The Sincere Convert

When he hath attained unto this §5pitch of his own, now he thinks himself a young beginner, and a good one too, so that if he dyeth, he thinks he shall do well; if he liveth, he thinks and hopes he shall grow better; and when he is come to his own pitch, here he sets down his state fully satisfied. And now, if he be pressed to get into the estate of grace, his answer is, That is not to be done now, he thanks God, that care is past. The truth is (beloved) 'tis too high for him; his own legs could never carry him thither, all his grace, coming by his own working, not by God Almighty's power. Let a man have false ⟨p. 182⟩weights, he is cheated grievously with light gold; why? because his weights are too light: So these men have too light weights to judge of the weight of true grace; therefore light, clipped, cracked pieces cheat them. Hence you shall have those men commend pithless, sapless men for very honest men as ever brake bread; why? they are just answerable to their weights. Hence I have not much wondered at them, who maintain that a man may fall away from true grace: The reason lieth here: They set up to themselves such a common work of grace to be true grace; from which, no wonder that a man may fall. Hence Bellarmine saith, That which is true Grace, veritate essentiae only, may be lost, not that grace which is true, veritate firmae soliditatis; which latter, being rightly understood, may be called special, as the other, common grace. Hence also you shall have many Professors hearing a hundred Sermons, never moved to grow better. Hence likewise you shall see our common ⟨p. 183⟩Preachers comfort every one almost, that they see troubled in mind, because they think presently, they have true grace: Now they begin to be sorrowful for their sins. 'Tis just according to their own light weights.

When he hath attained unto this §5pitch of his ovvne, now he thinkes himselfe a young beginner, and a good one too, so that if he dyeth, he thinkes hee shall doe well; if he liveth, he thinkes and hopes he shall grow better; and vvhen he is come to his ovvne pitch, here he sets downe his state fully satisfied. And novv, if he be prest to get into the estate of grace, his answer is, That is not to be done now, he thankes God, that care is past. The truth is (beloved) 'tis too high for him; his owne legges could never carry him thither, all his grace, comming by his owne working, not by God Almighties power. Let a man have false