4. As it is hard for any to say confidently they will transgress, if such a temptation did offer, so & so circumstantiate, because men men may think that either God will keep a temptation out of their way, or not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear, or give to them a way of escape, Psal 46.1 1 Cor. 10.13. So the question is not, what I may do afterwards, but, what I now resolve to do. If my heart charge me presently with any deceit or resolution to transgress, I must lay aside that deceit before I transact with God. But if my heart charge me with no such purpose, yea, I dare say I resolve against every transgression: and although I think will fall before such and such a temptation, yet that thought floweth not from any allowed and approven resolution to do ⟨p. 222⟩so, but from knowledge of my own Corruption, and of what I have done to provoke God to desert me. But the Lord knows I resolve not to transgress, nor do I approve any secret inclination of my heart to •ch a sin, but would reckon it my singular mercy to be kept from sin in such a case; and I judge my self a wretched man, because of such a body of Death within me, which doth threaten to make me transgress. In that case, I say my heart doth not Condemn me, therefore I may and ought to have confidence before God, 1 Joh· 3.21. If this then be the case, I say to thee, although thou should afterwards fail many ways, & so perhaps draw upon thy self sad temporal strokes thereby, & lose for a season many expressions of His love: Yet there is an Advocate with the Father to plead thy Pardon, 1 Joh. 2.1. who hath satisfied for our breaches, Isa. 53.5, 6. And for His sake, God resolveth to hold fast the Covenant with men after their transgression, Psal. 89.30, — 37. Else how could He be said to betroth us to Himself forever? Hos. 2.19, 29. and how could the Covenant be called Everlasting, ordered in all things and sure, if there were not ⟨p. 223⟩ground of comfort in it, even when our •rt is not sound so with God? 2 Sam. 22.23. Yea, it were no better than the Covenant of Works, if these who enter it with God, could so depart from Him again, as to make it void unto themselves and to put themselves into a worse condition, then they were into before they made it, J• 32.4•. compared with, Heb •.6. The Lord hateth putting away Mal. 2.16.
4. As it is hard for any to say confidently they will transgress, if such a temptation did offer, so & so circumstantiate, because men men may think that either God will keep a temptation out of their way, or not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear, or give to them a way of escape, Psal 46.1 1 Cor. 10.13. So the question is not, what I may do afterwards, but, what I now resolve to do. If my heart charge me presently with any deceit or resolution to transgress, I must lay aside that deceit before I transact with God. But if my heart charge me with no such purpose, yea, I dare say I resolve against every transgression: and although I think will fall before such and such a temptation, yet that thought floweth not from any allowed and approven resolution to do ⟨p. 222⟩so, but from knowledge of my own Corruption, and of what I have done to provoke God to desert me. But the Lord knowes I resolve not to transgress, nor do I approve any secret inclination of my heart to •ch a sin, but would reckon it my singular mercy to be kept from sin in such a case; and I judge my self a wretched man, because of such a body of Death within me, which doth threaten to make me transgress. In that case, I say my heart doth not Condemn me, therefore I may and ought to have confidence before God, 1 Joh· 3.21. If this then be the case, I say to thee, although thou should afterwards fail many wayes, & so perhaps draw upon thy self sad temporal stroaks thereby, & lose for a season many expressions of His love: Yet there is an Advocate with the Father to plead thy Pardon, 1 Joh. 2.1. who hath satisfied for our breaches, Isa. 53.5, 6. And for His sake, God resolveth to hold fast the Covenant with men after their transgression, Psal. 89.30, — 37. Else how could He be said to betroth us to Himself forever? Hos. 2.19, 29. and how could the Covenant be called Everlasting, ordered in all things and sure, if there were not ⟨p. 223⟩ground of c•mfort in it, even when our •rt is not so•nd so with God?
