Two Treatises, Part 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Enemy to bee encountred with: the ſundry names wherby the ſame is expreſſed.
THe Enemy to bee encountred is the Fleſh, Gal. 5.24. Col. 3.9. Ro. 7.23.with the affections and luſts thereof; the Old man with his deeds; the law of ſin in our members warring againſt the law of our mind; and bringing us into captivity to the law of ſin which is in our members: The enemy to be encountred.even our naturall corruption and in-borne pravitie, which as a ſpirituall kinde of diſeaſe, gall, leaven and poyſon, dayly diffuſeth it ſelfe throughout our whole man; ſo infecting the ſame, that as thereby wee are made in our ſelves unapt to any good, though moſt prone and ready to all evill: ſo moſt bitter fruits are in us produced, even inordinate motions of the minde, will, and affections, which doe entice and ſtir us up unto ſinne, Iam. 1.14.and are now and then acted and executed by the body, both inword and deed.
This is in Scripture made knowne unto us under divers names, How it's in Scripture made knowne to us.which upon divers and different reſpects are appropriated heereunto; as namely, in regard of its nature, its places of reſidence, the time of its manifeſtation, its continuance, its power, its effects, its ayme and end, and the like.Names from its nature.
Its nature; ſo is it termed.
1. A ſecret ſinne, as in that of David: Pſal. 19.12.Clenſe thou me from ſecret faults, and that of Moſes, Pſal. 90.8. Why termed ſecret ſinnes.Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee; our ſecret ſinnes in the light of thy countenance; the word in the former derived from a Roote which ſignifieth hid, foreign Chem. loc. com.implying that our originall ſin or corruption of nature is hid even from our very thought till it bee revealed by the law of God, foreign 1 Sam. 17.56.as the latter from a Roote whence foreign which ſignifieth a young man or ſtripling is derived, that as a young man abideth hid and unknowne, till hee undergoe either the domeſticke change of a familie, or ſome publike office in the common-wealth. So our originall corruption till it manifeſt it ſelfe by its inward ſtirring and outward acts of ſin, is unto us wholly unknowne, unto God onelyonly knowne.
2. Sin, as in that of S. Paul. Rom. 7.8.But ſinne taking occaſion by the commandement, wrought in me all manner of concupiſcence; Why termed ſin.even becauſe it is out of meaſure ſinfull, yea the ground and roote of all other ſinnes, as S. Iames teſtifieth:Iam. 1.14.15. But every man is tempted, when hee is drawne away of his owne luſt and enticed, then when luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth ſin. To which purpoſe S. Paul; Rom. 6.12.let not ſinne reigne in your mortall body; that ye ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof.
3. The luſt of the fleſh, as in that of Paul, Rom. 13.14.make not proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof. And againe, walke in the ſpirit, Gal. 5.16.and ye ſhall not fulfill the luſt of the fleſh. So fleſhly luſts, 1 Pet. 2.11.as in that of S. Peter; Abſtaine from fleſhly luſts which warre againſt the ſoule: intimating,Why termed the luſt of the fleſh. that as the ſame proceed from the fleſh, and ſavour of the fleſh, ſo are they marveilous pleaſing to ſenſualitie; and ſuch as the fleſh doth eſpecially delight in.
4. Enmitie againſt God, as in that of S. Paul, Rom. 8.7.becauſe the carnall minde is enmitie againſt God; for it is not ſubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
5. The vanitie of the minde, as in that of the ſame Apoſtle:Eph. 4, 17. This J ſay therefore, and teſtifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walke not as other Gentiles walke, in the vanitie of their minde, having the underſtanding darkned, &c. All our fleſhly luſts, our inward motions and ſtirrings unto ſinne, they are but the vanitie of our minds, how pleaſing ſoever to us.
