The Complaint of a Sanctified Sinner Answered, Verse 17
VERS. 17.
Now then, it is no more I that doe it, but the ſinne that dwelleth in me.
IN this Verſe we hauehave the ſecond inference and concluſion laid before vsus, that the Apoſtle brings in on that he ſaid Verſe 15. that the good he would, that he did not: but the euill he hated, that he did. Thereupon the Apoſtle concludes in this Verſe on this manner: If I hate the euill I doe, then I being renued by grace, doe it not. And he further ſhewes what it was that did it, namely, the ſinnefull corruption that ſtill in part remayned in him. But (ſaith he) ſinne that dwelleth in me, that doeth it. And this inference the Apoſtle deliuers with a note of difference, in reſpect of himſelfe, comparing his preſent ſtate with his former, that now it was not with him, as in former times, and he ſaith, Now then, it's no more I that doe it: not barely, then it is not I, but, then it is no more I that doe it, but the ſinne that dwelleth in me.
Now then, it is no more I that doe it, but the ſinne that dwelleth in me. Here to make vp the full ſenſe, thoſe words vſed in the Verſe before (if I doe that which I would not) are to be reſumed and repeated, they being the common antecedent to both the Apoſtles inferences and concluſions: As if hee had ſaid, If I doe that which I would not, then it is no more I that doe it. It is no more I; that is, InterpretationIt is no longer I, as I am now renued by grace, and in the ſtate of regeneration, it is not any longer I, as I am regenerate, and ſo farre forth as I am regenerate that now doe it: (doe it) that is, that euill that I would not, and that euill and that ſinne that I hate (but the ſinne that dwelleth in me, that doeth it.)
(Sinne) is here taken as before, for ſinful corruption, the corruption of nature, or inborne finne (that dwelleth in me.) This Phraſe is Metaphoricall, it is borrowed and taken from Houſholders, from ſuch as hauehave their certayne abode and reſidence in a place or houſe, and doe there buſie themſelues, and exerciſe their power and authority, and it ſignifieth the true and powerfull preſence of ſinne, and the ſtrong working of it, as the Spirit of God is ſaid to dwell in true Beleeuers, Rom. 8.9. 1. Cor. 3.16. ſignifying the true powerfull and working preſence of the Spirit in them: and ſo Satan with ſeuen other ſpirits is ſaid to returne to the houſe whence hee came, and to enter in, and to dwell there, Matth. 12.45. that is, more powerfully and more ſtrongly to take poſſeſſion of that man. And ſo the Apoſtles meaning, in ſaying, ſinne that dwelleth in me, is this, The ſin that is ſtill remayning and abiding in me, and hath a powerfull and a working preſence in mee, euen forcibly croſſing the motions of the Spirit in my heart, and haling and pulling me to euill and ſinne. Thus then briefly conceiue we the Apoſtles meaning in this Verſe, as if he had ſaid,
And againe if I doe that euill, which I would not, and that euill that I hate, then it is no longer I, as I am regenerate, and ſo farre forth as I am regenerate, that doe that euill, but the ſinfull corruption, the corruption of nature, that is ſtill remayning and abiding in me in part, and hath a powerfull and working preſence in me, euen forcibly croſſing the motions of the Spirit in my heart, and haling and pulling me to euill, that is it that doth the euill that is done.
Here againe obſerue we the Apoſtles inference, marke his concluſion here brought in on his former antecedent, thus he concludes: If (ſaith hee) I doe the euill which I would not doe, If I do that euill that is againſt my mind, my will, my purpoſe and reſolution, as I am now regenerate, then it is not I that doe it, but it is the ſinne that dwells in me that doth it, that is his inference. Hence note we further thus much,
That when men doe euill, Doct. 1 and they would not doe it, the euill they doe, Euill done by men againſt their minde, will, and holy purpoſe, may in ſome ſort be ſayd, not to be their ſinne.is againſt their minde, their will and their holy purpoſe, they reſolue not to ſinne againſt God in any thing wittingly and willingly, and yet they are ouercarried by the ſtrength of corruption, and doe ſinne, then it may be truely ſaid, It is not they that ſinne, and the euill done by them, may in ſome ſort bee ſaid not to be their ſinne. If the thing be rightly vnderſtood, and not miſconceiued, and if a man or woman be able to ſay with the Apoſtle, and that truely, I doe the euill I would not doe, then hee or ſhee may alſo conclude with the Apoſtle, and truly ſay, It is not I that doe it, but the inbred corruption that ſtill in part abides in me, that doth it: and to this agrees that of Iohn, 1. Ioh. 3.9. 1. Ioh. 3.9.It is a plaine Text to this purpoſe: Whoſoeuer (ſaith he) is borne of God, ſinneth not: for his ſeede remaineth in him, neyther can hee ſinne, becauſe hee is borne of God. Whoſoeuer is borne of God, ſinneth not. Why? may ſome ſay, there is no man liuing on the face of the earth but he ſinnes. And Saint Iohn himſelfe ſaith, 1. Ioh. 1.8. If we ſay that we hane no ſinne, 1. Ioh. 1.8.we deceiue our ſelues, and the truth is not in vsus.
