Certain sermons, first preached, and after published at several times, by M. Thomas Gataker…Certaine sermons, first preached, and after published at severall times, by M. Thomas Gataker…

And thus have we seen both what it is to watch, why we are so to watch; the manner how we must watch; and the means whereby we may be enabled so to watch in some measure.

And thus have wee seene both what it is to watch, why wee are so to watch; the manner how wee must watch; and the meanes whereby wee may bee enabled so to watch in some measure.

Question. §. 77. Now here, ere we end, would a Question be answered. For may some say; But is it possible for any man living by this manner of watching to keep ever waking; by thus watching against sin, to keep himself wholly free from sin?

Question. §. 77. Now here, ere we end, would a Question be answered. For may some say; But is it possible for any man living by this manner of watching to keepe ever waking; by thus watching against sinne, to keepe himselfe wholly free from sinne?

To pass by here that conceit of some School-men, Answer. that a man cannot keep himself free from all sin in general; but that he may from any one sin whatsoever in particular; that he may, though not from all, yet from this or that sin. Which they express by a similitude^a of a man enclosed in a barrel full of holes let down under water, that may with his finger or some other help stop any one hole and keep the water out at it, which yet he cannot avoid but that it will come in the whilst at the rest, any of which yet also he may stop if he will. But to pass by this, which I take to be not all out so sound; for answer hereunto some distinction must be made.

To passe by here that conceit of some Schoole-men, Answer. that a man cannot keepe himselfe free from all sin in generall; but that he may from any one sinne whatsoever in particular; that he may, though not from all, yet from this or that sinne. Which they expresse by a similitude