The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. That in the moſt ſanctified, remaine ſome reliques of ſinne, and the cauſes thereof.
§. Sect. 1 ANd ſo much for the anſwering of Sathans firſt ſort of temptations,Sathans temptation, whereby he diſcourageth the Chriſtian in the worke of ſanctification. wherewith hee laboureth to hinder our ſanctification by alluring vsus to commit ſinne: now we are to ſpeake of the other ſort, whereby he ſeeketh to diſcourage vsus in this worke, as being not only hard and difficult, but euen impoſſible. And theſe alſo are of two kindes; the firſt taken from the great maſſe of our naturall corruptions and ſmall meaſure of our ſanctification; the other from ſome actuall ſinnes which we hauehave committed. Concerning the firſt, hee thus frameth his temptations: Thou laboureſt much (will hee ſay) and tireſt thy ſelfe in attaining vntounto ſanctification, but all in vaine; for doeſt thou not ſee on the one ſide the vnreſiſtable violence of thy natural corruptions, which continually choake in thee all the good motions of Gods ſpirit, and forcibly draw thee into all ſinne and wickedneſſe; and on the other ſide, thy ſmall meaſure of grace and ſanctification, which is exceedingly ſtained with thy manifold imperfections? How therefore can ſuch weakneſſe withſtand ſuch power? And how is it poſſible that thy feeble ſpirit ſhould ouercome thy ſtrong fleſh, eſpecially ſeeing it is aſſiſted with the ſtrong aides of the puiſſant world, and the mightie power of innumerable diuels? Neither art thou vainly to imagine that God will enable thee to ouercome all theſe difficulties, for he hath giuen thee ouer to thine own weakneſſe, otherwiſe if it were his will to make thee one of his holy ones, he could with the powerfull operation of his ſpirit, long ago hauehave perfectly purged thee from al thy corruptions, and giuen vntounto thee a great meaſure of ſanctification. Seeing then it is impoſſible, in reſpect of thy weakneſſe and thine enemies power, to accompliſh this worke which thou haſt taken in hand, and ſeeing thou haſt no aſſurance that God wil ſtrengthen thee with his ſpirit, which thou haſt a long time reſiſted and vexed, by quenching the good motions thereof; thou haſt now no ſhew of hope to effect that which thou deſireſt; and therefore it were much better for thee to ceaſe ſtriuing againſt the ſtreame of thy corruptions, and to follow the naturall current of thy deſires: for when thou takeſt all the paines thou canſt, thou art in one day caried further backward toward thine old conuerſation, than thou canſt in many moneths get forward in the courſe of ſanctification.
§. Sect. 2 And thus doth Sathan diſcourage the weake Chriſtian with his falſe ſuggeſtions,That our ſanctification is imperfect and mingled with our corruptions to the end hee may hinder him from trauailing this way of holineſſe which leadeth to Gods kingdome; for the anſwering whereof we are to know, that the ſanctification of the moſt holie is imperfect, both in reſpect of the reliques of ſinne, and corruptions which continually cleaue to them, and in reſpect of the manifold wants and defects of their beſt actions. Neither are wee ſo waſhed in the lauer of regeneration, but that there remain in vsus ſome ſtaines of that ſcarlet ingrained dye of our corruptions; we hauehave not ſo clerely eſcaped out of our old captiuitie of ſinne, but that we retaine ſtill ſome gaules and bruſes, which make vsus to goe haltingly in the waies of righteouſneſſe; we hauehave not ſo vanquiſhed this ſpirituall enemies, but that ſtill it will aſſault vsus, yea and often foyle vsus, though it cannot ſubdue vsus; we hauehave indeede ouercome theſe curſed Canaanites, ſo that they cannot rule and raigne in vsus as in former times, but wee hauehave not vtterly expelled them from dwelling amongſt vsus; ſo that doe we what wee can, yet ſtill they will be as thornes in our ſides to vexe and grieue vsus. Heretofore the luſts of our fleſh like tyrannicall Lords did againſt all law and iuſtice ouerrule vsus; but now by vertue of Gods ſpirit aſſiſting vsus, we hauehave weakened their force and brought them vnderunder, yet not ſo but that ſtill they will rebell againſt the ſpirit, and continually exerciſe vsus in the ſpirituall warfare. So that the regenerate man is not wholy ſpirit, as the carnall man is wholy fleſh, but is diuided into two factions or parts, and alwaies is at ciuill warres within himſelfe: for ſo farre foorth as hee is regenerate he is holie, pure, and vndefiled, but ſo farre foorth as he is carnall, he is ſinfull, corrupt and full of al pollution: as hee is regenerate hee wholy loueth and embraceth true holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and abhorreth and fleeth ſinne and wickedneſſe; but as hee is vnregenerate he loueth ſinne and the vaine pleaſures thereof, and loatheth righteouſneſſe as irkſome and vnpleaſant. In the ſpirituall part he contemneth the world, and hauing his conuerſation aboue he mindeth heauenly things; but in the carnall part hee loueth the world, and is preſſed downe with the cares and pleaſures thereof, ſo that his minde cannot as it would mount aloft in diuine meditations; in the ſpirit he ſerueth the law of God, in the fleſh the law of ſinne.
