COncerning sinnes the first Question is, how a Christian may be comforted when his Conscience doth reprove him for, and accuse him of diverse sins?

1. Ans. Sinnes are of two sorts. For some be properly cal'd infirmities, or faults, which do commonly cleave to the best and most vigilant of the faithfull, 1 Cor. 6. 7. Others are more hainous wickednesse which neither are to be found in all the faithfull nor in any of them at all unlesse very seldom; and by reason of some violent temptation, Romans 6. 13. Gal. 6. 1.

2. An infirmity is when a purpose to do well is present, but power of performing it is absent, Rom. 7. 18. A wickednesse is when the purpose it selfe at least in some particular fact is impious, 2 Sam. 12. 10. Now in case of infirmities these following arguments may serve for consolation.

3. First, even the best and most perfect of Gods Children while they live here are subject unto these failings, Iames 3. 2. 1 Iohn 1. 8.

4. Secondly, God doth pitty his servants in their infirmities as a loving Father pitties his little children, Ps. 103 13. Mat. 3. 27.

5. Thirdly, Christ himselfe is touched with the sense of our infirmities, Heb. 4. 15.

6. Fourthly, Christ himselfe is such a propitiation for such kinde of sinnes, that he offers us consolation for them before they be committed, 1 Iohn 2. 1, 2. Ro. 6. 14.

7. Fifthly, by Christ we have accesse with boldnesse to the Throne of grace, that wee may obtaine mercy, Heb. 6. 14.

8. Sixthly, God at our prayer will cure our infirmity, Esa. 40. 29. Ps. 103. 3.

9. Seventhly, the spirit helpeth our infirmities, Rom. 8. 26.

10. Eighthly, these infirmities shall not be imputed to us for sins, Rom. 7. 17. 10.

11. In more hainous sinnes, there can be no solid comfort had, till they be taken away, 1 Cor. 5. 2. 6. The reason is because such kind of sinnes make even beleevers themselves subject to the threatnings of the Law, and do in a great degree, exclude them from the promises of the Gospell, wast the Conscience, Heb. 10. 22. And expose them to the wrath of God, as being partakers with the wicked and unbeleevers. Eph. 5. 6, 7. Gal. 6. 17. And therefore have in them a cause of terror not of consolation. Heb. 10. 31. Yet a beleever may in some sort sufreine himselfe even in the greatest sinnes with the possibility and hope of mercy, Romans 11. 23. Luke 22. 23.

The second Question, what a beleever is to do that he may have consolation, in case his Conscience accuse him for his sinnes?

12. First, he ought to be affected with sinne, and to groane under it as a burden, Mat. 11. 28, 29.

13. Secondly, hee ought continually to detest all sinne, Ro. 7. 15.

14. Thirdly, he ought evermore to have a care that he fulfill not the lusts of sinne, Gal. 5. 16.

15. Fourthly, he ought to indeavour the mortification of them. Ro. 8. 13.

26. Fifthly, he ought looking upon the promises to fly unto Christ and to cleave unto him more and more, Rom. 7. 25. Phil. 3 9.

27. But grosse sinnes must first be removed and taken away before a man can be fit to receive solid consolation, Esa. 1. 16. 27, 18.