need not confess sin. David confessed sin, Ps. xxxii. 5., and Paul confessed sin, Rom. vii. 25. ; but they are got beyond David and Paul ; they are perfect, — they never transgress, — -"nnd where there is no trans- gression, what needs confession ? — 2c//y, If they are perfect they need not ask pardon ; they can pay God's justice what they owe; therefore what need they pray, " Forgive us our debts?" Oh that the devil should rock men so fast asleep as to make them dream of perfection ! And whereas they bring that, Phil. iii. 15., " Let us there- fore as many as be perfect be thus minded." Answer, perfection there, is meant of sin- cerity. God is best able to interpret his own word. He calls sincerity, perfection ; Job i. 8., " A perfect and an upright man." But who is exactly perfect? A man full (»f diseases mav as well say he is healthful, as a man full of sin say he is perfect !
Use Sd. To regenerate persons. Though you fail in your obedience, and cannot keep the moral law exactly, yet be not dis- couraged.
Quest. flTiat comfort may be given to a regenerate person under the failures and im- perfections of his obedience ?
Ans. 1. That a believer is not under the covenant of works, but under the covenant of grace. The covenant of works, requires perfect, personal, perpetual obedience ; but in the covenant of grace, God will make some abatements, he will accept of less than he required in the covenant of works.
(1.) In the covenant of works God re- quired perfection of degrees, — in the cove- venant of grace, he accepts perfection of parts: there he required perfect working, — here he accepts sincere believing; in the covenant of works, God required us to live without sin, — in the covenant of grace, God accepts of our combat with sin.
(2.) Though a Christian cannot, in his own person, perform all God's command- ments, vet Christ, as his surety, and in his stead, hath fulfilled the law for him, and God accepts of Christ's obedience, which is perfect, to satisfy for that obedience which is imperfect. Christ being made a curse for believers, all the curses of the law have their sting pulled out.
(3.) Though a Christian cannot keep the
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ALL SINS NOT EQUALLY HEINOUS.
commands of God to satisfaction, yet he may to approbation.
Quest. Hoiv is that?
Ans. 1. He gives his full assent and con- sent to the law of God : Rom. vii. 12., " The law is holy and just ;'' there was as- i gent in the judgment; Rom. vii. 16., "I consent to the law ;" there was consent in | the Avill. I
A. 2. A Christian mourns that he can- not keep the commandments fully ; when he fails, he weeps ; he is not angry with the law because it is so strict, but he is an- gry with himself because he is so deficient.
A. 3. He takes a sweet complacential de- light in the law : Rom. vii. 22., " I delight in tlie law of God after the inward man." Or. [Synedomai,'] ' I take pleasure in it.' Ps. cxix. 9T., " O how love I thy law !" Though a Christian cannot keep God's law, yet he loves his law ; tliough he cannot serve God perfectly, yet he serves him wil- lingly.
A. 4. It is his cordial desire to walk in all God's commands, Ps. cxix. 5., " O that nay ways were directed to keep thy sta- tutes !" Though his strength fails, yet his pulse beats.
A. 5. He doth really endeavour to obey God's law perfectly ; and wherein he comes short he runs to Christ's blood to make supply for his defects. This cordial desire, and real endeavour, God esteems as perfect obedience, 2 Cor. viii. 12., " If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted." " Let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice," Cant. ii. 14. Though the prayers of the righteous are mixed with sin, yet God sees they would pray better; God picks out the weeds from the flowers ; he sees the faith and winks at the failing. The saint's obedience, though he falls short of legal perfection, yet having sincerity in it, and Christ's merits mixed with it, finds gracious acceptance. When the Lord sees endeavours after perfect obedience, this he takes well at our hands ; as a father that receives a letter from his child, though there be blots in the letter, and false spell- ings, yet the father takes all in good part. O what blottings are there in our holy things ! but God is pleased to take all in good part. Saith God, " It is my child, and he would do better if he could ; I will ac- cept it."
ALL SINS NOT EQUALLY HEINOUS.
Quest. LXXXIIL ARE all tramgres- siu7is of the law ((juallij htinoiis?
Ans. Some sins, in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sifjht of God than others.