rh.itfinnesofky,ol%ledgearepardonable. 649 of a ílubborne \'vilfulneffe, either through the negied of Gods itiaice and judgements, or through the abufe of his mercy and benefits. In the firfl refpccct they offend,who ha- uing diners times themfelues finned, and yet cfcaped pu- nifhinent, or hauing feeneothers in the like cafe, doe take occaion hereby to finne againe, hoping to cfcape as in for- mer times : and offuck the Wifeman fpeakëth,Ecclef..8.i i. Eecaulerntenceair infas euilt Yorke is not execátted fieedtlte, therefore theheart ofthe childrenofmen is {.rllie fret in them to doe mill. Iñ theother refpe6t, Erich offend as take occafion upon Gods merde and long fuffering to fall into finne, pre- fuming before theycommit it, that God vpon their repen- tance will in his infinitmercie forgiue them : and thus they abufe Gods mercy and goodneffewhich fhould leade them to repentance, as an argument to make themmore defpe= ratelie to runne into all vvickedneffe. So that to finne pre- futnptuoufly,isnot to finnevpon knowledge, and againíl a mans confcience onely,vnlefle there be ioynnd therewith a prefumptuous hope to efcape punifhment, or that notwith- ¡landing the finne comtnitted,he ¡hall receiue pardon in re- fpe&ofGods infinite mercie. Nowmany ofGods children. may fall again¡l their knowledge and confcience, and yet notprefume either to efcape Gods iudgements;or to be par- takers ofhismerde, as nainelie thole who are carried head- long into a finne without any timeofdeliberation through theviolence oftheir corruptions, or ouercome by feare of fome prefent danger,or fome othervnruly pafíion. But here the tempter will obiecf,that though thefe finnes againtl knowledgeand confcienée bee not prefumptuous, yet theyarevnpardonable, Peeing the committers of them haueno part inChrifls facrifice3 and confequently can hope for nomercie at Godshands-: and this he will indeuour to proueby thatfayitigof the Apoílle, Heb.i 0.26. For if n'e finne rnillingly after that fileh ate receigedthe k, o` iledte of the traith,thereremaineth,omore fa:criface forlinnes,ht4t a fearefoll locking for ofiudzement,&c. For the anfinBringwhereofiwee are to know, that theApoffle in hisdoìrine is notc®ntrarie taour. Sauicur Chrill : but heebath taught vs,that not only tones Ecdef.8.t t. . t. Secio4 That finnes wf knovv'edge arepardo nable.
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