The Hartlib Papers

[successe? MS torn], or victory of Repentance tis but a pettie comendations of the prowess of this Champion to say of it at once was spoken of Saul that it has slayne his thousands or which was more of David that it has slaine it's tenn thousands, or what might be say'd of a greater then both, that it has slaine it's Millions, or what can probably be spoke of none Millions of Milions. This is infinitely more. he that was not the Richest in that Cattell since confesseth his flock more numerous then the haires of his head, or the sands on the seashore (you know it must be David I meane) and yet his sinnes so many, and as Many Mens more as he had haires. my Arithmeticke faile's [word deleted], and I am forc'd to vse the words of<returne to> my Text. All sinne, and All Blasphemie of all men shall upon Repentance be forgiven unto them. for though that condition to wit Repentance be not express'd here. I beleive none will doubt but it must be understoode o quiet Bay stately Pallace! <strangly large conquest Every [sinne &?] Blasphemy -> yet as the quietest Bay is not without it's Rocks, nor the stateliest Pallace without it's Lobbie, or Refuse house. nor the largest conquest without some escape of some the Enemie so is not this hugely comfortable Text without it's [allayes? blotted] this promise without its prouiso.

for the sinn of the H G shall not [be? MS torn] forgiven unto men./.

satisfaction [&? blot] wee say that I Christ slep't in and tooke up the quarell upon which he sayes it shall be forgiven. we must likewise here enquire a litle into the nature of sinn, how it comes to make vs stand in Neede of forgivenes sinne

nunquam remittetur to them it shall never be remitted. and in this place sure every heart swells with thankfulnes and breaks at last into the [letter deleted?] expostulation: [left margin: [ver?] 8] Lord what is man &c. but more of that by and by. these are the Ingredients of this doctrine sinne, all sinne, even Blasphemie shall be remitted, <and> unto Men onely high Gospell <sinne> shall be remitted. that makes mee droope, that makes me affray'd; that makes mee tremble, that makes mee weepe, and [word deleted] <cry out> with the [left margin: Lam:] Prophet woe to mee that I have sinned. that I would lose a Limbe I would loose a life I would loose all that I could loose this one thing that stick's so close to me, that I could loose sin oh sinne, sinne what a vile and odious thing art <thou> that set'st my Creatour against me. that raisest a quarrel betwixt my Maker, and the work of his hands but some will say how should my sinne offend God and raise this quarrel you speak of? tis a question in the schooles this. how any action of man's can be sayd to have rationem Demeriti to offend, or deserve ill of God? tis a wondrous deepe point. for whatsoever can doe so, whatsoever can offend God or deserve ill of God. for whatsoever dost so, must have proportion with God. as what may be say'd <properly> to offend man, must have some proportion with man. A man cannot be say'd properly to be offended at the winde, or at the dust [left margin: Numb 22 28] or at the smoak. these I say cannot be say'd to deserve well or ill of a man because they have no will, and so good or bad [2/3 words lost in blot] those things [catchword: that]

that though they have will, yet have no Command of them no power over their wills, as Children, and fooles and mad men, it hold so too. A man cannot be said properly to be offended at them.< they cannot bee [a?] to [offende?]   as [Socrates ^..?] Now there is no Creature so poore, so childish, so impotent in respect of man as the best of men is in Respect of God. the distance is not imaginable, how then can Man sinne, that is offend, that is deserve evill of God? I told you eene now twas a question in the schooles tis soe but it began, long before. 'twas ask'd by Iob long since if thou sinnest what do'st thou against him or if thy transgressions be multiply'd what do'st thou to him. [left margin: Iob 38] thy wickednes may hurt a man as thou art; but what is it to God? for as Gregorie sayes on that place humana impietas ei nocet quem pervertendo inquinat: our sinnes hurt them whom our Example leads into tentation. but they cannot have that effect upon God, they cannot draw God to sinne with vs. on men it may doe thus our evill examples [Bear?] them from their owne good resolutions, and inclination. but I say, God wee cannot so. the steadines of the divine nature is such. not <to> hold you longer in this point. It is certaine that wee cannot hurt him directly. his person wee cannot. but is[altered] he vulnerable onely <it onely sinne to hurt him there. I tell you nay. his subiects, his Children, his beloved ones whom he has taken into his fatherly protection those <wee> may offend. and must not that offende the Father. would not an Earthly Father be offended to see his poore Child wrong'd

