Jones on Article XVI: Of Sin after Baptism

” For all such as through the goodness of God have received faith, and then wrestle with sin, consent not unto it, but are sorry for it, when they fall, and do not abide nor dwell in the same, but rise up again forthwith, and call for forgiveness thereof through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, all

such are called just but not through their own merits or

good works.” — 5th Sun. after Epiphany.

” Although we through infirmity or temptation of our ghostly enemy do fall from him” (God) “by sin, yet if we return again unto him, by true repentance, that he will forgive and forget our offences, for his Son’s sake, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and will

make us inheritors with him of his everlasting kingdom

And that though sometime he doth send us sharp adversity, ye1 that ever more he will be a loving Father unto us, correct-

TniRTY NINE ARTICLES.

ing us for our sin, but not withdrawing his mercy finally from us, if we trust in him and commit ourselves wholly to him.” — Homily of Faith.

“Although our heavenly Father doth most mercifully forgive us our offences, yet he doth not take sin clean away, hut during this life we fight against sin until we die.” — Catechism, 1548.

” The sixteenth rule is, to have our minds so armed afore hand, that though we be fallen into sin and overcome, we yet despair not, but take thereby occasion of greater courage to wrestle more strongly, to come again quickly to ourselves, to take a good heart upon us, to repair again the rebuke and shame of the fall, with new courage and lustiness of virtue, after the ensample of David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, &c, whom God no doubt suffered to fall, lest we after we are fallen should despair.” — Abridgement of Erasmus’s Enchiridion.

” But this is the difference, namely, before the baptism of the Spirit and water, that concupiscence or lust was a sin reigning, but after the washing of regeneration, it is a sin overcome and subdued.” — Old Learning and New.

THOMAS BECON, D.I).

” After ye be renewed by the most blessed Sacrament of baptism and the Holy Ghost, remember how soon ye lose again those benefits through your own sin and wickedness, which before ye freely obtained of Christ. This shall also

move you to cast away all pride, and to be humble and

fleeing continually unto God, for fervent prayer, for grace, mercy, favour, and remission of your sins, lest ye be damned for your iniquity according to your deserts.” — Nosegay.

” What should it profit us, by Christ to be delivered from that wretchedness into the which Adam did cast us, if there were not also a remedy to expulse that danger into the which

II

we cast ourselves through sin after baptism. Therefore, here also doth the goodness of God appear very lai-ge and bounteous toward us. For though we sin after baptism never so grievously, yet doth not he straightways take vengeance on us, and cast us headlong into hell-fire, as he did the angels ; but he patiently abideth our conversion, and lookcth daily when we will repent and amend, as the prophet saith, ’ The Lord long abideth us that he may have mercy on us.’” — Pathway to Prayer.

” The Novatians, Anabaptists, and Catharoi abuse this place (Ileb. vi.) to prove that all such as do fall after baptism cannot rise again, but are damned, and not recoverable. I trust my exposition do more accord to the truth than this damnable assertion, against which, I think it necessary somewhat to

speak In the old Testament… Moses displeaseth God at the

[…]

idolatry God ordained two manner of offerings among them,”

(the Israelites) ” one for sins done of ignorance ; another for

trespasses done willingly : promising forgiveness unto both

• Brethren, I would not ye should be ignorant of this, how our fathers were all under a cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized under Moses in the cloud and in the sea.’ Wherefore after baptism God forgiveth sin done both of igno- rance and also willingly In the New (Testament) Peter

denieth his master thrice ; the Galatians follow another gospel and are recovered by Paul ; Peter exhorteth Simon Magus unto amendment ; Paul desireth the Corinthians to receive him again whom he had excommunicate.” — Image of God.