Sin is in the best
and all other duties, will not give over till they have found put the bottom of their iniquity hidden in their heart. And let only such apply them, and not those to whom they do not belong. Thus much in general. Now, to come to some particulars; and first, let us observe out of this interrogation, having the force of a strong affirmation,
Sin is in the Best Men Doct. 4. That the best men in the estate of grace are sinners; some may be sine crimine, but not sine peccato; for in every man there are two principles: one of good, another of evil, the old man and the new.
In all there is a 'combat between flesh and spirit.' Christ is not a mediator for such as are already perfect; for mediation needs not be, where all is friendly. And therefore there must be some enmity that must make God's children stand in need of the perpetual intercession of Christ, who is a high priest for ever. And the servants of God have acknowledged thus much, Ps.
143:1, 'Answer me in thy righteousness,' not mine. I will not have a quarrel with thee; thou art righteous, I am sinful. I may be just in mine own eyes, but in thy sight no man shall be justified. We acknowledge thus much in our daily prayers, while we still pray 'Forgive us our trespasses.' Though we profit every day never so much, yet, like leaking ships, we gather that which will drown our souls at length if we repent not; for as it is
Isa. 64:6, 'Our best performances are as filthy rags.' Isa. 6:5, 'I am a man of polluted lips.' Dan. 9:20, 'While I confessed my own sins.'
The papists themselves imply so much, for else why teach they the doctrine of doubting? If we be perfect, it is a sin to doubt of salvation, for thereby we deny God to be just. If they be perfect, what need they force the doctrine of penance, or of going to saints to be their mediator? And when they are upon the rack of conscience, the best of them will renounce then their dreams of perfection. From this