againe his law he has given us for direction now to transgresse that Law, must not be an offence to the Lawgiver to come a [litle? blot] to particulars. the [ph.?] saith of the Lord all thing   [2 lines blank] [left margin: 138 2 111.9 99.3]>>

there be ways enough then of sinning against God: and here I cannot with patience heare the schooles that tell us that sinne is onely privatio boni, onely absentia Recti, a meere privation, or Nothing that shall damne men to Æternity and that by the Iudgment of a Righteous God. is that a meere privation a very Nothing? that that rended the sonne of God out of the bosome of his Father and that a Loving Father. Is it a meere Nothing that which God could not pardon, could not I say in the way of Iustice without satisfaction. and that for which nothing could be a satisfaction but the life of all men, or <one> man worth all the sonne of God could that be a privation, a Nothing. that which could raise that huge distance betixt the Father and the sonne intimated in that bitter Cry of his My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee. <was that a Nothing> that which imprinted in him (who was anointed with the Oile of Gladnes above his fellows) I say that imprinted in him that deadly heavines when he complayn'd Tristis anima my soule is heavy unto death was that a meere privation a Nothing. that that open'd heaven in his descent hither & hell in his descent thither, that that open'd the womb of the virgin in his inCarnation, and the wombe of the Earth in his Resurrection. that which could change the frame of Nature in Miracles, and the [God?] of [Nature?] in becoming Man. that that deserv'd that punishment. that that needed that Ransome (let the scoolemen say what they will of privations) cannot be meerely absolutely nothing. no without question tis the [greatest?] thing that can be conceive'd. and that wee doe not conceive [what? blot] is Gods mercy to us. for sinne could it be brought to [our? MS edge]

sight 'twould fright us dead, that fiend, that Divel that breede-bate that set's us at variance with our God with our Neighbour, with our selves. that of which I shew the several Cursed effects would make mee a murther <[a great sinn?]> starve all you that heare me. <that> that a soul sensible of it would give as maney words as he has sinnes to be rid of (oh comfort above expression) that shall be forgiven. that you will well remember was the 1^t ingredient of this comfortable Doctrine But alas what a poore Comfort is forgivenes of a penny to him that owes pounds, or of a pound to him that owes millions of pounds, what comfort to be cur'd of the [P^...psie? altered] when I shall groane under the Gowte[altered], and the stone and forty diseases more? Abrahams task was an easie task to tell the starres of heaven was an easie task compared to the numbering sinnes. and what a poore [deletion] advantage, or disadvantage to this [houre?] the addition or detraction of a poore corne, one sand or dust more. our sinnes wee may say all are gone over our heads [w^.ut? altered] it of our haire and our <hart> failes us. We here then a Cordial. [pecca^...? MS edge] and omne [peccatum?] is the second pause in this doctrine all, or every sinne shall be forgiven unto men.

containing in it Legions. miserable men that wee are may wee all complaine with St Paul who shall deliver us from these bodyes, from these Armies of sinne. I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lord that saith in the words of the Text omne peccatum. sure he knowe's what he promises. he knows he is more acquainted with the number of them then our selves. he knowes what twill come to and yet he sayes omne peccatum O the depth (may wee cry with Paul) o the depth of the Mercy of God in the Lord Iesus Christ. he knowes what Original sinne is, and wee doe not, and will he forgive sine in the Roote, and sinne in the Branches. original, and Actual sinne too. he knowe's our secret sinnes, and wee doe not, and will he forgive our Manifest sinnes and those secret sinnes too. he knowes our [Relapses?] into sinnes repented of and will he forgive our faint Repentances and our Rebellious Relapses too[??] will his mercy dive into our hearts and forgive our sinful thoughts there, and will that mercy shed upon my lips and forgive my blasphemous words there and will it bath the members of our Bodys and forgive our uncleane Actions there. will he contract himself into himself and forgive our sinns against his devine Majesty. will he scatter himself upon the world, and forgive my sinnes against my Neighbour. will he imprison himself within our [marginal insertion?] bosomes and forgive[altered] us our sinnes against our owne selves; wee have not done yet. <let not the?> O lord be [illeg.word] and wee will speake. willt thou<he> forgive those sinns wherein our practise has exceeded our Fathers, and wherein our Example hath misled our Children? nor yet. will thou<he> forgive that dimme sight wee had

