God makes his children see and feel what sin is
God makes his children see and feel what sin is Doct. 6. In the next place, observe that God opens the heart and eyes of his children to see and feel what sin is, and keeps their eyes open, and their consciences continually tender. The wicked are blind in most heinous crimes of all. David he complains of this, that his sin was ever before him, Ps. 51:3. And God threatens this, Ps. 50:21, 'I will set them before thee;' and the reasons hereof are,
Four reasons of it Reason 1. First, To make our judgments conformable to his in hatred of sin; for we being his children, it is fit we should be of his image, and like to him.
Reason 2. Secondly, To make us apprehend mercy the more dearly, and thereby glorify him in it the more.
Reason 3. Thirdly, Because he would have us beg of him to cover our sins from his eyes, that it may be covered from our eyes; for the best cannot shake off the sense of sin, be it ever so burthensome. But God keeps it in our minds to humble us the more thoroughly.
Reason 4. Again, God's children have a new life which is sensible of the least thing that is contrary to itself; and those that are in most perfect life are most perfect in the sense of sin, though never so small, though but motions. Where the sun shines most clear, then motes are most easily seen; and therefore the best Christians do complain most of corruptions, for they see more than others do.
Hence, therefore, we may know our estate, whether we are still-born