What is then his meaning, when he ſaith, Whoſoeuer is borne of God, ſinneth not? Surely this: When they that are truely regenerate and borne anew of God, ſinne, it is againſt their mind, and againſt their purpoſe, they would not ſo ſinne; and ſo indeede it is as if they ſinned not: and it may be truely affirmed of them, being rightly vnderſtood, it is not they that ſinne, but the corruption of nature that ſtill in part abides in them: and the reaſon of this may eaſily be rendred; this it is:
That part in man that is truely regenerate, Reaſon. neuer ſinneth. Now from that part being the better part, they hauehave their denomination, and are called regenerate perſons: and when men are once truly regenerate, they neuer after that are termed ſinners, enemies to God or vngodly, vnleſſe it be when they humble themſelues in a free and ſound confeſſion of their ſinnes to God: but they are called iuſt and righteous, good, and holy, godly, and new creatures, and the like, as Pſal. 37.37. Pro. 10. Pſal. 37.37. Pro. 10.3, 6, 7, 11, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 30, 32.in many Verſes: and ſo that part that is truly regenerate not ſinning, and they taking their denomination from that part, it may be truly ſaid, that they that are borne of God, and truly regenerate, ſinne not: and wee may hold this as a certayne truth, when men doe euill, and they would not doe it, the euill they doe, is againſt their mind and purpoſe, that then it may be truly ſaid, being rightly vnderſtood, it is not they that ſinne and doe euill, but it is the inbred corruption, that ſtill in part abides in them, that doth it. Now then to make vſe of this, firſt,
This Truth meets with that fond conceit of ſome, Vſe 1 who though they giuegive themſelues ouer to all carnall luſts of their owne hearts, The fond conceit of the Familiſts and others, met withall.yet fooliſhly thus thinke to excuſe themſelues, that it is ſinne that doth euill, and not themſelues, as thoſe fooliſh, phanaticall and fantaſtike ſpirits the Familiſts, of all erring ſpirits the moſt groſſe, they make no conſcience of Swearing, of Lying and Equiuocating, of Sabbath-breaking, of Drunkenneſſe, of Whoredome and filthineſſe, they make no bones of any foule ſinne, and yet they thinke to excuſe themſelues by this, that (forſooth) it is the fleſh that ſinneth, and not they, and they thinke ſo to ſhift off the matter, by laying the burden on the fleſh: and ſo common Drunkards, filthy Adulterers, common Swearers, and the like, they thinke to excuſe and cloke their wicked and vicious life with this, that they do not the euill, but ſinne that dwels in them. Now, ſuch perſons, both Familiſts and others, doe moſt wickedly abuſe this holy ſentence of the Apoſtle, It is no more I that doe euill, but ſinne that dwels in mee.
The doctrine deliuered ſhewes plainly, that this ſentence cannot agree to ſuch perſons: for why? they cannot ſay and ſpeake the truth, that they doe euill, and they would not doe it, and the euill they doe is againſt their mind and purpoſe, and that they hate the euill they doe. No, no: there is no ſuch matter in them, they doe euill wittingly and willingly, yea, they ruſh into ſinne, as the barbed horſe ruſheth into the battell. Ierem. 8.6. And therefore they cannot thus plead excuſe, and thus ſhift off the matter, that it is not they that doe euill, but ſinne that dwels in them. If they ſo doe, they abuſe this holy ſentence, and they miſapply it, and it will not ſerue their turne. If thou wouldſt find comfort in this holy Sentence, and apply it to thy ſelfe with comfort, thou muſt be able to ſay with the Apoſtle, The euill I doe, I would not doe, I allow it not, nay, I hate it: and then indeed thou maiſt ſay with comfort, It is not I that doe euill, but the ſin that dwels in me.
