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,…

Neither fourthly, Doth a godly man fall into these gross sins, §4without a merciful ordering of them, even to the godly mans good. Although afflictions may befall a man to his good, yet some have questioned, Whether God suffers a godly man to fall into sins for good, because sins have an inward malignity and poison in their natures, which the evils of afflictions have not. But if Gregory said truly of Adams sin, Felix culpa, it was an happy fault, because God wrought such a good, the good of a Mediator, which is a greater good then that sin was; no question but God can over rule the sins of Gods people for their own advantage; as a godly man said, He got more good by his sins, then his Graces, Audeo dicere, &c. (saith Austin de civit. Dei, lib. 13.) I dare be bold to say it, That it is profitable for proud men, to fall in manifest and open sins, whereby they may be ashamed and made loathsome in their own eyes, Salubrius sibi displicuit Petrus, quando flevit; quam sibi placuit, quando praesumpsit. It was better with Peter disliking himself in his weeping, then pleasing himself in his presumption. This therefore God doth to his people; to prevent sin he lets them fall into sin: and as Austin saith, Sectio dolorem operatur, ut dolor dolore tollatur. The cutting of the wound causeth pain, that so pain may be removed by pain, and sometimes venena venenis dispelluntur, poison is driven out by oison.

Neither fourthly, Doth a godly man fall into these grosse sins, §4without a merciful ordering of them, even to the godly mans good. Although afflictions may befall a man to his good, yet some have questioned, Whether God suffers a godly man to fall into sins for good, because sins have an inward malignity and poison in their natures, which the evils of afflictions have not. But if Gregory said truly of Adams sin, Foelix culpa, it was an happy fault, because God wrought such a good, the good of a Mediatour, which is a greater good then that sin was; no question but God can over rule the sins of Gods people for their own advantage; as a godly man said, He got more good by his sins, then his Graces, Audeo dicere, &c. (saith Austin de civit. Dei, lib. 13.) I dare be bold to say it, That it is profitable for proud men, to fall in manifest and open sins, whereby they may be ashamed and made loathsome in their own eyes, Salubrius sibi displicuit Petrus, quando flevit; quam sibi placuit, quando praesumpsit. It was better with Peter disliking himself in his weeping, then pleasing himself in his presumption. This therefore God doth to his people; to prevent sin he lets them fall into sin: and as Austin saith, Sectio dolorem operatur, ut dolor dolore tollatur. The cutting of the wound causeth pain, that so pain may be removed by pain, and sometimes venena venenis dispelluntur, poison is driven out by oison.