The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

But that it may the better appear, how great the guilt of sin in believers, even in the sight of God is, and what his account is of it, take notice of these particulars.¹

1. 1Particulars expressing how great the guilt of sin is in believers even in Gods sight.

First, What the Scripture stiles them, 1 Sam. 2.29. There God reproveth Eli in his indulgence about his sons, with this remarkable expression, Thou honourest thy sons above me. Is not this an aggravation which God taketh notice of? and yet Eli did reprove his sons, but because he failed in the measure of zeal, therefore is God thus angry with him; so that God doth not only see the §1gross sins committed by his people, but a less measure of their graces, and is angry for that. So Rev. 2. because the Church abated in her first love, and her works were not perfect, therefore doth God threaten her. As the godly are said to honour the creature above him when they sin, so they are likewise said to despise God; and can God but be offended with them that despise him? 1 Sam. 2.13. They that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed, saith God again to Eli. Thus likewise to David, 2 Sam. 12.9. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord? God cannot but take notice of that which is a despising, and contemning of him. As their sins are a despising of God, so are they said to displease God, which cannot be if God see no sin; for if God see no ⟨p. 70⟩sin, it is all one in reference to God, whether a believer wallow in the mire of sin, or whether he live holily; so that this Doctrine must needs eat and consume like a Gangrene. Is God as well pleased with Peter denying Christ, as Peter repenting? as much pleased with David in his adultery and murder, as when making his penitential Psalm? The Papists indeed would fasten such prodigious consequences upon the Protestants Doctrine, but they abhor it, whereas it followeth naturally from the Antinomian assertion. Indeed the Orthodox say, David and Peter in their lapses, did not fall from the state or grace of Justification; but wherein the Antinomian and they differ, is hereafter to be shown. That God is thus displeased with justified persons, when they thus sin, is plain, 2 Sam. 11.29. where what we translate (displeased) according to the original, is, was evil in the eyes of the Lord; where you see express Scripture, That God did see sin in David, because that which he had done, was evil in Gods eyes: so again,