And this indeed is a ſweet comfort to Gods children, their owne hearts witneſſing with them, that the euill they doe, they would not doe it: they may then ſay, It is not they that doe it, but ſinne that dwels in them, and the euill done by them may in ſome ſort bee ſaid not to bee their ſinne, if it be rightly vnderſtood: and ſo, to driue the point to a ſecond vſe,
Is it ſo, that euill done by the regenerate, Vſe 2 in ſome ſort is not their ſinne, they being vnwilling to doe it? Surely, Comfort for ſuch as are tempted to ſtrange euils.then much leſſe is the euill to which they only are tempted, and to which they yeeld not, much leſſe is that their ſinne. Here is then comfort for ſuch as are tempted to ſtrange euils, and whom Satan doth vexe with fearefull ſuggeſtions; as to blaſpheme God, to deny God, or any way to thinke amiſſe of God: doe they thereupon thinke amiſſe of themſelues? doe they thereupon hold themſelues moſt vile wretches? doe they beate backe the temptation? Surely, then it is not their ſinne: euen the beſt may be tempted to moſt horrible ſinnes. What more fearefull, then to worſhip the Deuill in perſon? Yet to this ſinne was Chriſt himſelfe tempted, Matth. 4.9. Matth 4.9.Therefore bee not thou diſcouraged, though thou bee tempted to moſt groſſe and odious ſinnes, if thou yeeld not vntounto them.
Obſerue we further, the Apoſtle ſaith, It is no more I that doe it, but the ſinne that dwelleth in me. Hee ſaith not barely, It is not I that doe it, but, It is no more I, I find now a difference in my ſelfe, from that it was wont to be with me in doing euill, It was heretofore I that did euill, but now it is not I that doe it, but the ſinne that dwelleth in me.
Hence we may gather a manifeſt difference betweene Doct. 2 Gods children, Difference betweene Gods children and the vnregenerate, in doing euill.and ſuch as be vnregenerate, in doing euill: Gods children, they ſinne no more, it is no more they that ſinne, that is, they ſinne not wholly with full conſent of will, becauſe they hauehave in them not only fleſh, but Spirit; not only corruption but grace alſo: but vnregenerate perſons, they ſinne wholly with full conſent of will, and it is they that doe the ſinne, and the euill that is done by them, they doe it indeed, they powre out themſelues to ſinne. Iude Epiſt. verſ. 11. They walke after the luſts of their owne hearts, becauſe they are wholly and altogether fleſh and corruption. And this difference betweene the regenerate and vnregenerate in ſinning, wee find put downe in many places of Scripture.
If then for the vſe of it, Ʋſe. thou wouldſt proue thy ſelfe a child of God, How a man may proue himſelfe a child of God.thou muſt find it thus with thee, that thou art able to ſay, The euill that is done by thee, it is not now thou that doſt it, but ſinne that dwels in thee: and know this for a truth, That a child of God is neuer ſo giuen ouer, Note. as to ſinne with his whole will in the greateſt euill hee doeth; there is ſome ſtriuing in him againſt it, though it be but faintly, and with great feebleneſſe; as it comes to paſſe in ſome ſtrong and violent temptation: but hee is euer able to ſay, It it not I that doe it, but ſinne that dwelleth in …. Labour thou to find it thus with thee, if thou wouldſt make it good to the comfort of thine owne ſoule, that thou art a childe of God.
Now further, in that the Apoſtle addes, but ſinne that dwelleth in me: that is, as we ſhewed, ſinfull corruption, the corruption of nature that ſtil remaynes in me in part, and hath a powerfull and working preſence in mee, euen forcibly croſſing the good motions of the Spirit, and haling and pulling me to ſinne. Hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much,
That the beſt of Gods children, Doct. 3 euen the moſt holy and moſt regenerate that liue on the face of the earth, are not freed from the inhabitation of ſinne, The beſt of Gods children hauehave ſinne ſtill dwelling in them, as a bold Inmate.from the in-dwelling of ſinne. Howſoeuer it is true, that corruption of nature remaynes not in Gods children, in the full force and ſtrength of it, as it doth in the vnregenerate, and doth not raigne in them, yet the relikes of it are ſtill abiding in them, and it hath ſtill a powerfull working preſence, croſſing them in good things, and haling and pulling them to ſinne; it is ſtill as a bold, ſawcy, & troubleſome Inmate, it dwels in them, and ſhall dwell in them ſo long as they liue in this world.
