Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety

5. Another Chain whereby some Captives are fast bound is contrary to the former, a despairing of mercy; not only a despairing in a man's self, seeing an utter Inability to help himself, this is necessary, but a despairing of pardon and salvation notwithstanding the mercy of God, and the merit of Christ, through' which pardon and salvation is tendered unto them. The devil useth various, yea, contrary means and methods to hold fast sinners in their bonds; if he can, he will keep them from a sight and sense of sin and misery thereby: If he cannot, but God openeth a sinners eyes and awakened his conscience, the Devil will set out his sins with all the aggravations of them, but endeavours to keep from the sight of Christ; sometimes persuading sinners that their sins are not so great, but they may do well enough, sometimes that they are so heinous, that there is no hope, nor help for them: sometimes he blinds their eyes that they see no need of a Saviour; sometimes he shows them their sin in a multiplying or magnifying Glass, that a Saviour can do ⟨p. 130⟩them no good; and the poor captive is held and kept from Christ the Redeemer either way, though it is more rare, that sinners do despair, but it is more frequent and more ordinary for them to presume; as it was said of Saul and David; Saul slew his thousands, but David his ten thousands, 1 Sam. 18.7. so we might say, if thousands perish in their captivity by despair, there are ten thousands many times told, that perish by presumption and false hopes of Heaven. Sometimes the sinner cries out with Cain, Gen. 4.13. "My sin is greater than can be forgiven;" and with Judas is tempted to despair, and to destroy himself.

5. ANother Chain whereby some Captives are fast bound is contrary to the former, a despairing of mercy; not only a despairing in a man's self, seeing an utter Inability to help himself, this is necessary, but a despairing of pardon and salvation notwithstanding the mercy of God, and the merit of Christ, thro' which pardon and salvation is tendered unto them. The devil useth various, yea, contrary means and methods to hold fast sinners in their bonds; if he can, he will keep them from a sight and sense of sin and misery thereby: If he cannot, but God openeth a sinners eyes and awakened his conscience, the Devil will set out his sins with all the aggravations of them, but endeavours to keep from the sight of Christ; sometimes perswading sinners that their sins are not so great, but they may do well enough, sometimes that they are so hainous, that there is no hope, nor help for them: sometimes he blinds their eyes that they see no need of a Saviour; sometimes he shews them their sin in a multiplying or magnifying Glass, that a Saviour can do