§. Sect. 3 We muſt not therefore imagine, that to be ſanctified is to be wholy purged from al corruption,That we muſt not dreame of perfection in our ſanctification. to be endued with perfect righteouſneſſe, and to hauehave the ſpirit in full meaſure; but to hauehave the corruptions of ſinne leſſened and their power abated, ſo that they cannot wholy ouerſway vsus as in former times; to hauehave ſome holy deſires and good endeuours of ſeruing God in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, which alſo wee expreſſe in our actions, although in great weakneſſe and imperfection; to hauehave the firſt fruites of the ſpirit in this life, expecting the whole harueſt in the life to come: neither let vsus yeeld to Sathan, ſuggeſting vntounto vsus, that we are not at al ſanctified, becauſe wee hauehave ſome reliques of our old corruptions and manifold imperfections in our beſt actions; or that therefore our holineſſe which we hauehave, is ſo ſmal that it is to no purpoſe, and that which we want ſo great and hardly come by, that it is not poſſible we ſhould euer attaine vntounto it; ſeeing theſe ſuggeſtions are ſufficiently confuted both by the Scriptures and examples of all Gods children. For the Scriptures teach vsus, that in many things we ſinne all; that if wee ſay we hauehave no ſinne, Iam. 3.2. 1. Ioh. 1.8.we deceiue our ſelues, and there is no truth in vsus: and therefore becauſe wee continually offend, our Sauiour requireth that as wee aske our daily bread, ſo alſo wee ſhould pray daily for the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes. The Apoſtle alſo telleth vsus, that there is a continuall fight in euerie Chriſtian,Gal. 5.17. the fleſh lusting againſt the ſpirit, & the ſpirit againſt the fleſh, the one tempting vsus vntounto ſinne, the other ſtirring vsus vp to holy obedience. Moreouer, the examples of Gods ſaints are pregnant for this purpoſe, neither was there euer any ſo perfectly ſanctified, but there remained in them ſome reliques of their naturall corruptions, which alſo ſhewed themſelues in actuall ſinnes and grieuous tranſgreſſions; as appeareth plainly in the examples of the Patriarches, Dauid, Peter, and all others. But moſt cleerely doth the Apoſtle Paul ſhew this in his owne perſon,Rom. 7. propounding himſelfe as a true patterne of a man regenerate; for though he had attained vntounto a great meaſure of ſanctification, yet he complaineth of the great force and violence of his inbred corruptions, Rom. 7: for ſo great ſtrength thereof remained in him, that it forced him to abuſe the law of God, taking occaſion thereby to work in him all manner of concupiſcence, and ſo in ſteed of killing ſinne did reuiue it in him, verſ. 8, 9; that it made him to omit the good he would, and to do the euill that he hated, verſ. 15.19; that it rebelled againſt the law of his minde, and led him captiue to the law of ſinne, ver. 23; that he ſaw no poſſible meanes in himſelfe to ſubdue vtterly theſe corruptions, and therefore ſeeketh for helpe elſwhere, crying out, Wretehed man that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from the body of this death? v. 24.
