The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

2. Be we advised, that there is a misimprovement of the Examples of Gods people in this regard, which we are to be cautioned against. They are good helps in themselves, and prove so to them that wisely use them, but they may be abused, and then they will turn to harm: beware of this: And there are three ways in which it may be done.

1. When we encourage our selves in Sin by them. The use of them is to encourage us to Repentances this then is an abuse, when we look on the examples of such as sinned grievously, and yet found mercy, and thence infer, that there is no such danger in sinning, we may be bold to transgress, because they were pardoned: what is this but to turn the Grace of God into wantonness, and to Sin that Grace may abound? to adventure to throw our selves over a precipice, because we have an instance of one that fell over, and escaped with his life, forgetting how many have so fallen, and it hath cost them their lives. God will be provoked to leave us to perish, if thus we affront his mercy.

2. When we strengthen our carnal security in sin by it. The use of such examples is, that when we have fallen through temptation, and are terrified at it, we may be encouraged hereby to Repentance, and make haste to God for a pardon: but if instead of this, we argue there is no danger, we may put off the Conviction, and delay our Repentance, and get a pardon when we wish; and so live and lie under Guilt without remorse, this is to prevent the end of such instances, and the ready way to be left by the Spirit of God, to be hardened in sin, to our ruin.

2. When we strengthen our carnal security in sin by it. The use of such examples is, that when we have fallen through temptation, and are terrified at it, we may be encouraged hereby to Repentance, and make haste to God for a pardon: but if instead of this, we argue there is no danger, we may put off the Conviction, and delay our Repentance, and get a pardon when we wish; and so live and ly under Guilt without remorce, this is to prevent the end of such instances, and the ready way to be left by the Spirit of God, to be hardened in sin, to our ruine.