of our sinnes now <the under rateing of them> while wee are in [health and prosperity?], and the evil day farre from us. <when sin [illeg.word/s]> and will [2 illeg.words] give that overquick sight when wee shall see our sinnes through Satan's Multiplying Glasse of desperation when we shall think them greater then his mercy and then will he[altered from thou] forgive our dulnes, our Regardlesnes, our obduratenes that wee valew not these forgiveneses. that wee [deletion] make these questions so coldly so indifferently, so unfeelingly as if the Resolution the Answer concern'd us not. will He forgiue all these. to Answer with the Ap. [# 2. 8?] [left margin: (St Luke)] In that he sayd all he left out nothing in that he put all things under he left nothing that is not put under him. so in that he saith all sinnes shall be forgiven he leave's nothing that shall not be forgiven, no not Blasphemy it self, and that this our <3^d> pause, our 3^d ingredient of this comfortable doctrine, all manner of sinne, and <[everie?]> Blasphemy [deletion] that shall be forgiven unto Man a looke a little into this word blasphemy. this word Blasphemy we take it commonely [deletion] <for a sinne> against God directly against God: and so it may be wee shall take it here. yet others may be blasphemed besides God, other persons, persons, and things too. things may be Blasphemed. the word of God, [this?] Doctrine Religion may be blasphemed read that in 6 of the 1^t of Timothy. [1.v.?] that the Name of God, and his doctrine, his doctrine be not blasphemed. magistracy and dignities may be blasphem'd reade the 8 v of Iude likewise these filthy dreamers defile the flesh despise Dominion, and speake evil of or Blaspheme dignities

to speak evill of dignities that is Blasphemy too. yet [Lord?] to see how this sinne is swallowed, how [that sinn? altered] goes downe. to speake evill of Dignitie the onely subject of our Lawlesse tongues [insertion mark] [left margin, to go here?: as if there were no such story as Core and [Dalham?] upon the file, What were swallowed up of the Earth yea take to much upon [he?] is the least of [the?] blasphemists] nay omniæ quæ ignorant [saith?] Ap the [10^th?] of the Epistle of Iude. they blaspheme, or speake evill of the things they know not. then for persons the Apostle takes it to himself being Blaspemed wee entreate 1 Cor.4. 15. and againe Tit.3. 2. Neminem blasphemate: and in this sence this destinction may be given of it. Blasphemie is a contumelious speech derogating from any man the good that is in him, and attributeing to any that evill that is not in them. this is a sinne very Common among the poorer sort thus it may be understood but the truth is it is most commonely taken in the strictest sence a sinne against God Directly against God. And by the manner of Christ's expressing himself, it is made a sinn of the 1^t magnitude the greatest sinne all sinne even Blasphemie and yet as great a sinne as our saviour makes of it as if it were but a trifeling thing a piccadillo, a sucking sinne so frequent is our faultines in this point. The drunkard[altered] that can hardly name God can stammer, or spew out a Blasphemy against God the Child that cannot spell God, can doe the same though he can hardly ask his Father for a blessing, yet can he cal to his heavenly Father for a Curse. if wee smart wee blaspheme God, and if wee be [ticked?] wee blaspheme him too, <if wee [least confer?] neither are wee any gainers. and> sure were there no other thing to stile this sinne greatest [if?] that it is soe; that it is a gaineles sinne, a profit-les, and a pleasure-les sinne too. come to the Userer he will shew you his baggs, come to the Extortioner he will shew you his lands, and his [illeg.word, MS edge ]

but the [Chepe? altered] Blasphemer he has nothing to shew for his blasphemy a pleasureles sinn too the lustful man hath had his love in his Armes, and the Envious man has had his enemy in the [Dust?], an impertinent sinne too as without recompence after so without [word deleted] <occasion> before. an incorrigible sinne too if you marke it [word deleted] for who should blame it. should the Father the sonne and might not the sonne answer Father I learn'd it of you. or the servent<Master> the Master Servant wher [He?] may lay the like Crimination upon him. how much then doe wee neede this extent of God's mercy that hee will forgive sinne all sinne, even this sinne of Blasphemy.