6. Earthly members, as in that unto the Coloſſians, Col. 3.5.Mortifie your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanneſſe, inordinate affection, &c. Members, 1.Why termed members. becauſe as in the fit and apt joyning together of the ſeverall parts and members of the body, the being of the humane body doth conſiſt: ſo doth our wickedneſſe conſiſt in many particular diſorders, inordinate luſts and affections: the joyning of which together doth make up the univerſall ſinfulneſſe of our nature; wherby the heart is made no leſſe fit for all manner of ſinne, then by the members of the body the body is made fit for action. 2. becauſe they are no leſſe naturall unto us then the members of our body, beginning and growing in us, with the beginning and growing of our limbs; according to that of the Pſalmiſt. Behold J was ſhapen in iniquity, Pſal. 51.5.and in ſinne did my mother conceive mee. 3. becauſe as the members of the body doe the actions of the body; ſo doe theſe baſe affections doe the actions of the unregenerate part. 4. becauſe as the members of the body doe ſerve as weapons for the defence one of another; ſo theſe as weapons of unrighteouſneſſe doe warre againſt the ſoule. 5. becauſe they are as deare unto the heart as any member is unto the body, its right hand, Mat. 5.19.and right eye, which without much adoe it will not part withall. Earthly members, Why earthly members.as being the ſignes of the earthly man; and tend onelyonly to earthly pleaſures and contentments; ſtill carrying and drawing our mindes from an high valuing of heavenly things, to a baſe eſteeme of them, and from a baſe eſteeming of earthly things, unto an high eſteeme of them.
Its places of reſidence;Names from its places of reſidence. ſo is it termed.
1. Fleſh, as in that of Saint Paul; Rom. 8.1.who walke not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit: and againe,Gal. 5.24. They that are Chriſts have crucified the fleſh with the affections and luſts. Why termed the fleſh.1. Becauſe the Fleſh is the inſtrument by which it is propagated. 2. becauſe it is executed in our carnall and earthly members. 3. becauſe it is ſtrengthened, augmented and nouriſhed by carnall and fleſhly objects. 4. becauſe it is the end it drives us to; namely, to affect the ſame, and fulfill the luſts thereof.
2. The deeds of the body, as in the fore-mentioned Chapter;Rom. 8.13. if yee through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live. Why termed the deeds of the body.Becauſe the body is the ſubject wherein they are, and inſtruments wherby they are executed; viſibly manifeſting themſelves in the ſame.
3.Eph. 2.3. The deſires of the Fleſh, and of the Minde. Neither is it any marvell that ſuch as walke in the vanitie of their minde, Eph. 4.17.18.having the underſtanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſſe of their heart; it's no marvell (I ſay) that ſuch fleſhly deſires doe reſide in their minds, and are in like manner obeyed in their outward members.
The time of its manifeſtation;Names from the time of its manifeſtation. ſo it is termed.
1.Gen. 8.21. The evill imagination of mans heart from his youth (or infancie and childs age, the word whence youth here is derived, being ſpoken of Moſes when he was a babe, Exo. 2.6.) the ſame being in us, from the very houre wherein wee are formed; then eſpecially firſt ſhewing it ſelfe, when we firſt begin actually to ſinne.
2. The ſinne wherein wee are conceived and borne; as in that of the Pſalmiſt.Pſal. 51.5. Behold I was ſhapen in iniquitie, and in ſinne did my mother conceive me: and againe;Pſal. 58.3. The wicked are eſtranged from the wombe, they goe aſtray; ſo ſoone as they bee borne ſpeaking lies. To this purpoſe Iſaiah; Iſai. 48.8.For I knew that thou wouldeſt deale very treacherouſly, and waſt called a tranſgreſſour from the wombe.
Its continuance;Names from its continuance. ſo is it termed.
1. Sinne that dwelleth in one. Now then it is no more I that doe it, Rom. 7.17.ſaith S. Paul; but ſinne that dwelleth in me.1 Ioh. 1.8. If we ſay we have no ſinne (ſaith S. Iohn) wee deceive our ſelves, and the truth is not in us. To which purpoſe S. Iames. Iam. 3.2.In many things wee ſinne all. Our Saviour for this cauſe directeth us dayly to pray, and forgive us our ſinnes. Mat. 6.12.As a bold, ſaucie, quarrelſome inmate it will (though but as a ſlaviſh Gibeonite) whilſt we dwell here, dwell in us.
