The mischief of sin it brings a person low / publishedThe mischief of sinne it brings a person low / published

8. Sin brings many low in despair; this is a gulf that none but reprobates fall into. ^*Jer. 18.11. Thou saidst, there is no hope. Despair is devoratoria salutis, ^*it is a millstone tied about the soul, that sinks it in perdition. Despair ⟨p. 21⟩looks on God, not as a Father, but a Judge. It refuseth the remedy. Other sins need Christ, despair rejects him: It closeth the Orifice of Christs wounds, that no blood will come out to heal. This is the voice of despair, My sin is greater than the mercy of God can pardon. It makes the wound broader than the plaster. Despair is a God-affronting sin; it is sacrilege, it robs God of his Crown-jewels, his Power, Goodness, Truth. How doth Satan triumph to see the honour of Gods Attributes laid in the dust by despair. Despair casts away the Anchor of hope, and then the soul must needs sink. What will a Ship do in a storm without an Anchor? Despair locks men up in impenitency. I have read of one Hubertus who dyed despairing; he made his Will after ⟨p. 22⟩this manner, I yield my goods to the King, my body to the grave, my soul to the Devil. Isa. 38.18. They that go down into the pit, cannot hope for thy truth. They who go down into this pit of despair, cannot hope for the truth of Gods promise. And this despair grows at last into horror and raving, ³—Eheu quis intus scorpio?—

8. Sin brings many low in despair; this is a gulf that none but reprobates fall into. ^*Jer. 18.11. Thou saidst, there is no hope. Despair is devoratoria salutis, ^*