A systeme or body of divinity consisting of ten books : wherein the fundamentals and main grounds of religion are opened, the contrary errours refuted, most of the controversies between us, the papists, Arminians, and Socinians discussed and handled, several Scriptures explained and vindicated from corrupt glosses : a work seasonable for these times, wherein so many articles of our faith are questioned, and so many gross errours daily published / by Edward Leigh.

CHAP. XI. Signes of a Christian in regard of sinne, and that great corruptions may be found in true Chri∣stians.

OF the first.

Signs of a Christian in regard of sin:

First, He is convinced of sin Iohn 16. 9. the Greek word signifies to evidence by demonstration, the Spirit so demonstrates it, that a man hath nothing to object, Psal. 51. 13.

Secondly, He is free from its dominion, as Paul saith, Sinne shall have no domi∣nion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace; and after, Being freed from sinne. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not, John. They do no iniquity, Da∣vid. They serve not sin in the lusts thereof. He hath not an habitual resolution to continue in sinne.

Thirdly, He is troubled and wearied with the reliques of it, and driven to Christ for pardon and help. He is weary of sin, and every sin so farre as he know∣eth, specially his own sin, and that iniquity which cleaveth closest to him. His flesh is inclined to it, but his Spirit is a verse from it, and even tired and burdened with it, so that he often sighes out in himself the complaint of S^t Paul, O misera∣ble man that I am. Still as he prevails more against sin the remainders of it do more afflict him: sinne in it self considered is his greatest unhappinesse, that he hath so vile a nature, is prone to so vile deeds, and doth in many things so foolishly offend, this troubleth and disquieteth him even then when he hath no other crosse to trou∣ble him, and many times imbitters all his prosperity.

Fourthly, He is grieved with the sins of others, Ier. 9. 1. Ezek. 9. 4. Ezra 9. 3, 4. See 1 Cor. 5. 2. David was the great Devotionist of the Old Testament, Psal. 119. 136▪ Phil. 3. 18.

The greatest sinners when once converted are most compassionate to others, be∣cause they have experience of the power of sin, and have most sensibly felt the good∣nesse of God.

God is dishonoured by the sins of others, as well as by our own sins, the godly hate sin both in themselves and others, Psal. 97. 10.

Of the second:

Very great corruptions in heart are yet to be found in sincere Christians, 2 Chr••. 15. 17. Very few men are recorded in Scripture, but their great sins are recorded as well as their graces, except Iosiah and some few others. Davids adultery and murder, 1 King. 15. 5. Some think he was given to lying, Psal. 119. Remove from me the way of lying. Salomons grosse Idolatry, 1 King. 11. 4. Peters shameful Apo∣stasie, Mark 14. 71. Asa's persecution, 2 Chron. 16. 10.

First, For inward corruptions, there is the body of all sins remaining in the soul of every gracious person, though it be mortified and broken, it doth not rule

in him. Paul writeth to the Ephesians and Colossians, and wisheth them to put off the corrupt old-man.

Secondly, For actual, we may say with Iames, In many things we offend all; our infirmities are mingled with our best duties, we break out many times into things we know to be evil, slagitious crimes.

The people of God are freed,

• 1. From the sin against the holy Ghost, 1 Iohn 3. 9.
• 2. From sin raigning.
• 3. From a total apostasie, Ier. 3. 22. they cannot lose all saving grace, 1 Pet▪ 1. 13.
• 4. From final impenitency, Psal. 37. 24.

Godly men may fall into other sins:

• 1. The state of grace cannot exempt them, 1 Iohn 2. 1.
• 2. The truth of grace cannot preserve them, their actions come from a mixt principle.
• 3. No degrees of grace can preserve them, Phil. 1. 6. nothing will perfect our san∣ctification but the beatifical vision, 1 Iohn 3. 3.

They may fall into the grossest errors in judgement, and foulest evils of practice. In the Church of Galatia some denied Justification by the righteousnesse of Christ. In the Church of Corinth some denied the Resurrection, Revel. 18. 4. Tertullian fell to Montanism. Luther to Consubstantiation: David into murder and adultery: Salomon to Idolatry: Peter to deny his Master with execration▪ True believers may fall grievously and hainously:

• 1. Into sins not only quotidiani incursus. August. of daily incursion: but such which do vastare Conscientiam, as the Schoolmen speak, though they do not Ex∣cutere fidem.
• 2. So as to wound the consciences of their brethren, Rom. 14. 15.
• 3. To wound their profession, 1 Tim. 6. beg. Rom. 2. 24.
• 4. They may strengthen the hands of sinners, 2 Sam. 12. 14.
• 5. They may greatly grieve the Spirit.
• 6. They may contract a damnable guilt, Psal. 90. 8.
• 7. They may fall so as to bring on themselves great temporal afflictions, Ezra 9. 13. Psal. 99. 8. Ier. 2. 19.
• 8. They may be chastened with spiritual afflictions, Psal 51. 12.
• 9. God may in them punish one sin with another. David was punisht with carnal adultery for his spiritual security.
• 10. They may lose, though not jus ad regnum, yet aptitudinem regnandi.