§. Sect. 4 Seeing therefore this is the ſtate of all Gods children,That our wants and corruptions ſhould not diſcourage vsus, but redouble our care and diligence. let not Sathan perſwade vsus that wee are not yet ſanctified, or that it is loſt labour to goe forward in this worke, becauſe of the great power of our corruptions and ſmall meaſure of ſanctification, which is ſtained alſo with manifold imperfections; but rather let the ſtrength of our corruptions redouble our care and diligence that wee may ſubdue them: and conſidering that there are diuers degrees of holineſſe, let vsus as ſoone as wee hauehave aſcended one ſtep, neuer reſt ſtriuing till we hauehave aſcended a higher, vntill at length we come to the top of perfection and the higheſt ſtep of true holineſſe; according to the exhortation of the Apoſtle Apoc. 22.11. He that is righteous let him be righteous ſtill, Apoc. 22.11.he that is holy let him be holy ſtill, that is, let him continue and daily increaſe in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe.
§. Sect. 5 And to the end that wee may not be diſcouraged in theſe our holy endeuours,That our reliques of ſinne ſhall not be imputed vntounto vsus. with Sathans temptations drawne from the reliques of our ſinnes, the ſtrength of our corruptions, and the imperfections and ſmall meaſure of our ſanctification; let vsus further conſider, firſt, that theſe reliques of ſinne ſhall not bee imputed vntounto vsus, nor come in iudgement before God to our condemnation, becauſe by faith we are vnited vntounto Chriſt, and ſo made partakers of the vertue and merits of his death and paſſion, whereby he hath ſatisfied Gods iuſtice for our ſinnes, ſo that they cannot now condemne vsus, nor draw vponupon vsus any puniſhment; and likewiſe wee are made partakers of his perfect righteouſneſſe and obedience to the law, which as a rich robe doth couer and hide our patched ragges of imperfection. So then though we ſee the reliques of ſinne and our manifold imperfections, let vsus not be diſcouraged hereby from labouring in the worke of ſanctification, but rather ſtriue and endeuour to mortifie our ſinnes, and aſpire to more and more perfection. And if beſides our purpoſe wee be led captiue of ſin, let vsus remember that we hauehave an aduocate with the father Ieſus Chriſt the iuſt, 1. Ioh. 2.1.2.and that he is the reconciliation for our ſinnes; ſo that though they make vsus condemne our ſelues in our own conſciences, yet they ſhall neuer condemne vsus before God. And this the Apoſtle Paul ſheweth vntounto vsus: for hauing in the ſeuenth chapter of his epiſtle to the Romanes declared, that the faithfull hauehave remaining in them the fleſh and reliques of their old corruptions, which powerfully hinder them from doing the good they would, and moue them to commit the euill which they would not, leaſt any hereby ſhould be diſcouraged in the ſight and ſenſe of his corruptions, hee preſently addeth in the beginning of the eighth chapter, that notwithſtanding the fleſh and the corruptions therof, which before he had ſpoken of, remained in vsus, yet there was no condemnation to thoſe who were in Chriſt Ieſus: and hee yeeldeth this reaſon, becauſe the law of the ſpirit of life which is in Chriſt Ieſus, had freed them from the law of ſinne and of death, that is, becauſe the power and vertue of the ſpirit of God (which is the author of life, by vniting vsus as members vntounto the bodie of Chriſt in whom we liue, and by ſprinkling our conſciences with his precious bloud) had deliuered them from the force and power of ſinne and death, ſo that now it could not condemne them, nor oblige and binde them to guilt and puniſhment as in former times. Seeing therefore the ſting of ſinne is taken away that it cannot condemne vsus, let vsus not ſo feare it as that it ſhould moue vsus deſperately to caſt away our weapons not daring to encounter it; for though this our enemie may aſſault vsus, yet it cannot ouercome vsus; though it may wound vsus, yet it cannot kill vsus; though it may giuegive vsus a foyle, yet in the end wee are ſure of victorie, if we manfully reſiſt and labour to ſubdue it.
