Reynolds - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.R485 T47 1642

The Jinfuln ofie of Sinne. is not to prevent evill,but to multiply it,not to efcape fin, bu; to double it. We mutt obferve Gods way of break- ing off finne, and not our owne ; It was never knowne that one finne was the way to prevent or to cure ano- ther. Betides there is leihe finfulnefle in a defect which attendeth a duty done,than in a totali ornillîon of it ; for that comes in by way of confequence, the other is againff the .very fubilance and whole body of the command ; that proceedeth from naturalt and unavoidable impo- tency, this from a wilfulnefie which might have beene prevented. Now lince the wicked have filch a totalidifability, as that whatever they doe is altogether finfull, bath not a dramme of holinefle in it, the principles, the ends, the wayes all C'arnall ; Here then wee might obferve the fouleaeffe of thofe reliques of Pelagianifme, in doctrine of the Papißs, who flatter and comply with nature a- gaina the grace of Chrif#, in their doctrines of merit, of 'congruity andpreparations for grace, the acceptablenefie of heathen vertues,in the light of God, the infallible at- tendance of Grace upon naturali endeavours,as if things totally evilly and deserving wrath, could prepare for Grace. But I rather choofe to fpeake to the Confcience It fhould ferve therefore to amaze naturali men in the fight of this /ate of fin, and to throw them down?, under Gods mighty hand, when they fhall confider that their belt w odkes are totally evil), that doe what they will it is altogether abominable in Gods fight. What a wofull thing is it for a man to be debtor to the whole Law, one jot or title whereof Ball not paífe away,and tó bee ut- terly unable to doe any thing which beareth proportion to the lean title of that Law, becaufè'fhat Law is all over fpirituali, and he all over carnal). It would be an Infup- portable burden to peri(h everlaflingly for but one finne:. how infinitely more to bee antwerable for all thofe infi- nite trelpaffes, n t one Whereof can bee remitted with - out z 4.9

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