Anonymous on Article XVI: Of Sin after Baptism

and betraying us, by mistake or surprize into Sin, yet may we not give our selves over for Lost upon every Relapse : For though we must strive to live up to our Vows, and use all imaginable caution that we fin not; yet Ak any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Chzift the Righteous. Or if any Christi- an Sin, we haye an Advocate with the Father, who 1s the Propitia- OY. tion for our Sins, that is, for the Sins of Christians, who may hope, 5 by his Mediation, to find Mercy, though we unhappily Sin after n or ets which leads me to the Sixteenth Article of our Church, i whic 1 33

• NT ons deadlySin willingly committed afterBaptism,is the Sin * against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the Grant f of Repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into Sin after 4 Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may de- part from Grace given, and fall into Sin; and by the Grace of j God we may rise again and amend our Lives: And therefore they © are to be condemned which say, they can no more Sin, as long eas they live here; or deny the Place of Forgiveness ta such as truly Repent. 3 5

i I. Not every deadly Sin committed after Baptism, is the Sin | against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable,

II. Men are not to be discouraged, if they fin after Baptism : The Grant of Repentance is not to be deny’d to such as fall into Sin after Baptism.

| III. Men may fin, after they have received the Holy Ghost : We | may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin. 3 IV. When this is done, by the Grace of God, we may rise again, i and amend our Lives

| V. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say, they can i no more Sin as long as they live here, or who deny the Place [ of Forgiveness to such as truly repent.

. : I. The

Holiness of Life; but our Weaknesses remaining upon us, -

2 R 1 2 a. 7 * 7 — 5 - 2 F 77 94 he XI, 2 25 e e ESR * Cs Ee ͤ F c e ð dd Be A III Ie * 6 RE ens n d d ny Rr

75 T e en keg . Fo IRE <LI IE 2 ** r 2 r > — 2 PR pul

e ee ee ee ae a aan * 2

8 C ME ² Saandn — a

IT 27 * * 1 eee 1 4 F

p Fg) N Re ES ny “Da 0 T2 28 £3 “8 r 1 Se […] Ee OS , HM „ Foes. Ay F Wy, K E Iz - 4 8 e * * A FR; SE a oe, =. Bo Wy EM oY Woe MX VB Fr - “3% _ _ 1 8 £35 = N FM - „ WR 2 ow […] Xe ot. “LIN _. gh * 25 5 KY Ru Wo „ IM DF Ws We WOE _

_ 2 lle

Thirty Nine ARTICLES. 109

Article I. The Pardonableness of deadly Sin after Baptism is here assert- XVI.

ed; not every deadly Sin committed after Baptism is the Sin against vw the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Consider what deadly Sin is what the Sin against the Holy Ghost was; and that there is no other

Sin but what is pardonable.

1. By deadly Sin, we understand such a Sin as is wilfully com- mitted, against Knowledge and Conscience, which cannot be extenu- ated by Ignorance or Infirmity, or lessen’ d by Surprize or Circum- stances which in other Sins may plead for Allowance : It is a wil- ful Presumption against the Laws of Christ , a deliberate Trans- gression of the Divine Will. For every Sin of that Nature is threaten d with Eternal Death. Some distinguish between venial

and deadly Sins; and number up Seven, which go by that Name;

but whatever Allowances God may make for Sins of Ignorance and Infirmity, we are sensible, that every wilful Presumptuous Sin is

deadly in the Sight of God, a great Transgression, and calls for a particular Repentance. Keep back thy Servant also from 5 psal. 19. 13. Sins, let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great Transgression. 2. The Sin against the Holy Ghost, which particularly goes by that Name, and 1s distinguish’d from all other, was the Blaspheming

the Miracles of Jesus, and ascribing those Works to the Assistance and Power of the Devil, which our Saviour perform’d by the Spirit of