§ Sect. 6 Secondly, let vsus conſider that the Lord doth not require of vsus vnderunder the Goſpel ſuch exact and perfect righteouſnes,That the Lord in the Goſpell requireth not perfect obedience to the law. as was required vnderunder the Law, which is altogether impoſſible to our corrupt nature, and was neuer to be found in any man (our Sauiour Chriſt excepted) but onelyonly that wee ſtriue and labour to attaine vntounto it; he doth not require of vsus that we ſhould at once free our ſelues from the fleſh and the corruptions thereof, but that we endeuour to mortifie it, according to the meaſure of grace and ſtrength which wee hauehave receiued from him; he doth not require of vsus that wee be without ſinne, but that ſinne doe not rule in our mortall bodies, that wee ſhould like ſlaues obey it willingly in the luſts thereof, and that alſo wee hating and abhorring it doe continually make warre againſt it, and ſubdue it by little and little, ſeeing we cannot at once wholy vanquiſh it. He doth not now require of vsus yt we ſhould performe perfect obedience to the law, which Chriſt hath performed for vsus, but that we doe our beſt endeuour, and though we cannot attaine to our deſire,Rom. 7.12.22. yet at leaſt that wee be delighted in the law of God concerning the inner man and conſent vntounto it that it is good, holy and iuſt. In a word, this is the Chriſtian mans righteouſnes which God requireth, that he hate ſinne, and louelove godlines, that hee deſire and endeuour to mortifie the fleſh and corruptions thereof, and labour to leade a new life in holy obedience; and if contrarie to his deſire and purpoſe he doe the euill which hee hateth, or leaue vndone the good which hee loueth; that he ſorrow and grieue for his ſinnes and imperfections, and making confeſſion hereof before the throne of grace, doe implore merciemercy and forgiueneſſe in Chriſt Ieſus. And if wee offer vntounto God this righteouſneſſe, it will be acceptable vntounto him, notwithſtanding our manifold imperfections; for hee meaſureth our deede by our will, and eſteemeth more of our affections than of our actions;August. Nec intuetur Deus quantum quilibet valeat, ſed quantum velit, & quicquid vis & non potes Deus factum computat: He reſpecteth not what we can doe, but what we would do, and that which we could performe and cannot, he eſteemeth it as though it were performed. So that hee reputeth him righteous who earneſtly deſireth and laboureth to be righteous, and him perfect who acknowledging and bewailing his imperfections ſtriueth to attaine to more perfection. Wherein he fitly may be compared vntounto a tender louing father, who eſteemeth of the leaſt endeuours of his beloued ſonne, more than of the beſt actions of a ſeruant, becauſe hee regardeth not ſo much the excellencie of the action, as the perſon and cheerefull will of the agent.
§. Sect. 7 Now the reaſons why the Lord being perfectly iuſt, will notwithſtanding accept of our imperfect righteouſneſſe,VVhy the Lord accepteth of our imperfect righteouſneſſe. is firſt becauſe (we being made members of Chriſts bodie) our perſons are acceptable vntounto him, and therefore our workes alſo (not in their own worthines, or for their own merit, but in and for Chriſt) are accepted; the corruptions and ſtaines of them being waſhed away in his bloud, and the imperfections of them being couered with Chriſts perfect righteouſneſſe. And thus being adorned in the garment of our elder brother Chriſt Ieſus, we obtaine the bleſſing of our heauenly father. Secondly, our righteouſneſſe and holineſſe doth proceede from the ſpirit of God dwelling in vsus; and from hence our workes being imperfect in themſelues, doe receiue their dignitie, excellencie, and eſtimation in Gods ſight, as being the fruites of his own ſpirit, howſoeuer mingled with our corruptions.
§. Sect. 8 Thirdly, let vsus remember that our ſinnes and corruptions which we hate and labour to mortifie, will neuer mooue the Lord to reiect and caſt vsus out of his louelove and fauour;That our ſins will not moue the Lord to reiect vsus. for we are the Lords children, and he our gratious father: now we know that a louing father will not reiect his childe, becauſe he is ſicke, lame, or in miſerable eſtate, but rather he is more tender ouer him, till hee be recouered of his infirmities: but what are our ſinnes but the ſickneſſe, wounds and miſerie of the ſoule, with which wee are vexed and turmoyled whileſt we continue in this life? and wil our heauenly father, whoſe louelove infinitely ſurpaſſeth the louelove of the moſt tender mother, caſt vsus out of his fauour, becauſe our ſoules are ſicke in ſinne, and moleſted with many miſeries which doe accompanie it? It is impoſſible; eſpecially conſidering that we deſire nothing more than to bee cured of theſe diſeaſes, and to be reſtored to perfect health. The Lord is our heauenly huſbandman, and wee his husbandrie; now wee know that the good husbandman doth not forſake his land, becauſe it bringeth foorth thornes and thiſtles, but rather is ſo much the more diligent and painful in weeding and tilling it, that it may be fitted for good ſeed and bring vntounto him plentiful increaſe; and ſo the Lord wil not caſt vsus off, becauſe we naturally bring foorth the weedes and thiſtles of ſinne and corruption, but in his infinite louelove he will with the operation of his holy ſpirit, plow vp the fallow grounds of our hearts, and weed out our corruptions, that ſo we may like good ground well husbanded, bring foorth the ripe fruites of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe.
