The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin

But now seeing we have granted, that even Believers themselves may conceive sin through the power and the deceitfulness of it, it may be enquired whether God ever thus obviates its production and accomplishment in them, by cutting off and taking away their lives, so as that they shall not be able to perform it: I answer,

First, That God doth not judicially cut off and take away the life of any of his, for this end and ⟨p. 191⟩purpose, that he may thereby prevent the execution, or bringing forth of any particular sin that he had conceived, and which without that taking away he would have perpetrated. For,

First, This is directly contrary to the very declared end of the patience of God towards them, 2 Pet. 3. 9. This is the very end of the long-suffering of God towards Believers, that before they depart hence, they may come to the sense, acknowledgement, and repentance of every known sin. This is the constant and unchangeable rule of Gods patience in the Covenant of Grace; which is so far from being in them an encouragement unto sin, that it is a motive to universal watchfulness against it, of the same nature with all Gospel-grace, and of mercy in the blood of Christ. Now this dispensation whereof we speak, would lie in a direct contradiction unto it.

First, This is directly contrary to the very declared end of the patience of God towards them, 2 Pet. 3. 9. This is the very end of the long-suffering of God towards Believers, that before they depart hence, they may come to the sense, acknowledgment, and repentance of every known sin. This is the constant and unchangeable rule of Gods patience in the Covenant of Grace; which is so far from being in them an incouragement unto sin, that it is a motive to universal watchfulness against it, of the same nature with all Gospel-grace, and of mercy in the blood of Christ. Now this dispensation whereof we speak, would lie in a direct contradiction unto it.