2. The Old man, Eph. 4.22.as in that unto the Epheſians, That ye put off concerning the former converſation, the Olde man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfull luſts: and unto the Coloſſians; Col. 3.9.Lie not one to another; ſeeing that yee have put off the Old man, with his Workes. Yet in other reſpects alſo it may bee thus termed:Why to… med the old man. As 1. in reſpect of our ſtate of corruption, which in the renewed eſtate we change; ſo that our condition after calling is ſaid to bee new, and our diſpoſition before calling to bee old. 2. in reſpect of the effects thereof, as well in the godly as the ungodly; the godly in whom it waxeth old and withereth more and more daily by the power of Chriſt in them; the ungodly, in whom it ſpends the ſtrength, and vigour of the faculties of their ſoules, making them more and more withered and deformed in Gods ſight, as in like manner upon their bodies it haſteneth old age and death.
Its power;Names from its power. 2 Cor. 10.4. ſo is it termed.
1. Strong holds: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnall (ſaith S. Paul) but mighty through God, to the pulling downe of ſtrong holds. Strong holds wee know are neither eaſily, nor quickly pulled downe: ſome one having for many months together ſtood out againſt the furious batteries of moſt puiſſant Princes. Such are our inbred corruptions, words will not make them affraid; and if cowardly, or without our warlike engins, weapons and armour we aſſaile them, they will but flout us for our labour: faith, knowledge, hope, prayer, teares, ſighes, groanes, &c. will have enough to doe ere thoſe holds be pulled downe.
2.Heb. 12.1. The ſinne, which doth ſo eaſily beſet us; and hangeth ſo faſt on us: whereof of our ſelves we can no more be rid, then a little childe is able to encounter a Gyant; which ſticking (as it were) in our marrow and bones, wee are as unable to ſhake off, as the black-more his colour, or the leopard his ſpots.
Its effects;Names from its effects. ſo it is termed,
1.Iob. 14.4. Why termed an uncleane thing. An uncleanething; Who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane (ſaith Iob?) uncleane, as in its owne nature, being contrary unto God, who is holines and puritie it ſelfe: ſo in reſpect of us who are defiled thereby, according to that of our Saviour.Mat 15.18. But thoſe things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.
2.Rom. 6.6. The body of ſinne; as not onelyonly being in it ſelfe a monſtrous body (in which reſpect the names of Serpents,Why termed the body of ſinne. Vipers, Lyons, Bears, ravening Wolves, wild Swine, Aſſes, &c. are in Scripture aſcribed unto thoſe, in whom there is nothing elſe but fleſh and corruption) but alſo daily bringing forth in us a monſtrous brood of noyſome luſts, by all meanes provoking, egging, and inticing us to fulfill the ſame.
3. The motions of ſinne; Rom. 7.5. Why termed the motions of ſinne.as which are continually ſtirred up by in-borne corruption in the heart and in the minde; and doe incite a man, and as it were ſollicite him to ſinne, which being in themſelves ſinfull, and comming from ſinne; ſo they egge unto ſinne, and beget workes which are ſinfull: hence Saint Paul deſcribing ſimple women that are carried away as a prey by cunning ſeducers, thus ſpeaks of them,2 Tim. 3.6. that they are led with divers luſts, that is, (as the word ſignifieth) acted and moved, impelled and driven this way and that way by many evill motions and luſts.
4.Ro. 7.23. A warring law in our members, even a law in our members warring againſt the law of our minde, and bringing us into captivitie to the law of ſinne which is in our members: whereunto is agreeable that of Saint Peter; 1 Pet. 2.11.Abſtaine from fleſhly luſts which warre againſt the ſoule: Gal. 5.17.and that of S. Paul unto the Galathians; The fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh, and theſe are contrary the one to the other.
5.Ro. 7.24. The body of death. O wretched man that I am (ſaith S. Paul) who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? Why termed a body of deathA body of death, as being a deadly thing deſerving both temporal and eternall death, as working the death both of body and ſoule,Iam. 1.14.15. as engendring and bringing forth a brood of deadly ſinnes,Heb. 6.1. being nothing elſe but dead workes, as being a moſt deformed and miſſhapen body; yea deſtined to everlaſting death, condemned to die,Gal. 5.24. and to death muſt goe.
