A helpe to true happinesse. Or A briefe and learned exposition of the maine and fundamentall points of Christian religion. By Mr. Paul Bayne

QVEST. VIII.

8. Q. WHo is that?

A. Almighty God, whose holinesse, and iustice are infinite.

That wee may the better see the foulenesse of sinne, it is first generally to be con∣sidered, viz. That the person against whom we sinne is God.

Secondly more especially, That this God is Almightie, and infinite in holinesse and iustice.

Concerning the first: when Dauid had wronged Bath∣sheba in her chastity, and V∣riah in his life, yet he confes∣seth that hee had sinned a∣gainst God alone, Psalm. 51.4.

There may be three things considered in sinne: 1. A damage done to our neigh∣bours: 2. A trespasse a∣gainst the authority of some ciuill Court of Iustice: 3. A trespasse in the Court of Conscience. Now though I iniure my Neighbour, yet this is not sinne as it is an in∣iurie to him; but as it is com∣mitted against the Law which doth binde my con∣science

otherwise; So a tres∣passe against the Lawes of some ciuill Court is not a sin precisely in this respect, but as in this a higher Law and authoritie binding the Conscience is transgressed. Therefore authority may forgiue a ciuill trespasse, and the penalty of it, which the Law determineth, without medling with that sinnefull respect which is in the same default against God. For looke as a Theefe taking a true mans purse doth wrong his Neighbour, but cannot be said to breake his Neigh∣bours Law, but the Kings Law; So in euery sin, how∣soeuer wee may iniury and trespasse against men, yet we cannot bee said properly to sinne against them, because

no Law binding my Con∣science is broken but Gods onely, which respect giueth being to sinne.

[Vse 1] 1. Let vs then confesse our sinnes to God as Dauid did. Wounded persons will open their wounds to a Chi∣rurgian who is able to heale them, so should we.

[Vse 2] 2. Let vs seeke pardon onely from God, as he who only hath authority to giue it. Popes pardons, are chea∣ting commodities, no way auailing the distressed Con∣science: A subiect cannot forgiue a trespasse done a∣gainst the Law of his Soue∣raigne; no more can any earthly creature, that which is done against the Law of that heauenly and supreame power so farre ouer them.

Obiect. [Obiect.] But doe not men forgiue sinnes?

Answ. [Answ.] Yea, as ordinary Messingers do fetch vp men, we say they fetch them vp, in as much as they cary and signifie the Kings writ, which doth fetch them vp; So Ministers doe forgiue as Gods ordinarie Messengers ex Officio, because they bring and apply that word of Gods writ, which doth sig∣nifie Gods will and pleasure to forgiue.

3. Let vs remember in e∣uery [Vse 3] sinne, whom wee of∣fend: When men fall out and quarrell, they doe not thinke they meddle with the King, yet when they breake the peace they offend against him, who is the Keeper of it; So in our sinnes against

our Neighbour, we seldome thinke what measure we of∣fer to God whom wee pro∣uoke by breaking his Law: The Deuill doth so keepe vs hoodwinckt that we thinke we loue God as well as any, and that we meddle not with him, but with those that wronged vs.

Now more specially ob∣serue: 1. That this doth further discouer the foule∣nesse of sinne; that it is a∣gainst that God who is Al∣mighty: The greater powe•• any man is of, the more dreadfull a thing it is to tres∣passe against him, but sinne doth prouoke and put God to it as we say, and in com∣mitting it, we enter comba•• with him; Now looke as t•• see an Infant to warre agains••

the Parent, or to see a pot striuing against the Potter, were a detestable sight; So is this much more, that man should by sin prouoke him who hath vs in his hand, euen as man hath a pot, or glasse, which, if he doe but let it go, is presently broken.

Further, the considerati∣on of the holinesse of GOD, may make vs the more see the hainousnesse and foule∣nesse of sinne: That which is opposite to him who is most holy, that is, pure in himselfe, and the Authour of all purity in his creatures, that cannot but be filthy and impure; looke as euery thing which hath contrarie∣ty with light, must needes be darknesse; so what euer is contrary to him whose eyes

are too pure to behold with approbation any sinne,* 1.1 yea, who is puritie it selfe, that must needes be most filthy impurity.

Lastly, the foulenesse o•• sinne may be seene by consi∣dering Gods infinite iustice If man doe wrong to on•• that handleth him vniustly it doth somewhat lessen th•• fault, but if hee deale iniuri∣ously with one, who will not offer him, or any other the least iniustice, then euery one that hath but halfe a•• eye doth descry the foul•• leudnesse of the fact: Thus it is, our sinne is against that God whose dealing was most iust and equall to vs. Againe, that which wrong∣eth an infinite iustice cannot but be most fearefull in re∣gard

of the punishment which it incurreth; for infi∣nite in some sort must that punishment be which doth satisfie the wrong done to an infinite Maiesty.

This also may be added to set forth the foulenesse of sinne, that it is committed against that God who is in∣finite in goodnes.

For any Subiect to rebell against a Prince, is wretched leudnesse, but for one to re∣bell against such a Prince who out of his bounty hath highly aduanced him, and done him fauours from day to day, this is most loath∣some disloyaltie: Thus it is with sinne which offendeth a most kinde and mercifull Lord, who had freely in cre∣ating vs, giuen vs such high

indowments, and who doth daily load vs with blessings.

[Vse] Wherefore that wee may see the soulenesse of sinne, let vs looke at the pure Na∣ture of God, as he hath in his word described it; For looke as blacknesse is then most manifest when it is set by and compared with the purest white: so is it here, when this hellish darkenesse of sinne is brought before this incomprehensible light. Such therefore as compare themselues with their selues, or with men like them∣selues, or as many do, with some more openly wicked then themselues; it is no wonder if they stroake their owne heads, and neuer see their owne deformitie: A Blackmoore matched with

his Countrymen will neuer be detected to be so vnbeau∣tifull as he is.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hab. 1.13.