scudderpage291

hope of grace and mercy, that you might have no thought of returning and seeking unto God again; but believe him not: he is a liar, John viii. 44. For it may befall one that is in a state of grace, to commit the same gross sins after conversion, which he did before, if not greater than the same. Did not David, by his adultery and murder, exceed all the sins that ever he committed before his conversion? 2 Sam. xi.; 1 Kings xv. 5. Did not Solomon worse in his old age than ever in his younger days? 1 Kings xi. 4, 5. Did Peter commit any sin like that of denying and forswearing his master, before his conversion? Matt. xxvi. 74. Why were the falls of these worthies written, but for examples to us, on whom the ends of the earth are come? 1 Cor. x. 11, 12.

First, That every one who stands should take heed lest he fall.

Secondly, That if any are fallen into any sin by any occasion, he might rise again as they did, and not despair of mercy.

No man, though converted, has any assurance, except he is specially watchful, and except he have special assistance of God's grace, to be preserved from any sin, except that against the Holy Ghost; but if he be watchful over his ways, and do improve the grace of God in him after conversion, seeking unto God for increase of grace, then he, as well as the apostle Paul, may be kept from such gross sins as are of the foulest nature, otherwise not, 1 Cor. iv. 4.

Indeed, they that are born of God, have received the sanctifying influences of God's Spirit, that seed of grace, which ever remains in them. Whence it is that they sin otherwise in a state of regeneracy than they did before; insomuch that the Scripture of truth, notwithstanding the after sin, saith, that whosoever is born of God sins not, 1 John iii. 9; not that they are free from the act and guilt of sin, for in many things we sin all, saith James, James iii. 2; but because they sin not with full consent, Rom. vii. 15, &c. They are not servants to sin; they do not make a trade of sin, as they did in their unregeneracy, John viii. 34.