A Saint Indeed

1. Quer. If this be so, how comes it to pass that Christ put such a favourable construction upon the Disciples sleeping the third time, when he had as often reproved them for it? Ma••h. 26. 40, 41. And how is it that we find in Scripture so many promises made not only to the first sins, but also to the backslidings of Gods people, Jer. 3. 22. Hose. 14. 4.

1. Quer. If this be so, how comes it to pass that Christ put such a favourable construction upon the Disciples sleeping the third time, when he had as often reproved them for it? Ma••h. 26. 40, 41. And how is it that we find in Scripture so many promises made not only to the first sins, but also to the backslidings of Gods people, Ier. 3. 22. Hose. 14. 4.

2. Quer. Is not your repentance and care renewed, as often as your guilt is renewed? Yea the oftener you sin the more you are troubled? it is not so in customary sinning, the rise whereof Bernard excellently discovers Lib. de Cons•. (1) (saith he) when a man p. 1109. accustomed to good sinneth grievously, it seems importable, yea he seems to descend alive into hell. (2) In process of time it seems not importable, ⟨p. 156⟩but heavy; and betwixt importable and heavy there is no small descent. (3) Next it becomes light, his conscience smites but faintly, and he feels not the stripes of it. (4) Then there is not only a total insensibleness of it, but that which was bitter and displeasing, is now become sweet and pleasing in some degree. (5) Then tis turned into custom, and not only pleases, but daily pleases. Lastly custom is turned into nature, he cannot be pulled away from it; but defends and pleads for it: this is customary sinning this is the way of the wicked; but the quite contrary is our condition.