when wee have humbled our selves before God, when we have mourned and[altered] wept for our sinnes, and complain'd an pray'd, and brought forth fruits of Repentance and say'd these words that God would so faine here what have we done and sought the Lord when wee have done so then Remittentur and this I hope you have done else my preaching has beene in vaine hitherto and your heareing has beene in vaine for God know's scis domine - and your owne soules know it that these things I have preach'd unto you. no flatter not your selves except you bring the conditions with you there is none of that comfort wee spake of in the Text. and I therefore began with the Condition of this obligation Repentance and Insisted so long upon it. for I knew for Gods part that should faithfuly bee perform'd. [forgivenes? blot] of sinne, all sinne blasphemy too sure enough that if wee could get men to repent for that is the condition. not remittuntur, or remittebuntur but shall that is upon those conditions, by those meanes ordained by God. but if we shut our eyes and will read no farther then the obligation, or else take up some new opinion that our sinnes were foregiven in [4 words deleted] <any eternall decree or> that even then when the sinne is committed it is forgiven whether the sinner think of it or no. That God see's not the faults of his Children, or that he was no more affected with Davids Adultery, or his murder then an Indulgent Father is to see his child doe some witty waggish thing or some shrewd [2/3 words illeg., MS edge blotted] That we had our quietus

in the eternal decree. if soe I say, wee change [the?] Grammer, induce a dangerous solecisme for it is not they were forgiven before they were committed, nor they are forgiven in the Committing, but they shall be by useing the meanes ordained by God, upon such means us'd every sinne, even Blasphemy shall be forgiven. and all this to men onely not to the Angels as I say they fell and there they lye. they fell sinned and shall never be forgiven but unto men every sinne, and Blasphemy &c [left margin: 4] [men?] men and all [deletion] men [thether?] wee may lawfuly extend the words. as in Adam all dyed all are made alive there is no difference now Iew or Gentile Barbarian bond or free, and then why should any man exclude himself from this mercy sure heareing this comfortable doctrine none will. there have beene [I?] have read of them whole bodies of heretiques that have denyed the communication of Gods Grace and mercy to others: The Cathari denyed it to any but themselves. The Novatian denyed that anyone could have it againe after he had lost it by any deadly sin committed after Baptisme but there was never any sect that denyed it to themselves, never any sect of despairing men. wee have some indeed sprinkled, scatter'd here and there. one man, Cain in the old, and Iudas in the New Testament. and Ecclesiasticall story tell's us of another that was Iulian. thus never any body, never any sect as I sayd of despairing men

therefore hee that abandon's himself to this sinne of desperation sin's with the least reason of any for he <preferres his> sinnes above Gods mercy, and he sinne's with the fewest Examples of <any> for this evidence is to all that all sinnes shall be forgiven, and unto all men. and here is another motive to magnifie his mercy, that is onely to men. onely who should be mean't else - yes Angels. not to them it shall not they shall never be forgiven Origen (if he were not misinterpreted) was once of a contrary opinion [2 words blotted] (saith Austin) merito reijicit ab Ecclesia to wit, that the Divels themselves should at last <be> receiu'd to mercy so farr we dare not strech this Evidence it is to men onely to men that every sinn, and even blasphemy it self shall be forgiven. when the Angels were made wee dispute, and when they fell wee dispute but [illeg.word, MS edge] they shall returne fal's not into question he in no wise tooke upon him the Angels, but of men. the Angels which kept not their first state but left their owne habitation hee hath reserv'd in everlasting chains, under [blot] unto the judgement of the last day. and this I beleive might give Origen some rise or encouragement for his opinion. we reade untill the Iudgment of the last day what [blot] when that last day is come shall they be releas'd [blot] no. nor is it untill, but unto that day not that that day shall End their Torments, but it shall adde accidental Torments which yet they have not endur'd the power of seduceing men shall be then taken from them, they shall after that have no longer leave to [illeg.word] the sonnes of men. To that are they reserv'd [and we? MS edge] to that Glory they have lost, and lost

