Contentment Leading a Christian, Treatise 1 · Chapter 6 – Chapter 7
CHAP. VI. Of the greatnesse of sinne, trouble, and Contentment.
AGainst the greatnesse of sinne, Grounds of contentment against the greatnesse of sinne. 1a penitent and godly heart quieteth it selfe by these Meditations.
1 The promise of God to them that returne and repent: Esay 1. 18. If your sinnes be as red as scarlet, and as crimson, I will make the… as white as snow. What offences can be more hainous, or enormities more capitall, then these bloody scarlet sinnes? and yet God offereth mercy for them. But that Text hath more comfort: for he doubles the words, scarlet and crimson sins, which notes the reigne and dominion of sinne, and the doubling of their sinnes: for these colours Di…a…b….are not made without a double tincture in the wooll and cloath; of a double die, and deeper colour. So, though a man be died in grain, with a double die of sin, originall and actuall, and so resemble scarlet, yet upon his repentance here is an offer of free grace. Beside, the doubling of the promise should double our hope and confidence in the certainty of this grace and favour of God, that our sinnes of a double dye, seeming hard to be washed out, yet shall not foyle the gracious promise of mercy. The like is that of Christ, Matth. 12. 31. Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, onelyonly excepting the sinne against the Holy Ghost, which is joyned with finall impenitency.
2 The merit and price of Redemption, 2which is the Blood of Christ, the Sonne of God. God shed Act 20. 28.his Blood: and was this onelyonly to get remission of smaller sinnes (that had beene but a small thing to us) and not of greater? But herein is this blood preferred above al the blood of Buls and Goats, that, what that could not put away, this precious blood of the unspotted Lambe washeth as white as snow. This was notably figured in the sacrifice of the red Cow, offered for a sinne-offering for the Congregat on of Israel, Numb. 19. 6. S…e …ore… … … the A…th…rs book… of the Types. p. 175.The Cow must be red whole burnt and in the …urning the Priest must cast into the midst of the fire, Cedar-wood, Hyssope, and Scarlet L…ce: Christ was figured by this Cow, red as shee, strong and fresh, without blemish as she, or spot of sin; on Wch never came yoake (as she) not subject to any commandement of m…n: slaine without the gate as she, that is, crucified without Ierusalem, Hebr. 13. 12. burnt whole as she, that is, as it were consumed with the ho…e wrath of God, due to sinne; an Holocaust: With Cedar-wood and Hyssope as shee, to be a sacrifice of sweet smell: and with scarlet lace, to put us in mind of the fruit of this sacrifice, to expiate the most scarlet and bloody sinnes, by so pretious a blood, which is not onelyonly foreign, a price, but foreign, a counterprice able to satisfie for the sinnes of all men, yea, for them that have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, whose offence is not greater then the merit of Christ, but, because the party neither can nor doth apply this merit, is therefore unpardonable.
3 The call of Christ. He calleth 3sinners to him, yea, the greatest sinners, the most weary and laden, to whom he hath promised most ease. The sicke need a Physitian: he came not for the whole: the parable of the Prodigall sonne shewes, that there is more joy in Heaven for the returne of one such sinner repenting, then for ninety nine that never offended: and the promises of the Gospel are generall and indefinite, excluding no sort of sinnes, so that the condition of faith and repentance be performed.
4 The examples of great sinners, 4who found mercy. Ahab at the best was but an hypocrite in his repentance: yet when he made a show of repentance, though he had sold himselfe to worke wickednesse, he obteined much mercy: much more shall 1 Kin. 2, 29true repentance.
Can there be a sinne greater then to blaspheme and persecute the Church of God? yet Paul obtained mercy for these, that he might be an example to others to come, that should beleeve unto everlasting life, 1 Tim. 1. 16. insomuch as that blessed Apostle said, This is a true saying, that Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest: were I the greatest sinner in all the world, as in my sense I must be, Christ came to save me, upon my repentance.
Could there be a greater sin then Peters, after so many warnings and vowes to deny and forswear his Master, and curse himselfe, and this again and againe? and yet our Lord mercifully looked backe upon him, and gave him repentance and mercy.
