Lewis Bayly,
The Practice of Piety, pp. 76-79.

I.  The first hindrance of piety is an ignorant mistaking of the true meaning of certain places of the holy Scriptures, and some other chief grounds of Christian religion. The Scriptures mistaken are these:

1. Ezekiel 33:14, 16, “At what time soever a sinner repenteth of his sin, I will blot out all,” etc. Hence the carnal professor gathers, that he may repent when he will. It is true, whensoever a sinner does repent, God will forgive; but the text says not, that a sinner may repent whensoever he will, but when God will give him grace. Many, when they would have repented, were rejected, and could not repent, though they sought it carefully with tears (Heb. 12:17; Luke 13:24, 27). What comfort yields this text to you who have not repented, nor know whether you shall have grace to repent hereafter?

2. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Hence the lewdest man collects, that he may come unto Christ when he wills; but he must know that no man ever comes to Christ, but he who, as Peter says, having known the way of righteousness, has escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 2:20, 22). To come unto Christ is to repent and believe (Isa 1:18; John 6:35); and this no man can do, except his heavenly Father draws him by his grace (John 6:4).

3. Romans 8:1, “There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” True; but they are such who walk not after the flesh, as you do, but after the Spirit, which you did never yet resolve to do.

4. 1 Timothy 1:15, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” etc. True; but such sinners, who like Paul, are converted from their wicked life; not like you, who still continue in your lewdness: “For that grace of God which bringeth salvation unto all men, teacheth us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11-12).

5. Proverbs 24:16, “A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again,” etc. which means not falling into sin, but falling into trouble, which his malicious enemy plots against the just, and from which God delivers him (Psalm 34:19). And though it meant falling in and rising out of sin, what is this to you, whose falls all men may see every day but neither God nor man can at any time see your rising again by repentance.

6. Isaiah 64:6, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Hence the carnal professor gathers, that, seeing the best works of the best saints are no better, then his are good enough; and therefore he needs not much grieve that his devotions are so imperfect. But Isaiah means not in this place the righteous works of the regenerate, as fervent prayers in the name of God; charitable alms from the affections of mercy; suffering in the gospel’s defense, the confiscation of goods, and spilling of blood, and such works which Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22); but the prophet, making a humble confession in the name of the Jewish church, when she had fallen from God to idolatry, acknowledges, that while they were by their filthy sins separated from God, as lepers are from men by their infecting sores and polluted clothes, their chief righteousness could not be but abominable in his sight. And though our best works, compared with Christ’s righteousness, are no better than unclean rags; yet, in God’s acceptance for Christ’s sake, they are called white raiment (Rev. 3:18), yes, pure fine linen and shining (Rev. 19:8), far unlike the leopard’s spots (Jer. 13:23) and filthy garments (Zech. 3:4)

7. James 3:2, “In many things we sin all.” True; but God’s children sin not in all things as you do, without either bridling their lusts or mortifying their corruptions. And though the relics of sin remain in the dearest children of God, that they had need daily to cry, “Our Father which art in heaven, forgive us our debts;” yet, in the New Testament, none are properly called sinners, but the unregenerate (Gal. 1:15; Rom. 5:8; John 9:31); but the regenerate, in respect of their zealous endeavor to serve God in unfeigned holiness, are everywhere called saints; insomuch that John says, “Whoever is born of God sinneth not,” (1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18); that is, lives not in willful filthiness, allowing sin to reign in him, as you do. Deceive not yourself with the name of a Christian; whoever lives in any customary gross sin, he lives not in the state of grace. “Let, therefore,” says Paul, “everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity:” (2 Tim. 2:19). The regenerate sin, but upon frailty; they repent, and God does pardon; there they sin not to death (1 John 5:16). The reprobate sin maliciously, sinfully, and delight therein; so that by their good will, sin shall leave them before they will leave it; they will not repent, and God will not pardon; therefore their sins are mortal, says John, or rather immortal, as says Paul (Rom. 2:5). It is no excuse, therefore, to say, we are all sinners: true Christians, you see, are all saints.

8. Luke 23:43. The thief converted at the last gasp, was received to paradise. What then? if I may have but time to say, when I am dying, “Lord have mercy upon me,” I shall likewise be saved. But what if you shall not? and yet many in that day shall say, Lord, Lord, and the Lord will not know them (Mat. 7:22-23). The thief was saved, for he repented; but his fellow thieve had no grace to repent, and was damned. Beware, therefore, lest, trusting to late repentance at your last end on earth, you be not driven to repent too late without end in hell.

9. 1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” And 1 John 2:1, “If any man sinneth, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” etc. O comfortable! but hear what John says in the same place, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not;” if, therefore, you leave your sin, these comforts are thine—else they belong not to you.

10. Romans 5:20, “Where sin abounded, grace did abound much more.” O sweet! but hear what Paul adds, “What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1-2). This place teaches us not to presume, but that we should not despair. None, therefore, of these promises, promises any grace to any but to the penitent heart.