The oyle of gladnesse. Or, Comfort for dejected sinners. First preached in the parish church of Banbury in certaine sermons, and now published in this present treatise. By William Whately minister there.

§ 7.

The third followes, and that is worse then both the former. Ah I have made long defecti∣ons from the covenant of grace, and revolted, backslided, apostated from the waies of God, and in my backsliding

veine have runne into, I know not how many and how grievous offences. Since I found some good things working in my soule, and had for a great space and with great for∣wardnesse, continued to walke in the paths of piety. I have againe broken forth and conti∣nued a long time in my wandrings, without any care of returning, and therefore now I feare that my case is despe∣rate, and that J have committed the unpar∣donable sinne. This ar∣gument must bee like∣wise

cast into this forme, whosoever hath beene guilty of long and grie∣vous defections and backslidings, hath his sinnes unpardoned, and hath committed the un∣pardonable trespasse, nor can be pardoned. Now so I have done, as mine owne heart is too sure a witnesse against mee: Therefore I neither am nor can bee pardoned. Mine answer to this rea∣son, is in the same man∣ner that the former. The first part of it must bee denied, as being evident∣ly false and against the

Word of God. For David in my Text did thus backslide in some degree, but Salomon (whose birth is here mentioned, and who is here graced with the name Iedidiah, because the Lord, not alone did but also would love him) did make even such an Apostacy to the very full and yet hee recovered himselfe by repentance, hee was upright before, and hee was pardoned. For hath not the Lord pro∣mised Israel to heale her backslidings? Tell

me then, fince thy back∣sliding, hast thou not recovered, and with much shame and remorse craved pardon and re∣turned to doe or labours to doe thy first workes. If not, thou art not the man I seeke to comfort, unlesse thou shalt now addresse thy selfe to this reconversion, as I may so terme it. If yea, why then know that thy case is good enough, the di∣sease that is healed doth never kill, but to thee appertaine the promises made to backsliding Israel. And whereas

thou sayest, my sinne is sure that unpardonable sinne. Understand that the Scripture never cal∣leth any sin unpardona∣ble. Some sinnes indeed are never pardoned, be∣cause the committer thereof doth never re∣pent; but that a sinne repented of should bee uncapeable of pardon, it is more then the Word of God doth ever af∣sirme: but if there bee any such sinne, this sinne of thine cannot bee that sinne. For he that wholy falleth away, after some degrees of

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grace received, it is im∣possible that he should renew him againe by repentance, but thou dost againe renew thy selfe by repentance, for thou confessest, and la∣mentest thy turning aside, and returnest a∣gaine to crave pardon. Let thine heart returne a true answer; dost thou not finde it aking, and relenting for thine Apo∣stafie, longing, desirous to come on againe, and carefull to seeke par∣don for former decli∣nings? if so, then art thou renewed by repen∣tance

and therefore didst not wholy fall away. If backslidings shall breed in any man, either utter hardnesse, or utter despaire, so that ei∣ther one is not sorry for them, or will not seeke forgivenesse of them, that is a sore signe of ut∣ter relapsing, but thou dost come backe againe to the Lord, falling out with thy selfe, for falling of from him, and ca∣sting downe thy selfe before him, above and against all hope, dost crave mercy of him. I am certaine therefore

that thy case is good, and thou art or shalt bee pardoned. And for this so terrible objection of backsliding, let the Pro∣phet fully satisfie thee. For to Israel that had plaide the harlot from God and followed many lovers, the Lord saith by his Prophet, Yet re∣turne unto me, Chap. 3 ver. 1. & ver. 12. Returne ô backesliding Israel, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee, for I am mercifull saith the Lord, and will not keepe anger for ever, onely acknowledge your iniquity, and so

forth, and then after, Turne ô backsliding chil∣dren, for I am married unto you, and I will take you, one of a city, and so as it followeth in the Prophet. Loe now the truth of God, whatsoe∣ver fearefull Apostacy thou hast made, if thou returne and acknow∣ledge, here is promise of acceptance, and this very turning, shewes that thou hast not committed that never-to-be pardo∣ned sin, for that offence is therefore onely never pardoned, because the man that hath runne into

it, will never returne, either out of hardnesse, or despaire, or both.

Notes

• Jer. 3.