Nay, as though this were a small mercy, to one great offendor, did hee not vouchsafe mercy to them that had crucified the Lord of glory, that had denyed the holy and just One, and desired Barrabas a theefe and murderer to be delivered? yet of these he converted above three thousand at one Sermon of Peters, Acts 2. 41.
What shall I say of Davids sinne, of Salomons, of Manasseh a Witch and Conjurer; one that made all the streets of Ierusalem runne with the blood of the Saints, and yet the Lord was intreated of him?
Whereupon a heart fenced with godlinesse Magnam injuriaem Deo facit, qui de ejus misericordi…diffidit: &c. Aug. enchir. c. 23.will be farre from that desperate speech of Cain, My sinne is greater then can be forgiven. Thou lyest, Cain, saith Augustine: for Gods mercy is greater then the sinnes of all men: and it is great injury to God, to distrust of his mercy.
5 The Lord measureth not the 5sinnes of his according to the nature and measure of them, but according to the affection of the sinner: and therefore the most outragious sinnes, being heartily bewayled, carefully resisted, and by hearty sorrow cast out, the sinner shall get his suit of pardon at the throne of Grace. Never was godly sorrow unanswered with a joyfull harvest: neither is it any sin that shall condemne, but lying and continuing in it.
CHAP. VII. Of Relapses, and how the heart may be quieted.
AGainst Relapse into the same Grounds of Contentment, and comfort in case of Relapses. 1sin, a penitent and godly heart settleth and contenteth it selfe with these Meditations, or the like.
1 That howsoever to turne to sin as a dog to the vomit, and swine to the wallowing (that neither instruction, nor experience of our own sins can worke in us a care to avoyd sin) bee a dangerous estate, yet it is neither hopelesse nor desperate: seeing they are the same men after sinne they were before, carrying the same corruption which dwels in them, and no more priviledge from errour then before, no strōger in themselves, &c.
2 The Article of remission of 2sins excepteth not Relapses, because the promise of remission doth not: neither is the vertue of CHRISTS merit restrained to sinnes once committed, but to all sinnes truely repented. No sinne but one is unpardonable.
3 Howsoever it is not ordinary, 3 Peccata incursionis qu…tidia…ae.that the childe of God fall divers times into the same great and grievous sinne, yet experience sheweth, that the best go every day over the same wants and common infirmities, negligence in hearing, wandring thoughts in prayer, idle speech, unjust anger, and the like. If often falling into the same sinne excluded from grace, or debarred of pardon, wee were hopelesse. But seeing we are commanded often to repent, and lay hold daily on Christs merit for salvation, by renewing repentance as we doe our sinnes, we have good confidence. And this repentance is an effectuall instrument to seale up forgivenesse of former transgressions, but not a fence from all force of sin following.
4 View the examples of many of 4 Gen. 19. 31.the Saints, raised out of Relapses. ABRAHAM twice lyed. LOT twice overcome with Wine and Incest. PETER thrice denyed.
Mary checkt twice of Christ for curiosity, Luke 2. 49. and Iohn 2. 4. The Disciples twice had emulation, and debates about primacy. Iohn twice worshipped the Angell, Rev. 19. and 22. The whole booke of Iudges is a notable proofe hereof: for how often is it said, that the Iewes returned to their idolatry, and yet Iudg. 2. 16.when they called upon the Lord, hee ever sent them a Saviour? Most of the Ancient lived in Polygamie, … Cor. 5. 20. Paul writing to the Corinthians, that were fallen away, saith, We beseech you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God.
5 The mercy of God is everlasting: 5The hills shall move, and the mountains tremble, but the Covenant of my peace shal not bemoved, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, Esa. 54. 10.
But if godlinesse thus …ence the heart, know it by two notes.Two notes of right comfort … this case.
1 It preserves in the heart an hearty sorrow for sin past: else the repentance was not sound, but shallow: godly sorrow is permanent, not transient.
2 It preserves a feare for time to come. The burnt childe dreads the fire: he that hath beene once assauited by the enemie, and wounded, the smart of it will make him ever after go better fenced: he that hath tasted of the poysoned cup of sinne, if his conscience have beene sicke at heart, and ready to give over, he will not easily be brought to taste of it any more.