The Christian in Complete Armour

First, when a poor soul is staved off the promise by the sense of his own unworthiness and great unrighteousness; tell him of a pardon, alas, he is so wrapped up with the thoughts of his own vileness, that you cannot fasten it upon him. What, will God ever take such a toad as he is into his bosom, discount so many great abominations at once, and receive him into his favour, that hath been so long in rebellious arms against him? he cannot believe it, no, though he hears what Christ hath done and suffered for sin, he refuseth to be comforted. Little doth the soul think what a bitter root such thoughts spring from, thou thinkest thou doest well thus to declaim against thy self, and aggravate thy sins; indeed thou canst not paint them black enough, or entertain too low and base thoughts of thy self for them: But what wrong hath God and Christ done thee, that thou shouldest so unworthily reflect upon the mercy of the one, and merit of the other? Mayest thou not do this, and be tender of the good Name of God also? Is there no way to show thy sense of thy sin, except thou asperse thy Saviour? Canst thou not charge thy self, but thou must condemn God, and put Christ and his blood to shame before Satan, who triumphs more in this then all thy other sins? In a word, though thou like a wretch hast undone thy self, and damned thy soul by thy sins, yet art thou not willing God should have the glory of pardoning them, and Christ the honour of procuring the same? or art thou like him in the Gospel, Luke 16.3. who could not dig, and to beg was ashamed. Thou canst not earn heaven by thy own righteousness, and is thy spirit so stout that thou wilt not beg it for Christs sake, yea, take it at Gods hands, who in the Gospel comes a begging to thee, and beseecheth thee to be reconciled to him? Ah soul, who would ever have thought there could have lien such pride under such a modest veil? and yet none like it. 'Tis horrible pride for a beggar to starve, rather then take an alms at a rich mans hands: a malefactor rather to choose his halter then a pardon from his gracious Princes hand: but here is one infinitely surpassing both;

First, when a poor soul is staved off the promise by the sense of his own unworthinesse and great unrighteousnesse; tell him of a pardon, alas, he is so wrapt up with the thoughts of his own vilenesse, that you cannot fasten it upon him. What, will God ever take such a toad as he is into his bosome, discount so many great abominations at once, and receive him into his favour, that hath been so long in rebellious armes against him? he cannot beleeve it, no, though he heares what Christ hath done and suffered for sin, he refuseth to be comforted. Little doth the soule think what a bitter root such thoughts spring from, thou thinkest thou doest well thus to declaim against thy self, and aggravate thy sins; indeed thou canst not paint them black enough, or entertain too low and base thoughts of thy selfe for them: But what wrong hath God and Christ done thee, that thou shouldest so unworthily reflect upon the mercy of the one, and merit of the other? Mayest thou not do this, and be tender of the good Name of God also? Is there no way to shew thy sense of thy sin, except thou asperse thy Saviour? Canst thou not charge thy self, but thou must condemn God, and put Christ and his blood to shame before Satan, who triumphs more in this then all thy other sins? In a word, though thou like a wretch hast undone thy self, and damned thy soule by thy sins, yet art thou not willing God should have the glory of pardoning them, and Christ the honour of procuring the same? or art thou like him in the Gospel,