God. This being allowed, there may be many deadly Sins com-

| mitted, which are not the Sin against the Holy Ghost ; for Men may

commit them, and not blaspheme the Power, by which the Miracles were done : Nay, that very Sin peradventure cannot be formall

committed in our Days; because we are not allowed to behold our Saviour working miraculously, nor can we pass an immediate Judg-

ment upon him, as the Fews did; because we are not admitted to

see any of them done. But when the Pharisees heard (that the Mart. 12. 24, Man, posless’d with a Devil blind and dumb, was healed) they said, *” This Fellow doth not cast out Devils, but by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils : _Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of Sin and Blaspbe- my sball be forgiven unto Men, but the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not 5 forgiven unto men. 5 3. We know of no other Sin that can be committed by Men, but what is pardonable, though presumptuous and wilful, though deadly and exceeding dangerous; because this is the only Sin that is excepted, to which no Pardon is annex d, and for which no Mercy is granted; and if it cannot be committed in this Age, the scrupulous and time- rous snould not disturb themselves about it. But any other deadly Sin whatsoever, whether committed before Baptism or after it, by the great Mercy of God in Jesus Christ is pardonable, and upon hearty Repentance and Reformation shall be forgiven. Yerily, I say Mark 3. 28, unto you, all Sins shall be . to the Sons of Men, and Blasphe- *” mies, wherewith soever they Frey blaspheme : But he that shall bla- ojt,

spheme agains! the Holy Ghost, hath never Forgiveness, but is in dan- ger of eternal Damnation.

— a

Article XVI.

dared so much Love to the Souls of Men, that if the most prodi-

they might be saved. And because I can reach no farther with my Voice than this Place, I most heartily invite you all to Repentance;

your Sins are as Scarlet, ye shall be as’white as Snow, though II

pentance which he admits? Since he is fo kind, I would, if it lay in

An EXPOSITION of the

IT. Men are not to be discouraged if they (in after Baptism, but to be used with all Compassion and Tenderness. Wherefore the Grant of Repentance is not to be deny’d to such as fall into Sin after Bap- tism. The whole Society of Christians, from the Days of our Sa- viour to this Time, have had too many fad Instances of falling into Sin after Baptism ; and if Repentance should be deny’d to them, who could be sav d? for in many Things we offend all. Or if the Door should be shut against Penitents, when Conscience accuses, and they are under the Horror of their Guilt, and plead for Mercy, how mi- serably would they be driven to Despair ? Our Saviour therefore, consulting the Weakness and Necessities of his Servants, hath de-

gal Child will return, he will entertain and embrace him: If Adul- terers and Adulteresses will reform, he will admit them upon their Repentance. He invites the weary, and heavy laden to him, look d kindly upon Peter, and as it were invited him to Repentance, when he had denied him ; and applies particular Means for the Recovery of his Servants, and stands ready with open Arms to receive them., When our Lord is thus gracious to returning Sinners ; who 1s he, that dares oppose their Reconciliation to the Church’s Peace? If he admits of their Repentance, and is pleas’d with it, what Boldness is itin any that are Servants , and no better than restor’d Penitents, to refuse it? Shall not Fellow-Sinners be as indulgent to one another, as their Lord? Ought not they to allow of, and encourage the Re-

my Power, invite the whole World to return and call for Mercy; I would invite and intreat the worst of Men to consider the Errors of their Ways, to amend their Lives, and to become new Men, that

I most solemmly befeech you to repent and turn, that ye may live. What though ye have been overtaken with a Faott since your Bap- tifm > What though ye have been ver 8 and e ligent > Nay, what though the Sins of some have been most horrid and deadly, of the uglieft and blackest Nature, yet do not defporyd, or give your selves over for lost > Do not grow desperate, and lay Repentance aside ; for the Door of Mercy is open still for you, the Grant of Repentance is still before you, and both Reconciliation and Forgiveness may be still obtam’d. If your Hearts smite you, if your Consciences accuse you, if ye are heartily concern’d, and are truly forrowful, if ye humble your selves before God, and endea- vour seriously and uprightly to live up to the Gospel ; your Pardon may be obtain’d, your Peace may be secur’d, and ye, that have pro- voked the most High fo much, and expos’d your selves so often to his Displeasure, may be accepted and saved. Do but embrace this present Opportunity, and comply with this Proposal ; “though

« Crimson, they shall be as Wooll ”. I may here with safety ap- ply our Saviour’s Words, which he spake to the Woman _ in Adul-

ER

ff » -

—”

Thirty Nine An TICLES

——

Va

Lord And Fefus said tento her, Neither do I condemn ther; go, and fin no more. EY

„III. There is danger of our Falling after we have received the Holy Ghost ; We may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin. We receiv’d at our Baptism a Measure of the Holy Ghost, for our Assistance and Encouragement ; for we were then regenerated and

born of Water and the Holy Ghost, and strengthen’d from above for the Service we enter’d upon, with that ordinary Concurrence and