§. Sect. 9 Fourthly, let vsus conſider that the Lord our God, who could eaſily if it had pleaſed him, hauehave throughly purged vsus from all ſinne and corruption, and indued vsus with perfect righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, hath notwithſtanding left remaining in vsus ſome reliques of ſin, and many imperfections in our ſanctification, both for the manifeſtation of his owne glorie, and for the furthering of our owne eternall ſaluation.The firſt cauſe, the manifeſtation of Gods merciemercy. For firſt hereby it commeth to paſſe, that the Lord hath the whole praiſe of our ſaluation, ſeeing hee ſaueth vsus of his meere merciemercy, and not for our workes and worthineſſe. Whereas if our righteouſneſſe and ſanctification were perfect, we would be readie to ſhare with God, aſcribing part in the worke of our ſaluation vntounto our ſelues, and not wholy attribute it to Gods merciemercy and Chriſts onelyonly and all-ſufficient merits: and therefore the Lord hath left in vsus the reliques of ſinne and manifold imperfections, that hereby it may appeare that we are not ſaued for our owne worthineſſe and deſerts, but of his free grace and vndeſerued louelove.
§. Sect. 10 That there might be a ſit obiect of his merciemercy and patience.Secondly, he hath left in vsus theſe reliques of ſin and manifold imperfections, to the end that there might be continuall matter and a fit obiect, wherein he might exerciſe, and by exerciſing manifeſt, to the praiſe of his grace, his patience, long ſuffring, louelove, goodneſſe, and infinite merciemercy, in the pardoning and forgiuing of them, which would not ſo plainly appeare if at once hee had indued vsus with perfect righteouſneſſe.
§. Sect. 11 That he might ſhew his power in our weaknes.Thirdly, that hereby he might make way for the manifeſtation of his power in our weakneſſe and imperfections. If wee were perfectly righteous and indued with all grace, it were no wonder if wee ſhould withſtand Sathans temptations and get the vpper hand in the ſpirituall combat; but ſeeing we are of our ſelues ſinfull, exceeding weake and full of all imperfections, hereby is the infinite power of God manifeſted, in that we are notwithſtanding enabled, to withſtand Sathan and all the power of hell which oppoſe themſelues againſt vsus, ſeeing nothing els could vpholde ſuch feeble weakneſſe againſt ſuch puiſſant might. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaketh 2. Cor. 12.8, 9:2. Cor. 12.8.9. for hauing oftentimes beſought the Lord to bee freed from the corruptions of his fleſh, he receiueth this anſwere, that Gods grace was ſufficient for him, and that his power was made perfect through weakneſſe.
§. Sect. 12 That he might ſtirre vsus vp to continuall thankfulnes.Fourthly, hereby the Lord continually putteth vsus in mind of his merciemercy and manifold benefits, to the end that we daily taſting of them, may alſo daily returne vntounto him thanks and praiſe. If he ſhould at once free vsus from ſinne, and indue vsus with a full meaſure of grace and perfect righteouſneſſe, wee would ſoone be forgetfull of his abundant mercies, and this forgetfulneſſe would worke in vsus vnthankfulneſſe, and this vnthankfulneſſe would make vsus neglect his worſhip and ſeruice. And therefore he doth not at once inrich vsus, but lets vsus continue in our pouerty, that ſo we may continually depend vponupon him: and like a wiſe houſholder hee doth not ſuddenly aduance vsus to our higheſt preferments, for then wee would leaue his ſeruice and betake vsus to our eaſe and pleaſure; but he beſtoweth his benefits by little and little, and ſo keeping vsus ſtill in expectation of receiuing more, he retaineth vsus ſtill in his ſeruice, and eueryevery day increaſing his bountie, hee putteth alſo into our mouthes new ſongs of thankſgiuing, and giueth vsus daily new occaſion of praiſing his magnificence.