6. The luſt of concupiſcence; 1 Theſ. 4.5.as elſewhere, evill concupiſcence; Col 3.5.as being the loathſome fountaine whence the filthy ſtreames of uncleanneſſe abundantly flow.
7.Heb. 3.13. The deceitfulneſſe of ſinne; as unto the Epheſians; deceitfull luſts, Eph. 4.22.as which in the end, notwithſtanding of all their faire ſhewes,Why termed deceitfull. and goodly pretences, will certainely delude and coozen us, if wee repoſe any confidence therein.
8.Heb. i2.i5. A root of bitternes; which ſpringing up in us, doth both trouble and defile us, dayly producing in us much bitter fruit, the corrupt fruit of evill.
9.Iam. 1.14. Entiſing luſt. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his owne luſt and entiſed, ſaith Saint Iames. Entiſing as well endevoreth no leſſe to intrap us, then Dalilah did Samſon; Thamar, Iudah; fiſhers and fowlers, by their baits, fiſhes and fowles.
Its ayme, and end;Names from its ayme and end. Rom. 1.23. ſo is it termed.
The law of ſinne in our members; as which would as a law domineere over us. So alſo The body of death; as which would bring upon us death, both the firſt and the ſecond; death corporall, ſpirituall, and eternall.
This our naturall corruption, thoſe our inordinate luſts and affections, under what forme ſoever, by what name ſoever warring againſt us, are wee valiantly to encounter:Concluſions drawn from the names whereby this our enemy is decyphered. yea, thoſe very names aſcribed thereunto, do not a little further us in the diſcovery of the ſame: as by our reviewing of them may thus appeare.
1.Rom. 8.7. If it bee enmitie againſt God, Rom. 7.24.and the body of death, then it is one of the three great enemies of God and mans ſalvation.
2.Rom. 7.17. Rom. 7.23. If it bee ſinne that dwelleth in one; and the law of ſinne in our members, then it is a domeſticall and ſo a more dangerous enemie.
3.Pſa. 19.12. Rom. 8.21. Pſal. 51.5. Col. 3.9. Rom. 7.8. If it be a ſecret ſinne; the evill imagination of mans heart from his youth; the ſinne wherein wee are conceived and borne; the Old man; ſin (out of meaſure ſinfull:) then as there is no ſmall skill to be uſed to finde it out; ſo in like manner is not the ſame to be ſlighted.
4.Gal. 5.24. Ro. 13.14. Col. 3.5. Ro. 8.13. Eph. 2.3. If it be the fleſh; the luſts of the fleſh; Earthly members; The deeds of the body; The deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind: Then is the ſame pleaſing unto fleſh and blood; after an eſpeciall manner delightfull unto mans corrupt nature.
5. If it be ſtrong holds; 2 Cor. 10.4. Heb. 12.1. Rom. 7.24.the ſinne that doth ſo eaſily beſet us; a warring law in our members: then it is powerfull; not eaſie to be overcome.
6. If it be the motions of ſin, Iam. 1.14.and entiſing luſt; then will not it let us alone, though wee would peaceably entertaine the ſame.
7.Eph. 4.17. Heb. 3.13. If it be the vanitie of the minde, the deceitfulneſſe of ſin; deceitfull luſts: Eph. 4.22.then how pleaſing ſoever for the preſent, will it in the end prove treacherous unto us.
8. If it be an uncleane thing, Iob. 14.4. Ro. 6.6.a monſtrous miſ-ſhapen body of ſinne: then is it that whereof wee are to bee aſhamed, and which is of us both to be abhorred and loathed.
9.Heb. 12.i5. If it be a roote of bitterneſſe: then as there is no true pleaſure to be found therein, and it ſelfe is the ground of all actuall tranſgreſſions, whether in word or deed, which are daily ſtirred up thereby; ſo if it be not daily wrought upon, and the branches therof lopt off by the axe of Gods word; the ſame will prove ſo hard, and the branches thereof ſo many, ſo great, and ſo wreathed together, that our after-labour will be but labour in vaine.
Thus of the enemie to bee encountred, with the names of treachery, tyranny, crueltie, ſenſualitie and guile ſo plainly, (as it were in capitall letters) written on its forehead; that hee that runneth may reade them, and accordingly avoid the danger: And ſo of the firſt particular.