Yet there is a great difference in their sinning between them and the wicked, their spots are not alike:

• 1. They have not such a full inward principle to sin. David committed adultery not as Zimri with his whole heart, the other had a principle checking him, totus ho∣mo sins, but not totum hominis, there is a principle of grace.
• 2. They do not constantly sinne, they live not in grosse sins; it is one thing to fall into the dirt as a sheep, another thing to wallow in it as a swine doth.
• 3. These are bitter sins to them, and minister much matter of humiliation af∣terwards; David was a murderer and a bitter penitentiary for it, Psal. 51. Deliver me from bloud guiltinesse.
• 4. They are in a combat and fight with their ordinary infirmities of passions, as Paul Rom. 7. & Gal. 6. it makes them often pray, it puts them into sad agonies, as Rom. 7. what they would not do they do, therefore O wretched man that I cannot pray, be humble.
• 5. They do at last come out of these with the contrary graces, and delight in them, they mortifie and subdue their lusts, Rom. 8. The law of the Spirit frees them from the law of sin, yea they delight in the contrary graces, His delight is in the law of the Lord.
• 6. They do not only come out of them themselves but set against them in others, the woman of Samaria called her neighbours; Lydia her family; Then will I teach transgressors thy wayes.

It is a great mercy for the holiest men to be preserved from grosse and scandalous sins, 2 Pet. 1. 10.

Reasons

• 1. Hereby all the actual exercises of grace are suspended, one hath no more use of grace then if he were an unregenerate man, Psal. 51. 10, 11. there is a Deliquium gratiae as well as animae.
• 2. There is a suspension of all the priviledges of grace when one fals into grosse sins, there is an interdiction though not an intercision, a sequestration though not an ejection, Psal. 51. 7. He alludes to the purging of the Leper under the Law, he had a right and title to his house, but not an actual enjoyment of it, a man hath communion with God here by the acts of grace and consolations of the Spirit, these are suspended.
• 3. Grosse fals in Gods people are commonly penal, the punishment of other sins, 2 Sam. 11. 6. Matth. 26. 33, 34. as sin cannot be called by a worse name then sinne, Rom. 2. 1••. so God cannot punish sin worse then by sin.
• 4. It leaves a blot on a man which shall never be wiped off. Peters denial is spo∣ken of where ever the Gospel is publisht; Ieroboam that made Israel to sin; This is that Ahaz; Iudas the Traitor.
• 5. Hereby you grieve the hearts of the Saints, and strengthen the hands of the wicked.
• 6. Though God pardon the sin, yet he will not take off the temporal judgement from the person and posterity.

The execution of judgement shall begin with them, Amos 8. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 17. God will punish his people with greater severity, Lam. 4. 6. Mat. 3. 10.

Six sorts of godly persons are in danger:

First, Men in the highest place, Magistrates, Ministers, David, Peter.

Secondly, Men of great parts, Knowledge puffeth up. Augustine saith of Lici∣nius, one of great parts but of a corrupt judgement, Cupit Diabolus à •••• ornari.

Thirdly, Men of the greatest graces, God leaves sinne in men to keep them low, therefore when men are high in grace he leaves powerful lusts to exer∣cise them.

Fourthly, Men that are carnally confident, as Peter, D^r Pendl••ton.

Fifthly, Those that are censorious against the fals of others, Gal. 6. 1.

Sixthly, Those that are used to great visions of God; Salomons heart departed from the Lord that appeared to him twice, Eclipsis lunaris nunquam contingit nisi in plenilunio.

The Saints of God are often gainers by their sinne, Rom. 8. 28. Good comes to them this way by accident, the Lord over-ruling it by his wisdom and grace.

First, Hereby a man is discovered to himself, sees that in his own heart which he never saw before, 2 Chron. 32. 31.

Secondly, The work of his humiliation and repentance is perfected; this use Paul made of his grievous sins, I was a persecutor, saith he.

Thirdly, The work of regeneration is perfected, Luke 22. 32.

Fourthly, He exalts the grace of God: so Paul.

Fifthly, It makes him watch over his own heart, and shun the occasions of sinne the more.

Sixthly, It makes him the more compassionate to others when they fall, Gal. 6. 1.

Notes

• Proinde bo∣nus si serviat, liber est: ma∣lus autem etiam si regnet, servus est, nec unius hominis, sed quod est gravius, tet dominorum, quot vitiorum. August. de civit. Dei, l. 4. c. 3.
• M. Burgess makes the op∣posing of sin, and abstaining from it, one of his Signs of Grace. See his Treatise of Grace, Sect. 2. Serm. 14.
• Christians go to God for Ju∣stification, ne peccatum dam∣net, that the damning pow∣er of sin may be taken away. For sanctifi∣cation, ne regnet, that the raigning power of sinne may be destroyed. For Glorification, ne sit, that the very being of it might be abolished.
• God hath preserved some of his people from shameful sins and stains, Enoch, Abra∣ham, Caleb, Ioshua, and many others, and we are commanded to be careful to live without just reproach, 2 Pet. 1. 5 M. Rogers in his 7 Treat. c. 11. See M. Hildersam on Psal. 51. the Title.
• They may lose their peace Psal. 51. 12. wound their own conscien∣ces, Prov. 6. 33. weaken their graces, be a reproach to all the Saints.
• See Jer. 13. 11, 12, 13. Deu. 32 19. Mi••a. 1. 5.
• 1. They are nearer unto God then other men, Mic. 2. 8. Ier. 12. 8. 2. Their sins provoke him more then the sins of others, being commit∣ted, 1 Against more light, Isa. 22. 1. & 29. 1. inward light, Psal, 51. 6. 2 Against greater mer∣cies, those of the new Cove∣nant, the bloud of a Son, the graces of the Spirit, Am. 9. 3. 3. Their sins dishonour God more then the sins of others, Rom. 2. 24.