know, that though Saints, yet we are not to be justified by our Saintship; we need the imputed righteousness of Christ, to cover the imperfections of our Saintship; yea some have not lost their Saintship, and yet have fallen into foul sins for a season. David, Peter, and others, did not cease to be Saints in those sad falls, though their holiness was drawn inward, and as the juice of the Tree in the Winter, was hid in the root under ground; but these Suns were not always in an eclipse, at last they did recover to their greater advantage in holiness, and to be a pillar of salt to all other Saints, Nor to be high-minded, but fear.

Thirdly, This Church-Saintship therefore doth consist with many imperfections ¹and weaknesses, so that we need a constant and daily remission of sinne through the bloud of Christ. This is greatly to be observed, because some have dreamed of such a perfection in this life, that if not alway, yet for some time, we may be without any sinne at all; and therefore they tell us of Saints in the Church which need no pardon or forgiveness; as if to be a Saint in the Church, and a Saint in Heaven were all one: but our Saviour in directing all to pray for the forgivenesse of sin (I say all that are to pray, are to pray so) doth plainly confute this. And the Apostle John saith, That if we say we have no sinne in us, we deceive our selves; and indeed we sinne in saying so. And this is the more to be observed, because the dear children of God think this title of Saint too glorious and great to apply to themselves, who are compassed about with such infirmities. How can I be called a Saint, and yet so dull, so sluggish, so froward, earthly, and often disordered in heart? But you are to know, that though Saints, yet we are not to be justified by our Saintship; we need the imputed righteousness of Christ, to cover the imperfections of our Saintship; yea some have not lost their Saintship, and yet have fallen into foul sins for a season. David, Peter, and others, did not cease to be Saints in those sad falls, though their holiness was drawn inward, and as the juice of the Tree in the Winter, was hid in the root under ground; but these Suns were not alwayes in an eclipse, at last they did recover to their greater advantage in holiness, and to be a pillar of salt to all other Saints, Nor to be high-minded, but fear.