'That relapfes into the f ime /înnes arepardonable. 45 3 caufe ofall the ref1 ? that hauing dr'unke this deadly poyfon and been grieuoufly ficke thereof in our confciences, wee fhould being recouered bee inticed with thepleafant taf }e thereofto fwallow it downe againe ? and that hailing recci ucd grievous wounds, wee fhould after take nobetter heede and goo no better armed and prepared to make refif}ance, but for want of care and watchfulneífe expofe our felues againe to the like danger of our fpirituall enemies? But yet we are to know that this fometimcs, through our great That tba cluld frailtie and corruption,may bile the efiate ofa true Chriflian ofGod war cal and faithful' feruant ofGod, to fall againe and againe into ¡Pine fiu,re,and the fame fanne, neither doth any thing priuiledge them yet berecei- from committing that finne againe which they haue once uedto rnercie. committed. For firfl,the faine inbred corruption full dw el leth inthem,and is readie againe to giue them the foilc and to leade them captiue into the fame finne, if the Lord vp bold themnot, fo that inrcfpe6i oftheir owne f}rength they may fall againe as in former times. Secondly, the fame cau- fes full romaine which may mooue the Lord to leaue them to thernfelues, and fuf7er them to fall, namelie, that hereby theymay he more humbled, and more feriouflic bewaile their corruptions, that theymaymoreearnefllie implorehis mercie. andhe more manifet} it in pardoning their firmes to the pride ofhis glorie. Thirdly,howfoeuer this is notvfuall with the children of God, to fall diners times into a finne which is great and grievous, yet euerie one flrdeth in his owne experience that hoe often committeth fuch finnes as arenot foheinous, through infirrni tie and weakneffe; as to heare the word negligentlie and careletfelie, to be diara&ed withwandring thoughts in prayer, to fall intovniuf anger, , tote and vfe idlecommunication and fuch like, ofwhich note\'ithf}anding repenting hee isreceiued vntomrcie. So that it is not the often falling into the fame finne, that ex- cludeth vs out of the number of Gods children, or debar- reth vs ofpardon, fo that weoften repent and layhold vpon Chrifi with a liuelie faith. Neither doe_ the Scriptures limit and refiraineGods rnercie;ancl,the vertue of Chrifts merits, to, the pardoning :and taking away of:dicers firmes, once commit fed,
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