Mary Magdalenes Tears Wiped Off, Objection 15
OBJECT. XV.
But if I were a Childe of. God, I cannot but in reaſon expect a more compliable temper with the Laws of Chriſt, then I finde in my ſelf: even to thoſe things, from which I actually do abſtain, I perceive in my ſelf moſt violent, and ſtrong inclinations; ſo that I have no Comfort from the Victory over my Luſts; ſuch murmurings and regrets I have in my ſelf, for not letting looſe the Rains of my corrupt Nature.
SOLUTION.
21. MY anſwer to this Objection will likewiſe diſcharge your expectation of what I promiſed more fully to ſpeak, in reference to that (ſuppoſed) exception you would have againſt your ſelf, from the third ſenſe I ſuggeſted unto you, which the Apoſtle might intend, by the Testimony of the Spirit, in that of the Romans lately mentioned.
It is not to be denyed by any the Greatest Saint upon earth, but that he feels in himſelf the Contests of two contrary Principles, Fleſh and Spirit, the old and new man: and evident I preſume it is, that from hence ariſes very much of their trouble who have tender and good natures, but weak and diſordered Judgments. For first, many of thoſe Chriſtians do conclude, that all, even the first motions to ſin, which they feel in themſelves, how ſuddenly, and impetuouſly ſoever rejected by their Spirits, do yet leave ſome dangerous guilt ſticking upon their Conſciences. And 2ly that the ſtate of a Chriſtian lyable to ſuch motions againſt the Law of God, ſpringing from corrupt nature in him is wholly deplorable and forlorn; theſe being moſt ſure marks of his unregeneracy.
Concerning the firſt of theſe; though there be many very judicious and pious Divines, that are of a contrary judgment acknowledging no more in theſe motions to ſin, then an jnfelicity accompanying the nature of the holyeſt men in this life; affording indeed matter of humility, to all the Children of God, but not aſperſing them with any guilt: yet if your judgment run along with thoſe of the other perſwaſion, I ſhall not Endeavor to alter your opinion; it being long ſince imbibed (I believe) and therefore not only difficultly changed, but allmoſt impoſſible to be cleerly eradicated out of your mind; and conſequently; may be a means not of leſſening, but enlarging your Troubles: yet would I deſire you to retein your own Perſwaſion, with this grain of Salt, viz. that thoſe Motions are but ſins of Infirmity and Venial, which have pardon of courſe under the Goſpel to all the Children of God; it not being poſſible that they can live in the Fleſh, without ſuch Motions to ſin, unleſs you will ſuppoſe them capable of living in a ſtate of Impeccability, a not-ſinnable condition in this World; for that ſuch Motions muſt in reaſon be ſuppoſed to be in all perſons lapſible (as was Adam and all his Sons,) being that indeliberate ſins, as well as ſins of a ſlower fermentation in mens Souls, muſt be preceded by ſuch Motions of their Appetites, as naturally and as neceſſarily, as the colliſion of Flints muſt be before the emiſſion of fire.
As for the ſecond, ſuch Motions as theſe how vile and irregular ſoever they are, (Blaſphemies having the ſame mint with Fornication, Adulteries, Murders, as our Saviour telleth us, Mat. 15.19.) yet being (as we have ſaid) immediately, and with Indignation rejected by us, are no marks of an unregenerate Man, but rather the contrary: For do not we Chriſtians engage in a warfaring life againſt the Fleſh, the World, and the Devil? is not the Holy man, he that leads a vertuous and religilife, a Conqueror? and is there a Conqueror where there is no Enemy; have we weapons, ſpiritual ones, put into our hands, to beat the Air withall? are not theſe Motions the enmity of the Fleſh, which we are engaged to oppoſe and deſtroy, that Amalek, with which we muſt have war for ever? I mean whilſt we live in this World. And muſt it paſs for a Character of Treaſon or Cowardice, (and not rather a note of Infelicity) to be dayly ſurrounded with multitudes of theſe Philiſtims, which yet (like David) a valiant Chriſtian deſtroys by ten thouſands at a time? if this be that Shibboleth, and Teſt of diſcerning and diſtinguiſhing the good from the bad, Heaven will be filled with none but Angels, and thoſe innocent Creatures, whoſe good hap it was to dye whilſt their ignorance of Good and Evil (like the Children of the Ninivites) might give them undeniable pretenſions to the crown of Glory.
Should you therefore condemn your ſelf, for that ſuch Duels and Battles as theſe are dayly fought in your Breaſt, for that Plots and Conſpiracies againſt the Kingly Government of your Appetites, are dayly detected and prevented; the Plotters and Conſpirators ſubdued, chaſtiſed, and kept under by an high hand; ſhould you, I ſay, condemn your ſelf for this, you would in that ſentence condemn the Generation of Gods Children; the main difference betwixt ſpiritual and carnal Men and Women lying in this, (not that one ſort feels no conteſt with Motions to ſin, the other have Souls dayly clouded and peſtred with ſuch Locuſts) Gal. 5.16. but one of them, viz. ſpiritual Men do conquer and ſubdue, but carnal Men and Women do yield to, and are vanquiſh'd by theſe Luſts.
Honour and commendation are not only due to Fortitude, but do foment and cheriſh that Virtue: take you heed therefore that that be not applyable to you, which the valiant and wiſe General of King Davids Army foretold him upon his ſour entertainment of his Souldiers, after their Victory over Abſolom (the Kings Darling as much as Enemy,) 2 Sam. 19.7. You ought to encourage your ſelf in God, and bleſs and praiſe him by whoſe Grace it is that you are thus victorious, and that for the praiſe of his Glory, as the Apoſtle doth more than once intimate in Eph. 1.12, 14.