don't combat and conflict with. 3. That there is no known sin that I don't grieve and mourn over. 4. That there is no known sin that I would not presently, freely, willingly, and heartily be rid of. 5. That there is no known sin that I don't in some weak measure endeavour in the use of holy means to be delivered from. 6. That there is no known sin, the effectual subduing and mortifying of which would not administer matter of the greatest joy and comfort to me!' Now, when God and conscience shall acquit a man upon a dying bed of beloved sins, of bosom sins, of darling sins, who can express the joy, the comfort, the peace, the support that such an acquittance will fill a man with ?
Fourthly/, In the day of account, the very thoughts of which day, to many, is more terrible than death itself. Such Christians as are captivated under the power of this opinion, viz., that the saints have their beloved sins, their bosom sins, their darling sins, such cannot but greatly fear and tremble to appear before the tribunal of God. Oh, saith such poor hearts, how shall we be able to answer for our beloved sins, our bosom sins, our darling sins. As for infirmities, weaknesses, and follies that has attended us, we can plead with God, and tell him. Lord ! when grace has been weak, corruptions strong, temptations great, and thy Spirit withdrawn, and we off from our watch, we have been worsted and captivated ! But what shall we say as to our beloved sins, our bosom sins, our darling sins ? Oh, these fill us with terror and horror, and how shall we be able to hold up our heads before the Lord, when he shall reckon with us for these sins ! But now when a poor child of God thinks of the day of account, and is able, through grace, to say, ' Lord, though we cannot clear ourselves of infirmities, and many sinful weaknesses, yet we can comfortably appeal to thee and our consciences that we have no beloved sins, no bosom sins, no darling sins ! ' Oh, with what comfort, confidence, and boldness will such poor hearts hold up their heads in the day of account, when a Christian can plead those six things before a judg- ment-seat, that he pleaded in the third particular, when he lay upon a dying bed! how will his fears vanish, and how will his hopes and heart revive, and how comfortably and boldly will he stand before a judgment-seat ! But,
[9.] Ninthly, This opinion that is now under consideration, has a very great tendency to discourage and deaden the hearts of Christians to the most noble and spiritual duties of religion — viz., 1. Praising of God ; 2. Delighting in God ; 3. Eejoicing in God ; 4. Admiring of God ; 5. Taking full content and satisfaction in God ; 6. Witnessing for God, his truth, his ordinances, and ways ; 7. To self-trial and self-examination ; 8. To the making of their calling and election sure. I cannot see with what comfort, confidence, or courage such souls can apply themselves to the eight duties last mentioned, who lie under the power of this opinion, viz., that saints have their beloved sins, their bosom sins, their darling sins. But now when a Christian is clear, and he can clear himself, as every sincere Christian can, of beloved sins, of bosom sins, of darling sins, how is he upon the advan- tage ground to fall in roundly with all the eight duties last mentioned I But,
30 SERIOUS AND WEIGHTY QUESTIONS
[10.] Tenthly and lastly, This opinion that is now under considera- tion, has a very great tendency to discourage multitudes of Christians from coming to the Lord's table. I would willingly know with what comfort, with what confidence, with what hope, with what expectation of good from God, or of good from the ordinance, can such souls draw near to the Lord's table, who lie under the power of this opinion or persuasion, that they carry about with them their bosom sins, their beloved sins, their darling sins. How can such souls expect that God should meet with them in the ordinance, and bless the ordinance to them ? How can such souls expect that God should make that great ordinance to be strengthening, comforting, refreshing, establishing, and enriching unto them ? How can such souls expect, that in that ordinance God should seal up to them his eternal loves, their interest in Christ, their right to the covenant, their title to heaven, and the remission of their sins, who bring to his table their beloved sins, their bosom sins, their darling sins? But now when the people of God draw near to the table of the Lord, and can appeal to God, that though they have many sinful failings and infirmities hanging upon them, yet they have no beloved sins, no bosom sins, no darling sins that they carry about with them ; how comfortably and confidently may they expect that God will make that great ordinance a blessing to them, and that in time all those glorious ends for which that ordi- nance was appointed shall be accomplished in them, and upon them !
Now, by these ten arguments, you may see the weakness and false- ness, yea, the dangerous nature of that opinion that many worthy men have so long preached, maintained, and printed to the world, viz., That the saints have their beloved sins, their bosom sins, their darling sins ; neither do I wonder that they should be so sadly out in this particular, when I consider how apt men are to receive things by tra- dition, without bringing of things to a strict examination ; and when I consider what strange definitions of faith many famous, worthy men have given, both in their writings and preachings ; and when I con- sider what a mighty noise many famous men have made about legal preparations, before men presume to close with Christ, or to give up themselves in a marriage covenant to Christ, most of them requiring men to be better Christians before they come to Christ, than com- monly they prove after they are implanted into Christ, &c.
Now, though I have said enough, I suppose, to lay that opinion asleep that has been last under consideration, viz.. That the saints have their beloved sins, their bosom sins, their darling sins, yet for a close of this discourse, premise with me these five things :
[1.] First, That all unconverted persons have their beloved sins, their bosom sins, their darling sins. The beloved, the bosom, the dar- ling sin of the Jews was idolatry. The beloved, the bosom, the dar- ling sin of the Corinthians was uncleanness, wantonness, 1 Cor, vi. 15, 20. The beloved, the bosom, the darling sin of the Cretans was lying, Titus ii. 12. Jeroboam's beloved sin was idolatry, and Cain's beloved sin was envy, and Korah's beloved sin was gainsaying, and Esau's beloved sin was profaneness, and Ishmael's beloved sin was scoffing, and Balaam's beloved sin was ambition ; Simeon and Levi's beloved sin was treachery, Manasseh's beloved sin was cruelty, and
CLEARLY AND SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED. 31