§. Sect. 13 That he may hereby worke in vsus true humilitie.Secondly, as the Lord hereby aduanceth his owne glorie, ſo alſo he worketh our good, and furthereth our eternall ſaluation. For firſt by leauing in vsus theſe reliques of ſinne and manifolde imperfections, hee worketh in vsus true humilitie, which of all other graces is moſt acceptable vntounto him, and mortifieth our pride, which of all other vices is moſt odious and abominable in his ſight. For when we ſee our manifold infirmities and corruptions of ſinne, all cauſe of pride and ſelfe-conceit is taken away, and we in all humilitie are moued to confeſſe,Lam. 3.22. that it is Gods merciemercy that wee are not conſumed; how much more that notwithſtanding our vileneſſe and vnworthineſſe, he hath made vsus his ſonnes and heires of euerlaſting glorie. And thus, of the fleſh of this Viper ſinne, doth the Lord make a ſoueraigne antidote againſt the deadly poyſon of pride. And as good Chirurgeons doe not ſuddenly heale vp the wound, but keepe it open till they hauehave drawne out the core and healed it to the bottome, for otherwiſe it would putrifie and become more dangerous; ſo the Lord will not at once heale the wounds of our ſinnes, but leaueth them as it were open and vncured till hee hauehave drawne out the core of pride, which being left in vsus (though we were healed of all our other ſinnes) would more indanger vsus than all the reſt. Wherein the Lord confirmeth and furthereth vsus in the way of ſaluation; for nothing more weakneth and diſableth vsus than pride, nothing more ſtrengtheneth and vpholdeth vsus than humilitie, becauſe the ſtrength whereby we ſtand and repell our ſpirituall enemies is not our owne abilitie, but the power of Gods might, and the Lord withdraweth his aſſiſting hand from the proud, to the end that hee may learne to be more humble by his grieuous falles; yea he reſiſteth him, and therefore how is it poſſible that he ſhould ſtand? but contrariwiſe he giueth grace to the humble, and filleth him who acknowledgeth his own emptineſſe with good things,1. Pet. 5.5. Luk. 1.53. but the proud who is full in his owne conceit he fendeth emptie away.
§. Sect. 14 That we may be moued to reſt on Chriſt alone.Secondly, he leaueth in vsus corruptions and imperfections, to the end that wee ſhould not reſt in our owne righteouſnes for our iuſtification and ſaluation (which though it were as great as Adams in the ſtate of innocencie, yet it were no ſure ground to reſt vponupon) but in the alone righteouſneſſe of Chriſt Ieſus, which is all-ſufficient and a foundation ſo vnremoueable, that all the power of hell cannot ouerturne it, nor any that are built vponupon it. VponUpon which ſure pillar wee would hardly relie, ſo long as we hauehave in our hand the reede of our owne righteouſneſſe, wee being naturallie inclined rather to ſeeke for ſaluation in our ſelues than elſewhere.
§. Sect. 15 That we may be exerciſed in the Christian warfare.Thirdly, he leaueth in vsus theſe ſpirituall enemies, that wee may exerciſe our ſelues in fighting againſt them, and ſo bee kept from idleneſſe the mother and nurſe of all euill; and as he would not at once caſt out the Canaanites before the Iſraelites, but by little and little; leaſt the land ſhould grow vntounto a wilderneſſe, and the wilde beaſts ſhould multiplie againſt them: ſo he would not ſuddenly caſt out our ſpirituall enemies, but ſuffreth vsus to preuaile againſt them by little and little, leaſt giuing our ſelues vntounto idleneſſe when there is no oppoſition made againſt vsus, there grow in vsus as in a wildernes the noyſome weeds and thornes of ſin, and the wild beaſts of all outragious wickedneſſe, which would deuoure and vtterly deſtroy vsus. Whereas contrariwiſe when wee are aſſaulted outwardly with the forces of ſathan and the world, and inwardly with the fleſh and our natural corruptions, we hauehave enemies againſt whom wee may exerciſe our faith, affiance, hope, patience, courage, and all other graces which we hauehave receiued, and by exerciſe increaſe them: wee fight the Lords battailes like his valiant ſouldiers, and being aſſiſted by his holie ſpirit wee obtaine victorie, and with our conqueſt a more excellent crowne of eternall glorie:Reuel. 2.26.27. and 3.21. as appeareth Reuel. 2.26, 27. and 3.21.
