A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly, Another Concomitant is this, ¹Who-ever God pardons, he doth also in some measure sanctify. He subdues our sins, as well as blots them out; he abates their Power, as well as removes their Guilt. And indeed it were no better than lost labour, for God to pardon ⟨p. 60⟩sin, if he did not purify the Sinner also: for, were but the least Sin and Corruption left to rule and reign in us, we should presently run our selves as far into Debt and Arrears, as ever we were. Indeed the best Christian, in whom Grace is most prevailing, and Corruption weakest, yet even he stands daily and hourly in need of pardoning Mercy; but yet withal, his Sins are not of so high a Nature, nor so deep a Stain, as usually the Sins of wicked Men are. His Sins usually are such rather for the manner of them, than for the matter of them: God, by his pardoning Grace, forgives Infirmities, Failings, and Defects; and, by his sanctifying Grace, ordinarily keeps him from the commission of more gross and scandalous Sins. And how then can we enough admire the rich Grace of God, that not only forgives us our Debts, but withal bestows a new stock upon us, to keep us from running into Debt again, in any great and desperate Sums.

Secondly, Another Concomitant is this, ¹Who-ever God pardons, he doth also in some measure sanctifie. He subdues our sins, as well as blots them out; he abates their Power, as well as removes their Guilt. And indeed it were no better than lost labour, for God to pardon ⟨p. 60⟩sin, if he did not purifie the Sinner also: for, were but the least Sin and Corruption left to rule and reign in us, we should presently run our selves as far into Debt and Arrears, as ever we were. Indeed the best Christian, in whom Grace is most prevailing, and Corruption weakest, yet even he stands daily and hourly in need of pardoning Mercy; but yet withal, his Sins are not of so high a Nature, nor so deep a Stain, as usually the Sins of wicked Men are. His Sins usually are such rather for the manner of them, than for the matter of them: God, by his pardoning Grace, forgives Infirmities, Failings, and Defects; and, by his sanctifying Grace, ordinarily keeps him from the commission of more gross and scandalous Sins. And how then can we enough admire the rich Grace of God, that not only forgives us our Debts, but withal bestows a new stock upon us, to keep us from running into Debt again, in any great and desperate Summs.