for ever and upon us is the prayer of the Apostle falen^.effectualy mercy and peace, and love is multiplyed upon us. for sinne, and all sinne, Blasphemy too. shall be that is is not, nor was not, but may be forgiven to men, to all men to none but men, <and now as [I said?]> and thus have you an account of our former doctrine. some uses are to be made. [left margin:[VII?] below: the poore that had nothing to lose] of Comfort, first then to speake with the Ap [Lo. 8?] what shall wee then say to these things if sinne be forgiven who can be against us. what shall separate us from the love of God that is the Lord Christ. shall principalities powers things present, things to come [illeg.word, blotted] anything nothing sinne once forgiven, remove that and mercy and truth shall meete together [illeg.word?] shall kisse each other. profecto ad hunc solem. hee that melt's not at this warme comfortable shine. he has no sence of his condition:[^o?] this[?] [deletion] musique the sweete Melodie, the ravishing delight of that speech, Sonne be of Good cheare thy [sines? blot] are forgiven thee Ma: 9: 2 Thy sinnes are all thy sinnes are forgiven thee I am wondering how he could survive that hearing of it. that excessive floud of Ioy had not over flowne, and drowen downe that banks of his mortality. in vaine [tho?] I strive to bring this home to your apprehension except you have it already in your hearts. 'tis with this as with any sweete, delightful thing, one tast of it [self is?] worth better then all the expressions in the world the arthly soule apprehends not this tell him his debts are forgiven, that his diease is Cured, his Corne comes[altered] on well, and his Cattell thrive. this is his Gospel. but [Da?] Christianum to a Christian, a good Christian to a Christian, that knowes the burden of sinne

is, the slavery, the thraldom, the bondage, of sinne. the Gals that sinne makes in the Conscience that they are the Irons entring into the soul to such a one there is not there cannot be in the world <a> more comfortable sentence then this thy sinnes are forgiven thee. the health-helping dole of cures, and the Golden dole of wealth, and the dole of honours, and filles. this bloudie dole, the bloud of the Lord Iesus Christ forgiveing sinnes oh 'tis the most honourables dole, that can be imagin'd, [illeg.word] onely to be scatter'd by hands of the sonne <of> the Great [King?] of heaven. you will not think it long sure that I Insist on this point, though the weather be somwhat [illeg.word], for there is heate enough in this comfortable to warme you all over, 'twould thaw a Muscovite, or a Russian. 'tis even a floe. all sinne, and Blasphemy too for 'tis from sinne too that wee are subject to these paines. The Garment of [innosecency? altered] was a warme, but I remember where that Garment [illeg.word] lost therefore I'le keepe you no longer [illeg.word] [left margin, bracketed: 2 vse of Caution direction] of Caution what then this being so that sinne and all --- forgiven. shall wee therefore Continue in sinne that Grace may abound? shall wee sinne upon designe, upon stratageme, shall wee wound our selves to trie our surgeon skill? God forbid. rather conclude with Ioseph how shall committ this great sinne and offend him that has beene so bountifull unto mee, that forgive's mee all my sinnes and then lastley here is a vse of thankfulnes, of gratitude [left margin: 3 Thank] that it ariseing from this homini. that it is onely to men. the thing that Elihy mention's in Iob.35. 11. is great matter of Gratitude, that God teacheth us more then the beasts, and gives us more understanding then the faules of the Aire. that he hath beene more gracious to vs then to them, who were yet made of

of the same mould with us, and the [words missing, MS torn] [left margin: 147 20] non taliter omni Nationi [words missing, MS torn] that he hath vouchsafed us [words missing, MS torn] Angells themselves. great cause [words missing, MS torn] to sigh out of the ph. Lord- - of him what is man? why let one of the best of men answer [left margin: Gen. 18. 27.] for all Abraham will tell you he is but Dust and Ashes, [left margin: Iob. [MS hole]. 14.] Iob will tell you Dicens putredine. if you would know his kindred Rottenesse is his Mother and wormes his brethren. the Angel Glorious [illeg.word] our perfection we in that shall be but like the Ang perfect [word deleted?] in Stephen his face as the face of an Angell [left margin: Act.6. 15 [illeg.word] 14. 20 1 Cor.13] perfect wisdome in David my lord the King is wise as and Angell, perfect eloquence in St Paul with the Tongues of Men & Angels thus are wee to them, and yet and yet to [having?] every sinn -------- forgiven. but to the Angele [Greek: oude^..?] in no wise. [illeg.word] is a [like?] to [families?] [fore?] the [word?] in the [letter deleted] flying away and there Heb. 2. 16. he [caught?] the seed of Abraham this is Matter of Gratitude. for wee are flying away and he left his [illeg.word] and [illeg.word] in the wildernes and caught us <after us> he came, and apprehendit. else factj Essemus sicut sodome.

[words missing, MS torn] thankful, so to beseech him that hee [ore?] [words missing, MS torn] to catch hold of us <and not [illeg.word]> that he would [words missing, MS torn] lead us by the path <way> of the Truth the path of life till he have brought vs that when he is there we may be also. that he would still be merciful to us, and forgive us our sinnes, and continue a Gracious Good God to us to the coming of the Lord Iesus Christ.