And to this purpoſe we hauehave many plaine euidences of Scripture, Pro. 20.9. Who can ſay, Pro. 20.9.I hauehave made mine heart cleane? I am cleane from my ſinne? I am in this world without all relikes of naturall corruption? As if hee had ſaid, None can ſay it. Eccleſ. 7.22. ſaith the Preacher, Eccleſ. 7.22.There is no man iuſt in the earth, that doth good, and ſinneth not. Gal. 5.16. Walke in the Spirit, Gal. 5.16, 17.and yee ſhall not fulfill the luſts of the fleſh. Hee ſaith not, The luſts of the fleſh ſhall not be in you. No: but, You ſhall not fulfill them. And he ſubioynes, Verſ. 17. For the fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh: and theſe are contrary one to the other, ſo that yee cannot doe the ſame things that yee would: The fleſh is ſtill in you, and it wraſtleth & ſtriueth againſt the Spirit; euen forcibly croſſing the good motions of the Spirit, haling you to ſinne. Iam. 3.2. Iam. 3.2.In many things we ſinne all, euen we all, and eueryevery one of vsus without exception, doe ſinne in diuers things. Theſe and many other teſtimonies of Scripture doe plainely proue the point in hand, that howſoeuer the corruption of nature remayne not in Gods children, in the ful force & ſtrength of it, yet it ſtill abides in them in part, and hath ſtill a powerfull and working preſence in them, croſſing them in good things, and haling and pulling them on to euill; it is ſtill an In-dweller in them, and ſhall dwell in them ſo long as they be in this world.
And this may be further cleered and confirmed, Reaſon. in that Gods children are ſubiect to many chaſtiſements and afflictions, yea, to mortality and death: for ſurely, it could not ſtand with the iuſtice of God, to lay afflictions and chaſtiſements on his children, and they could not be ſubiect to mortality and death, their ſoules could not part from their bodies, if there were not corruption and ſinne ſtill abiding in them; that is it that makes them ſubiect and lyable to chaſtiſements and to death it ſelfe. And therefore this is a certayne truth, that the beſt of Gods children, euen the moſt holy, and moſt regenerate that liue on the face of the earth, are not freed from the inhabitation of ſinne; it is ſtill as a bold and troubleſome In-mate dwelling in them, and ſhall dwell in them ſo long as they liue in this world.
Now then, Vſe 1 this being a truth, it ſerues to ouer-turne ſome erroneous and falſe opinions both of Papiſts and others; Some erroneous opinions conſuted.as firſt, that of the Papiſts, That by Baptiſme, originall corruption is vtterly aboliſhed, and quite taken away: ſo they hold and teach. Now that opinion cannot ſtand with this truth, That the beſt of Gods children, and the moſt regenerate that liue on the face of the earth, hauehave ſinne ſtill dwelling in them in part; and this Truth alſo meets with that proud conceit of the Familiſts & others, that hold, that a perfection of inherent holineſſe may be attayned to in time of this life; and they bragge of ſuch a perfection of purity and holineſſe already attayned to in themſelues, as that they need not any further to be purged from corruption. This is a proud conceit, and a moſt idle and a wicked fancy, & it cannot ſtand with the Truth of God now deliuered, That the beſt and moſt holy that liue on the face of the earth, hauehave ſinne ſtill dwelling in them, and hauehave ſtill need to be renued in the Spirit of their minds in the pureſt part of their ſoules, Epheſ. 4.23.Epheſ. 4.23. And they that find not ſinne ſtill croſſing the good motions of the Spirit in them, and haling them vntounto ſinne, know not themſelues, they are not acquainted with their own ſtate and condition.
Againe, is it ſo, that the beſt of Gods children, Vſe 2 euen the moſt holy and moſt regenerate that liue on the face of the earth, are not freed from the in-dwelling of ſinne, Comfort againſt the feeling of indwelling corruption, diſturbing and croſſing men in good purpoſes, and in good things.but hauehave ſinne as a bold and troubleſome In-mate dwelling in them, diſturbing and troubling them, and croſſing them in good things, and haling them to ſinne? Then bee not thou too much deiected and caſt downe, when thou feeleſt corruption ſtill in thee, croſſing thee in good purpoſes and good things, and haling thee on to ſinne; it is a thing that many times troubles and diſquiets a poore ſoule, euen an honeſt and good hearted Chriſtian man or woman, that hee or ſhee are croſſed in good purpoſes, and in good things, and are eyther hindred from doing of them, or they doe them vntowardly, and they are ſometimes haled to doe euill.
