Christian Observations and Resolutions, Observations · Observation 93
93. Predominant vice and vertue.
COrruption is spred ouer the whole man, and all in man; there is neither part nor power of Soule or Body, which is not defiled therewith: According to the seuerall powers it hath names: Originall sinne goeth vnderunder one name, yet hath many branches: In one power it is Avarice, in another Lecherie, in a third Ambition: All these sinfull powers though they both incline to, and urge their owne worke, yet hauehave they a predominant among them; a master vice, or captaine sinne, which commandeth both the man and all other vyces in him: It is euill in it selfe and worst in the kynde.
Heere is a masse of wonders; one that so many euill thinges in man can hauehave their order and respect to other, as a Captaine among Pyrats by Sea, or Brigants by Land: Next, that all of them can submit themselues and suffer the predominant to strengthen it selfe, by their defrauding: Prid in the wretch will quite honour to purchase gaine, and avarice in the proud man will quite gaine to purchase honour: Thirdlie that it can change with tyme and age, so vncleannesse in Youth, Pride in midde Age, and Avarice reigneth in olde age. And most of all that it remaineth in the godlie: Nature neither knoweth nor admitteth this, that two contrars shall dwell at once in their greatest degree, and predominion in one power of the Soule.
This is Sathans chiefe fortification against God and his Grace in vsus: His Posterne doore whereby hee entereth our Soule at his pleasure: The chaine wherby hee both bindeth and leadeth vsus in captiuitie: And the archetratour of our Soule yeelding to his temptations.
It is good, both to know it, and find remeede: Naturall complexion pointeth at it, what euer excelleth in our temperature, is the ordinarie seate of it, but there are more infalible signes to find it out. 1. Frequencie of Satans temptations, because he ass…ulteth vsus oftenest in our weakest part, and that our strongest corruption, is our greatest weaknes. 2. The multitude of our thoughts, for what is most in the heart, is most in the thought. 3. The end of our imaginations: Where euer they soare, it is sure, that as a wearie bird after long fleeing, they light on our predominant.
But the remeed of it is most necessar: 1. To watch ouer all the motions of it, with a wake-ryfe Conscience. 2. To exercise our selfe daylie vnderunder contrare vertue. 3. To pray to God daylie for his mortifying Grace against tha corruption, that thereby wee may ouercome that master sinne.
It grieueth God to see vsus pestered by Sathan in our owne corruption: Hee hath prouyded sauing remeede for his owne, and erected a counter-sconse against Sathan; and placed our predominant Grace in the seate of our predominant sinne: Grace in it selfe eueryevery way is aboue sin; it is of a diuine Nature; but sinne is deuilish: Grace infused, is stronger than corruption, and the New Man stronger than the Olde; but the principall Spirit dwelling in vsus, is aboue all: The meanest grace of God in his hād, is stronger than our predominant vice.
This profane Age hath multiplied predominants: Senslesnesse domineth in the fleshlie men: They know not their predominant in the kind, in the change, nor in the degree. And it is a predomining Grace, to know the sorts, changes, & degrees of their vices; & oppose them by the contrare good, and vertue: It is indeede a wonderfull senslesnesse, that letteth men not feele so many tyrants in them: Hee is a Slaue of slaues, who hath both losed his libertie, and the feeling of that tyrannie. But hee is Gods free-man that remarketh all their changes, and laboureth for the dominion of Grace in himselfe: Both the Sonne and holy Spirit hauehave made that man free.
This is a cōfortable experience of the Saints, to find their predominant sin subdued, that tyrant that gaue them Lawes, to take Lawes & admit the owne defrauding: This is an happy change whē grace ouerruleth corruption, and Gods spirit subdueth Sathan in vsus. There is no condemnation to them that are in Iesus Christ, for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Iesus Christ, hath deliuered mee from the Law of sinne and of death. Rom. 1. 2.