Assistance of the Holy Spirit, - which we might work out our Sal- vation, and please God in Christ. We ate since left at Liberty to employ this Measure of Grace for our Good, or to neglect and de- spise it. For this Holy Assistant does not usually storm and take our Jearts by an irresistible Force; but like an indulgent Friend offers his Help, removes what may hinder us in our Duty, and affords what is proper and necessary to guide and prosper us in it, that we

may be good and acceptable if we please; or may not, if we refuse,

Hence it is possible to depart from Grace given ; nay, hence it is that so many fall into Sin, and forfeit the Love of God. We also may if we will, attend, take heed, and comply, and secure our Souls; and if we are slack and negligent in our Christian Warfare, may turn from the excellent Commandment, negle& this graci-

_ ous Assistance, yield to Temptations, and may be over-taken with a Fault: For the Holy Ghost does not force us to be dutiful , or con-

strain and necessitate us to be faithful. He does ordinarily prevent, assist, and follow us with good Advice, pious Motions, and holy In- clinations, and then usually leaves it to us to determine, chuse, and to a& for our own Safety. And for this Reason it is undoubted, and (ad Experience does confirm, what our Church asserts, that we may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin. We have too many In- stances of those that have apostatiz d from the Christian Faith, and

of those that have begun well, and lost their Integrity. This is fo clear, plain, and certain, that the following Article of Predestinati-

on is to be explained by this. For how is it possible that our Church should intend by Predestination an absolute, irrespective Decree of saving such a determinate Number of Souls, and of damning the rest 2 If we may depart from Grace given, fall away, and lose the Favour of God; that Predestination that is made consistent with

this Liberty, must be conditional, and respe& the Actions of free

Agents. And therefore either this and the following Article must contradict one another, and our Reformers that compos’d them, were not consistent with themselves ; or else that Predestination they as- sert, must be made consistent with departing from Grace given. 1 cannot therefore but think it happy, that this Article which asserts a Departure from Grace possible, is plac’d immediately before that of

Predestination, and affords a proper Light to clear up the Scruples

that may arise from it. For if we way fall, we are not under an

Adultery. Hath no Man condemned thee 2 She said, No man, Article

XVI. Joh. 8. 10,

absolute and unconditional Predestination. If God spared not the Rom. 11. 27.

natural Branches, take heed left he also spare not thee. 7 2 88 IV. When

mh PTY

An EXPOSITION o the

11,12.

IV. When this is done, and we do fall, we may (by the Grace of God) rise again, and amend our Lives; we may recover our Feet from the Snare, and may be reinstated in the Divine Favour. This is not to be done by any natural Strength of our own ; for of our selves we can neither think a good Thought, nor perform a good Action. But as weak as we are, we may, through Grace, take hold of the Hand that is stretched forth to keep us from sinking, as St. Peter did. We may hearken and consent to the Means for our Re- covery, and though unable to use them, may concur with him, who affords his Help and Assistance to us; and as he calls upon us to be renewed, we may comply with that Call, and may be obedient to that Grace that rescues and saves us. This Grace that is thus assist- ing,by which we may rise again when we have fallen,and amend our

Lives; this very Grace is not granted and contin’d to a few particu-

lar Persons, to a certain determinate Number of Ele&ed Persons, and no other. For this Grace of God is communicated to all Chri- stians, and teaches all Men to rise again, and amend their Lives;

it teaches you, me, and all others to do the same. And the Scri-

pture concurs with our Church, when it says, For the Grace of God, that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all Men, teaching us, that denying D ngodliness, and worldly Lufts, we should live soberly, rigb- teotsly, hs godly in this present World, = =

v. They are therefore under an Error, and are to be condemned,

_ which say, they can no more fin, as long as they live here; or deny

the Place of (Repentance or) Forgiveness to such as truly repent.