Oh this troubles them, and this ſometimes makes them to call their ſtate into queſtion: Thou maiſt remember, whoſoeuer thou art, thou haſt ſtill corruption dwelling in thee, and it ſhall dwell in thee ſo long as thou art in this world, and it is a bold and a ſawcy In-mate, it will be troubleſome to thee, it will be buſie with thee in the beſt purpoſes and actions, and it will croſſe thee in good things, and hale and pull thee on to ſinne.
Therefore thinke on this: and though thou haſt cauſe to bee humbled, and to labour and ſtriue againſt the corruption of thy heart, yet thou haſt no cauſe thereupon to bee vtterly deiected and caſt downe. No, no: it is no otherwiſe with thee, then with the deareſt of Gods children, ſo long as they are in this world: and know this for thy comfort, that it is a mercy of God, that thou art troubled for ſinne dwelling in thee, and croſſing thee in good things; thouſands in the world are not troubled for ſinne raigning in them, and exerciſing dominion ouer them, and holding them as ſlaues vnderunder the power of it, they thinke it nothing to bee vnderunder ſuch a lord, who indeede can pay them no better wages, but the damnation of hell: and therefore bleſſe God for it, that hee hath opened thine eyes to ſee thy corruption: and be watchfull ouer thine owne heart, in regard of corruption ſtill dwelling in it.
On the ground of doctrine now deliuered, Vſe 3 Gods children muſt further learne to looke warily to themſelues, Gods children muſt looke warily to themſelues.and they muſt take heede they be not circumuented by Satan, they hauehave a treacherous foe, that ſtill continually lyes in wait to betray them into the hands of the Deuill, and that as neere as may be, euen in their owne boſome, the corruption of their owne hearts: and therefore it behoues eueryevery child of God to be very watchfull and circumſpect: and the beſt and moſt holy, and ſuch as hauehave the greateſt meaſure of grace, may not be ſecure and confident on that ſtrength, and thinke that they are ſo furniſhed with grace and ſtrength, that they are out of danger, at leaſt, of being ouer-taken with any foule and groſſe ſinne. No, no: they muſt take heede of that; if a man hauehave an In-mate, an In-dweller, that hee knowes is ready to cut his throat, and watcheth eueryevery oportunity that is offered, to doe him a miſchiefe, without queſtion hee will be ſure to hauehave an eye to that In-mate, and hee will watch him, and take diligent heed of him, leſt he doe him hurt, before he be aware.
Surely, this is the very caſe of vsus all; and the beſt of Gods children hauehave ſinne in them, that is, ſuch an In-mate, as is ready on any oportunity offered, to cut the threat of our ſoules; yea, ſinne is ſuch an Inmate, as Gods children cannot be rid of, they cannot be freed from, ſo long as they liue on the face of the earth.
It ſaith to them, Ruth. 1.16, 17.as Ruth ſaid to Naomi, Ruth. 1. verſ. 16, 17. Whither thou goeſt, I will goe, and where thou dwelleſt, I will dwell: where thou dyeſt, will I dye, and there will I be buryed: nothing but death ſhall part vsus, and ſunder vsus quite one from another. Therefore Gods children had need to be vigilant, and wary, and circumſpect, leſt they be circumuented. And indeed whoſoeuer ſeeth his owne corruption, truely hee will be ſlie and wary of the very appearance of euill: and none are more careleſſe and ſecure then they that ſee not their in-dwelling corruption. VVithout queſtion, Note. Iob was neuer an Adulterer; yet being priuy to his owne in-dwelling corruption, He made a couenant with his eyes, Job 31.1.Iob 31.1.
And thus it ought to bee with all Gods children; they are to make couenants with their eyes, eares, and all the parts and members of their bodies, and to watch ouer their hearts narrowly; they hauehave a ſecret foe that dwels in them, ready to betray them into the hands of Satan, who ſeekes their deſtruction; and therefore they cannot be too heedfull and watchfull ouer their owne hearts, in regard of in-dwelling corruption, and eſpecially they are to watch ouer them in time of proſperity, and when they hauehave abundance of outward things: for then they are in greateſt danger to bee ſurpriſed, and ouer-taken with pride, deadneſſe of heart, ſelfeloue, and the like, Pro. 1.32.Pro. 1.32.