Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

We deny that, because he that truly believes and repents, ¹all his sins both secret and open are pardoned, known and unknown he confesses and repents of all, and therefore they are forgiven, Rom. 8. 1. Labouring to know his sins and forsake them, though he cannot know them all yet is he accepted. So the not knowing of our sins particularly hinders not our assurance of salvation, though David knew them not, yet had he assurance of the pardon of his secret sins and faults as well as other, in Christ.

1. 1Answ.

I, but he was afraid he might be blinded in them, and so he might doubt, saith he.¹

1. 1Object.

We deny not but he might fear, for we say none can be assured of Salvation, but he that fears to offend. As ¹a good child fears to offend his father, Now his fear hinders not his fathers love, fear of Gods favour indeed may hinder assurance, but not fear to offend him; Fear of sinning against God keeps him that his assurance is the stronger, the child of God that falls into sin when he casts off his fear and trembling, least he should offend against God, dashes and weakens the strength of his assurance, and the more a man fears to sin the more it keeps him in the favour of God,