The Sincere Convert

This is true, At what time soever a sinner repents, the Lord will blot out his iniquities. But this Repentance is not when a man is troubled somewhat in mind for sin, but when he cometh to mourn for sin as his greatest evil, as if he should see all his goods and estate on a light fire before him; and that not for some sins, but all sins, little and great; and that not for a time, for a fit and away (a Land-flood of sorrow) but always like a Spring never dry, but ever running all a mans life-time.

This is true, At what time soever a sinner repents, the Lord will blot out his iniquities. But this Repentance is not when a man is troubled somewhat in mind for sinne, but when he commeth to mourne for sinne as his greatest evill, as if he should see all his goods and estate on a light fire before him; and that not for some sinnes, but all sinnes, little and great; and that not for a time, for a fit and away (a Land-floud of sorrow) but alwaies like a Spring never dry, but ever running all a mans life-time.

Secondly, In judging the striving §2of conscience against sin, to be the striving of the flesh against the Spirit, and hence come these speeches from carnal black mouths? The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak: and hence men think, they being thus compounded of flesh and spirit, are regenerate, and in no worse estate then the Children of God themselves: as ⟨p. 186⟩sometime I once spake with a man that did verily think, that Pilate was an honest man, because he was so unwilling to crucify Christ; which unwillingness did arise only from the restraint of conscience against the Fact. So many men judge honestly, yet simply upon such a ground of themselves, they say, they strive against their sin•es, but Lord be merciful unto them, they say the flesh is frail; and hence Arminius gives a diverse interpretation of the seventh Chapter of the Romans from ordinary Divines; concerning which, Paul speaks in the person of an unregenerate man, because he observed divers graceless persons (as he saith himself) having fallen, and falling commonly into sins against conscience, to bring that chapter in their own defence and comfort, because they did that which they allowed not, vers. 15. and so it was not they, but sin that dwelled in them.