A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

SECT. VIII.

Repentance may be taken either largely or strictly.

Let therefore David's example here in the Text, be more to thee, than what ten thousand cavillers may say unto thee, only you must know, that when we speak of sorrow and repentance about this sin, we may take repentance largely or strictly for any kind of holy sorrow and humiliation of soul, and that because God is displeased with us, because we have that which is contrary to his holy Law, and so is offensive to him, and damnable to us; and in this respect we are in a deep measure to humble our selves for original sin, as being a most grievous and heinous sin, the guilt whereof would press us into the lowest hell, did not Gods grace interpose, or else it may be strictly taken for a change of our mind, or an alteration of that purpose and will we once had: Now in this strict sense, though it be our duty with sorrow to be humbled for original sin, yet we cannot be properly said to repent of it, because it was not a sin ever committed by us personally, or through our own actual will. So that although we may not so properly (it may be) exhort men to repent of this original sin, yet we must press them to a deep and daily humiliation under it, and that not as a punishment, or an affliction only, but as a true and proper sin; So that as without confession and sorrow no actual sin will be forgiven unto a man, ⟨p. 69⟩so neither will original sin, and therefore we do by consequence in the Lords Prayer, when we say, Forgive us our sins, pray not only for the pardon of actual sins; but original also, whatsoever the Remonstrants say, neither is their Argument against it of any worth, when they say, then the meaning likewise is in the clause following, That we forgive men their trespasses, and their original corruption against us, for the comparison lieth not in the Nature of the sins, but the manner of forgiveness; otherwise, when the Church prayeth for the pardon of Idolatry, or any sin against the first Table, adding, As we forgive others, the meaning should be, As we forgive them their Idolatries, or sins against the first Table, which would be absurd and blasphemous. Besides, we are not only to forgive the actual trespasses of those who wrong us, but even their thoughts and inclinations to hate us;