§. Sect. 16 Laſtly, he ſuffereth vsus to be moleſted and vexed with the reliques of our ſinnes,That we may be moued to loath the world and to long for eternall life. that hereby he may make vsus to loath this world and vale of miſerie, wherein we can doe nothing but breake the commaundements of our deare louing father; and may be moued to deſire that heauenly life in Gods kingdome, when hauing laid aſide all corruption, we ſhall be indued with all perfection, and be fully enabled to performe ſuch obedience vntounto God as he requireth. For ſeeing ſinne is not fully vanquiſhed till it be ſubdued by our death, nor we euer at reſt and free from the aſſaults thereof, till we reſt in the graue; therefore the children of God are content to forſake the world, becauſe they can no otherwiſe forſake their ſinnes; and deſire rather to indure death, than they would hauehave ſinne to liue with them, as appeareth in the example of the Apoſtle Paul Phil. 1.22.23.Phil. 1.22.23.
§. Sect. 17 And thus hauehave I ſhewed the wiſedome and power of God, who turneth euen the ſinnes of his children to their good,The concluſion of the former point. which are in their owne nature euill; and therefore though we are continually to bewaile them, & to deſire by al meanes to be freed from them, yet we are not deſperatly to ſinke vnderunder them, not daring to encounter them, ſeeing now they cannot condemne vsus, nay not ſo much as hurt vsus, but rather are ſo ordered by Gods all-wiſe prouidence, that they ſerue for the manifeſtation of his glorie, and furthering of our ſaluation, ſo that we doe not with willing delight nor ſlauiſh feare yeeld vntounto them, but to the vttermoſt of our power make reſiſtance, and deſire and indeauour to ouercome them.
§. Sect. 18 Now in the fiſt and laſt place let vsus conſider,The laſt conſolation taken from our aſſured victorie againſt ſinne. that though our fleſh be neuer ſo ſtrong, and the innumerable corruptions thereof ſeeme vnreſiſtable, and though on the other ſide our ſpirituall man ſeeme neuer ſo weake and feeble, yet we are not hereby to be diſcouraged, ſeeing the regenerate part ſhall moſt certainely obtaine the victorie in the end, though in the conflict it receiueth many foyles. And though this little Dauid ſeeme in the eyes of a carnall Saul, to be farre to weake, and altogether vnable to encounter that great Goliah, the fleſh with the powerfull luſts thereof, yet in the end it will moſt certainly preuaile and get the conqueſt; becauſe the ſpirit is the Lords champion which goeth out in the name of the Lord to ſight againſt his enemies; the fleſh the diuels ſouldier who is Gods enemie: That, is ſtrengthened and ſupported with the power of God which being inſinit is vnreſiſtable; this by the power of Sathan, and the world, whoſe power is finite, and ſo reſtrained and ouerruled by Gods might, that they cannot ſtirre without his leaue and permiſſion. Vnleſſe therefore we would blaſphemouſly imagine, that the fleſh and his aſſiſtants are of greater power than God himſelfe, or that God will ſuffer this diſgrace that his champion ſhould be ouerthrowne by his profeſſed enemies; we may moſt certainely aſſure our ſelues that we ſhall get the day and obtaine a famous victorie. And therefore let not Sathan diſcourage vsus, by ſetting before our eyes our owne weakneſſe, and the mightie oppoſitions which are made againſt vsus; but arming our ſelues with the chriſtian armour, and truſting wholy in the power of Gods might, let vsus valiantly incounter our ſpirituall enemies, and neuer giuegive ouer fighting till by death we hauehave giuen vntounto them a finall ouerthrow, and ſo ſhall we be crowned with an vnualuable crowne of immortall glorie.