A49255:269
The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin…
The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the privilege of the pardon of sin : together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven : wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love ...The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the priviledge of the pardon of sin : together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven : wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love ...
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1657
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 3 Thirdly, take this by way of answer, that the conscience of a pardoned sinner, may be so far benumbed, that a man may continue under the guilt of known sins, and conscience never check him for it for a long time; this is a further gradation, that when he knoweth he sins, against God, yet I say conscience may be so far benumbed that, for a season not be tortured and smitten in conscience for his sin: David could not be so ignorant of Gods Law that lying with another mans wife was a sin, yet David did continue nine months at least without remorse for it; when Nathan came and reproved him, then said he, I have sinned, I have sinned. O beloved, if God doth but let a sinners conscience alone, though he be a good man, yet he may continue for a long time under a known sin, and conscience not work remorse or trouble in him. And the like instance we have in the sons of Jacob, who were not sensible of their sin in selling Joseph, until 20. years after they fell into trouble for it in Egypt.
Answ. 3 Thirdly, take this by way of answer, that the conscience of a pardoned sinner, may be so farre benummed, that a man may continue under the guilt of known sins, and conscience never check him for it for a long time; this is a further gradation, that when he knoweth he sins, against God, yet I say conscience may be so far benummed that, for a season not be tortured and smitten in conscience for his sin: David could not be so ignorant of Gods Law that lying with another mans wife was a sin, yet David did continue nine moneths at least without remorse for it; when Nathan came and reproved him, then said he, I have sinned, I have sinned. O beloved, if God doth but let a sinners conscience alone, though he be a good man, yet he may continue for a long time under a known sin, and conscience not work remorse or trouble in him. And the like instance we have in the sons of Jacob, who were not sensible of their sin in selling Joseph, untill 20. yeares after they fell into trouble for it in Egypt.
Answ. 4 Fourthly, take this for comfort, that there is no godly mans conscience in the world, that is always alike in office; but sometimes it may be in office, sometimes out of office; sometimes a roaring, galling, awakening conscience; and sometimes a stupefied, a benumbed, and a eared conscience: no mans conscience is always alike in office, it is sensible at one time, and eared up another time. Pregnant instances: David, at one time his heart smote him for but the appearance of an evil, viz. Cutting off Sauls lap, yet at another time his conscience did not smite him for murdering Uriah. Again, at another time Davids conscience smote him but for vainglory, in numbering the people: it was only vainglory that he would please himself in a mustered Army; yet at another time Davids conscience did not smite him for adultery. O beloved, how will a mans conscience lye asleep, & not trouble him, for an evil if God lets him alone.