Hence (as you heard) the Apostle John puts himself in the number here, If we say we have no sin, &c. certainly the Apostle Paul was far from these thoughts, 1 Tim. 1.18. where he calls himself the chiefest of all sinners: that is, one in the rank of those, whose sins had a scarlet hue; and he saith this in the present tense, not of whom I was chief, but I am chief; for although Cajetans Exposition be very probable, that makes this relate not merely to sinners, but to sinners saved, thus, Christ came to save sinners, of which saved sinners I am chief; yet the former is not to be rejected; and certainly in some sense every man is bound to think of himself, as a greater sinner then others; As the Pharisee said, I am not as other men, adulterers, covetous, &c. The godly man on the contrary, thinketh he is not holy, zealous, sincere, as other godly men are. When Paul Rom. 7. complaineth of that evil in him, and law of sin, can we think he never desired the pardon of it? And when our Saviour, Joh. 17.17. prayeth God to ⟨p. 122⟩sanctify his Disciples; what is that but to set them apart for their office, by forgiving their sin, even as Isaiah was purified by a live coal from the altar. As for his parallel places and duties, it is a most absurd comparison; for he may as well say, That the Kingdom of God, and hallowing his Name, are not constantly to be prayed for, but upon occasion only. Certainly those places of Scripture which make original sin to cleave to us, even as Ivy to the Oak, and which is as leaven in us, souring every thing we do in some measure: And those places which speak of such a perfection in the Law, that we are never able to perform it, argue a constant abiding principle of sin in us, we may conclude then, that this Petition doth suppose a worm in our best fruit, dross in our purest gold, and many spots in our choicest beauty. Neither may we dream of such an imputed righteousness, as shall take away the necessity of this praying; not that the godly are therefore to be denominated sinners, because we call them godly, though sin be in them, because godliness is the most noble quality in them, as we call that a field of corn, which yet hath many weeds in it.
Hence (as you heard) the Apostle John puts himself in the number here, If we say we have no sin, &c. certainly the Apostle Paul was farre from these thoughts, 1 Tim. 1.18. where he cals himself the chiefest of all sinners: that is, one in the rank of those, whose sins had a scarlet hue; and he saith this in the present tense, not of whom I was chief, but I am chief; for although Cajetans Exposition be very probable, that makes this relate not meerly to sinners, but to sinners saved, thus, Christ came to save sinners, of which saved sinners I am chief; yet the former is not to be rejected; and certainly in some sense every man is bound to think of himself, as a greater sinner then others; As the Pharisee said, I am not as other men, adulterers, covetous, &c. The godly man on the contrary, thinketh he is not holy, zealous, sincere, as other godly men are. When Paul Rom. 7. complaineth of that evil in him, and law of sinne, can we think he never desired the pardon of it? And when our Saviour, Joh. 17.17. prayeth God to ⟨p. 122⟩sanctifie his Disciples; what is that but to set them apart for their office, by forgiving their sinne, even as Isaiah was purified by a live coal from the altar. As for his parallell places and duties, it is a most absurd comparison; for he may as well say, That the Kingdom of God, and hallowing his Name, are not constantly to be prayed for, but upon occasion only. Certainly those places of Scripture which make originall sinne to cleave to us, even as Ivy to the Oak, and which is as leven in us, sowring every thing we doe in some measure: And those places which speak of such a perfection in the Law, that we are never able to perform it, argue a constant abiding principle of sin in us, we may conclude then, that this Petition doth suppose a worm in our best fruit, drosse in our purest gold, and many spots in our choisest beauty. Neither may we dream of such an imputed righteousnesse, as shall take away the necessity of this praying; not that the godly are therefore to be denominated sinners, because we call them godly, though sinne be in them, because godlinesse is the most noble quality in them, as we call that a field of corn, which yet hath many weeds in it.
