A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Use I The application of this point shall be in these particulars: First, is there so strong a proneness in the best Christians to the worst Sins, hence then, let wicked Men learn not to insult over them when they fall, nor to reproach holiness with their foul miscarriages; truly Grace hath always found it ill neighbourhood to dwell in the same Soul with Sin; for wicked Men being themselves all of one piece, they know not how to distinguish betwixt the Propensions of the one, and of the other; they know not how to distinguish when a Saint in a Christian acts, and when the Sinner; and so they very irrationally charge Holiness with those crimes, that were they not in part unholy they should never commit; when a Man that makes a forward profession ⟨p. 235⟩of Religion, and in the general course of his life, makes Conscience of his ways, when he doth through temptation or inadvertency fall into some sin that becomes notorious; what is more common in the mouths of profane scoffers than this? This is one of your Godly ones, This is one of the sanctified gang; thus they laugh and sneer at him. No but, Sinner, let me tell thee, thou mistakest the Man; Did you ever hear him pray so as to charm Heaven, and which is more so as to melt even your hearts into affections? Did you ever hear him discourse of spiritual things, as if he had been intimate with Angels, and one of Heavens Secretaries? Have you formerly observed in him a blameless and exemplary Conversation? then indeed you might say this is one of the Godly. Holiness owns him, Religion glories in him while he thus adorns his Profession; but when he sins, say not, Behold one of the Godly; this is Blasphemy against Religion. No it is not the Godly Man that sins; no, it is the corrupt and unholy part in him; it is that part in him that is most like to thee. In Romans 7.17. says the Apostle there, it is no more I ⟨p. 236⟩but sin that dwells in me; and if it b• indwelling sin that is the cause of actual sin in the best, why then do you bely• their Graces? Why do you accuse the• whom the Apostle vindicates, and tell you plainly, that it is not they, but si• in them? Learn therefore to put a difference betwixt a Saint and a Sinner in every Child of God;