as the carnall man doth, who taketh care to fulfill the lusts of the flesh: but if I doe it, it is flat beside my minde and purpose: in the doing of any sinne, I would not doe it, my heart is against it, and I hate it, and yet by the tyrannie of my flesh being ouercome I doe it: afterward, when it is committed, I am grie∣ued and displeased at my selfe, and doe earnestly with teares aske at Gods hand forgiuenes of the same sinne.
Sathan.
Indeede, this is very true in the children of God: but thou art solde vnder sinne and with great pleasure doest commit sinne, and louest it with thy whole heart: otherwise, thou wouldest not fall to sinne againe after repen∣tance, and commit euen one and the same sinne, so often as thou doest. Thou hypocrite, this thy behauiour turneth all the fauour of God from thee.
Christian.
Indeed it is dangerous to fall againe into the same sinne after re∣pentance: yet it is the order of the Prophets to call men to repentance which haue fallen from the feare of God, and from the repentance which they pro∣fessed: and God in thus calling them, putteth them in hope of obtaining mer∣cie. And the law had sacrifices offered euery day for the sinnes of all the peo∣ple, and for particular men, both for their ignorances, and their voluntary sins: which signifieth, that God is readie to forgiue the sinnes of his childrē though they sinne often. Abraham twise lied and swore that Sara was not his wife. Io∣seph sware twise by the life of Pharao. Dauid committed adulterie often, be∣cause he tooke vnto him Bathsheba, Vriahs wife, and also kept sixe wiues, and ten concubines. Gods will is, that men forgiue till seuentie seuen times: and therefore he will haue much more mercie. And for my part, so oft as I shal fall into the same sinne, so oft I shall haue Christ my aduocate and intercessour to the Father for me, who will not damne me for the infirmitie which he findeth in me, I will abstaine from externall iniquitie, and I will not make my mem∣bers seruants vnto sinne: and so long I trust my imperfections shall haue no power to damne me: for Christs perfection is reputed to be mine by faith, which I haue in his blood: God is not displeased, if my body be sicke and sub∣iect to diseases: no more is he displeased at the disease and sicknes of the soule. A naturall father will not slay the bodie of his child, when he is sicke, and ab∣horreth comfortable meates: and my heauenly father will not condemne my soule, although through the infirmitie of faith, and the weaknes of the spirit, I commit sinne, and often loath his heauenly word, the foode of my soule. Nay, (which is a strange thing) I know it by experience, that God hath turned my filthie sinnes to my great profit, and to the amendment of my life: like as the good Phisitian, of rancke poyson is able to make a soueraigne medecine to preserue life.
Sathan.
Well, be it so, that now thou art in the state of grace, yet thou shalt not continue so: but shalt before death depart from Christ.
Christ.
I know I am a member of Christs mysticall bodie: I feele in my selfe the heauenly power, & vertue of my head Christs Iesus: & for this cause I can not perish, but shal cōtinue for euer, & raigne in heauē after this life with him.