1. It is a great Error, and is to be condemned, when Men say, They can no more sin as long as they live here, or presume that the are in a State of Perfection, and plac’d beyond all Danger of Mil. carrying. Whether they fancy this upon the Account of an abso- lute Election, in which they pretend to be included, or upon the

Perfection of a Light within, which leads them out of all Sin: Let

the Pretence arise from these, or such like Presumptions, tis an Er- ror, and is to be spoken against, and condemn’d; for in this perilous State, where Temptations are so frequent and so strong, Men may be overtaken with a Fault. The very best are not absolutely free from Danger, till their Race is run, their Course finished, and their Accounts given up. The Church is here militant, and the several Members of it are surrounded with Temptations and Trials. We our selves live in the midst of Snares and Dangers, who are com-

manded to watch and pray, and must be diligent and careful, that

1 Cor. 10: 12.

we may not presume or offend. And let others boast as they please, we know that this is no sinless State: Here we have no Freedom from Discipline or Duty; but as we intend to be found worthy, must submit, take up our Cross, deny our selves, and take heed lest we fall: And tis no other than Presumption in any, to look upon them- selves as excus d from Danger of Falling, either upon the Account of God’s Decree of Election, or the Light’s Perfection. Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed left he fall.

2. As

n

Thirty Nine ARTICLE

— —

2. As much are those to be condemned, who deny the Place of Forgiveness to such as truly repent; which was the Error of the Novatians, and may be charged upon an unhappy Explanation of Decrees. For if Men, after the Commission of Sin, do really and truly repent, the Promise of Forgiveness 1s made over to them ; and tis not in the Power of others to deprive them of the Benefit of that Promise, which God hath made for their Relief and Encourage- ment. What has Man to do to reverse that which God hath esta- blish’d ; or to deny a Sinner that Mercy which God hath granted?

Anicle XVI.

Le Offender see that may Repentance is genuine and true, free

from Hypoerfsy and Dissimulation ; and they may trust to the Di- vine Compaslion’ for Pardon: For tis not in the Power of Men to cancel that Favout, which God has granted in the Blood of Tesus. IWherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, to day if ye will bear his Voice, harden not your Hearts, :.

Heb. 3. 7,8.

From hence I must caution you, that ye neither Presume , nor

Despair ; but sincerely strive to please God in Christ. ,

. 1/}, Do not presume upon the Divine Goodness, and sin the more

becaule ye.-understand ye may rise again. For presumptuous Sins are of a destructive Nature; they grieve the Holy Spirit, which should lift you up; and frustrate those Assistances, which should re- lieve you : Nay, when repeated, and continued in, they habituate che Soul to Vice, harden the very Heart, and render all the Means ineffectual, which were design’d for your Recovery. And therefore be not bold in the Commission of Sin, never presume. to break wil- fully the Laws of God, nor suffer your selves to be led into Trans- greftions in Hope of a Return. For though tis possible ye may rise again, tis as possible ye never may, and tis meer Folly to run such a Hazard, which might have been prevented. For where one rises again, many continue in Sin and perish. What shall we say then ? Shall we fin, that Grace may abound ? God forbid, How soall we that are dead to fin, live any longer therein ? = 2. I must desire the vicious not to despair, or give themselves over for lost ; for though ye have sinned much for a long Time, against Grace and Mercy, yet ye may rise again : We know nothing to the contrary ; the Word is still preached unto you ; the Grace of God

Rom, 6. 1, 2.

still helps and moves; and would ye turn at last, ye may be for-

given. Say not desperately, I shall be damned, and I may do this Wickedness ; for upon Repentance ye may be sav’d. For I have no pleasure in che deat of him that dieth, saith the Lord; wherefore turn your selves and live ye.

Ezck. 18. 32.

ARrTictk

ro As EXPOSITION o th _ “Mate © a7 —

According as he hath chosen us in him, before the Foundation of the Wozld, that we should

OT to take notice of the Superlapsarian or Sublapsarian Do- ctrine, which in the last Age was fo controverted and bandied about by the Zealous, it was certainly the infinite Mercy of God to the Souls of Men, which has provided Relief for us Sinners, and offered us Peace and Salvation in his Son Jesus. ’ Tis not for us to pry into the Secrets of his Counsel, or to dictate to him how he contriv’d, 1 and finishes this Work : Tis enough for us to know, that he hath condescended so far as to offer us the Terms of | dar 56d r it 2 our aue if 15 go not od the 5 of so much Kindness. Accozding as he hath choten us in him. bekoꝛe the Foundation of the Wood, that we thould be Foly, and without Blame befkoze him in Lobe. Whi leads me to the Seventeenth Article; in which let us:consider, _