Secondly, The heart will be ready to deceive us in this work of salvation, and make us take a show of grace for grace. Pliny saith, there is a Berylstone resembles the true Diamond. So there is something that looks like ⟨p. 11⟩grace, which is not; There are two graces which help much to the working out salvation, and we are soon deceived in them. First, Repentance. True Repentance is when we weep for sin quatenus sin; when we weep for it as it is a defiling thing, it blots the Image of God, stains the virginity of the soul; as it is an act of unkindness, it is a kicking against the breasts that give us milk: but how easy is it to prevaricate in this? 1. Many think they repent, when it is not the offence, but the penalty troubles them; not the Treason, but the bloody axe. 2. They think they repent when they shed a few tears; but though this ice begins to melt a little, it freezeth again; they go on still in sin; many weep for their unkind dealings with God, as Saul did for his unkindness to David; He said to David, thou art more righteous then I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil: 1 Sam. 24. 17. And he lift up his voice ⟨p. 12⟩and wept, ver. 16. But for all this he follows David again, and pursues after him, 1 Sam. 26. Secondly, So men can lift up their voice and weep for sin, yet follow their sins again.* Thirdly, others forsake sin; but still they retain the love of it in their hearts. Like the Snake that casts the coat, but keeps the sting; There is as much difference between false and true tears, as between channel water and spring water.
Secondly, The heart will be ready to deceive us in this work of salvation, and make us take a shew of grace for grace. Pliny saith, there is a Berylstone resembles the true Diamond. So there is something that looks like ⟨p. 11⟩grace, which is not; There are two graces which help much to the working out salvation, and we are soon deceived in them. First, Repentance. True Repentance is when we weep for sin quatenus sinne; when we weep for it as it is a defiling thing, it blots the Image of God, staines the virginity of the soul; as it is an act of unkindness, it is a kicking against the breasts that give us milk: but how easie is it to prevaricate in this? 1. Many think they repent, when it is not the offence, but the penalty troubles them; not the Treason, but the bloody axe. 2. They think they repent when they shed a few tears; but though this ice begins to melt a little, it freezeth again; they go on still in sinne; many weep for their unkind dealings with God, as Saul did for his unkindness to David; He said to David, thou art more righteous then I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil: 1 Sam. 24. 17. And he lift up his voice ⟨p. 12⟩and wept, ver. 16. But for all this he followes David again, and pursues after him, 1 Sam. 26. Secondly, So men can lift up their voice and weep for sinne, yet follow their sinnes again.* Thirdly, others forsake sinne; but still they retain the love of it in their hearts. Like the Snake that casts the coat, but keeps the sting; There is as much difference between false and true tears, as between channel water and spring water.
- *Ille vere plangit commissa, qui non committit plangenda. Aug.
