A. Men in this world are continually subject to temptations. 1This complaint of the Apostle, (I find a law that when I would do good, evil is present with me: and, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?) verifieth as much: so also doth woeful experience in all men. If there be a man that finds not this true in himself, his case is desperate: for either he is deprived of all spiritual understanding and ⟨p. 232⟩sense, that he is not able to discern a temptation: or his whole course of life is so full of temptations, and he such a slave to them, they so frequent on him, and he so free towards them, as he cannot see the wood for trees. He cannot tell when he is tempted, because he is never but tempted. Temptations are not as enemies to him to be resisted: but as his best friends to have the best entertainment that he can afford unto them. Thus a man accounting temptations to be no temptations may in his own imagination be free: but indeed no man is free.
A. Men in this world are continually subiect to temptations. 1This complaint of the Apostle, (I finde a law that when I would doe good, euill is present with mee: and, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death?) verifieth as much: so also doth wofull experience in all men. If there bee a man that findes not this true in himselfe, his case is desperate: for either hee is depriued of all spirituall vnderstanding and ⟨p. 232⟩sence, that he is not able to discerne a temptation: or his whole course of life is so full of temptations, and hee such a slaue to them, they so frequent on him, and he so free towards them, as hee cannot see the wood for trees. He cannot tell when he is tempted, because he is neuer but tempted. Temptations are not as enemies to him to be resisted: but as his best friends to haue the best entertainment that hee can afford vnto them. Thus a man accounting temptations to be no temptations may in his owne imagination be free: but indeed no man is free.
- 1Rom. 7. 21.
