The Sincere Convert

Thirdly, suppose thou shouldest persevere, yet it's clear, thou hast sinned grievously already, and dost thou think thine obedience for the time to come ⟨p. 257⟩can satisfy the Lord for all those Rents behind, for all those sins past? as can a man that pays his Rent honestly every year, satisfy hereby for the old rent not payed in twenty years? all thy obedience is a new debt, which cannot satisfy for debts past. Indeed men may forgive wrong and debts because they be but finite, but the least sin is an infinite evil, and therefore God must be satisfied for it. Men may remit debts, and yet remain men; but the Lord having said, the soul that sinneth shall die, and his truth being himself, he cannot remain God, if he forgive it without satisfaction. Therefore duties are but rotten crutches for a soul to rest upon.

Thirdly, suppose thou shouldest persevere, yet it's cleare, thou hast sinned grievously already, and dost thou think thine obedience for the time to come ⟨p. 257⟩can satisfie the Lord for all those Rents behind, for all those sinnes past? as can a man that payes his Rent honestly every yeare, satisfie hereby for the old rent not payed in twenty yeares? all thy obedience is a new debt, which cannot satisfie for debts past. Indeed men may forgive wrong and debts because they be but finite, but the least sin is an infinite evill, and therefore God must be satisfied for it. Men may remit debts, and yet remaine men; but the Lord having said, the soule that sinneth shall die, and his truth being himselfe, he cannot remaine God, if he forgive it without satisfaction. Therfore duties are but rotten crutches for a soule to rest upon.

But to what end should we use any duties?¹ cannot a man be saved by his good prayers, nor sorrows, nor repentings? what should we pray any more then? Let us cast off all duties, if all are to no purpose to save us. As good play for nothing as work for nothing.