21 Whosoever is joined to Christ for his justification, must also be joined to him for his1 sanctification. For if we be redeemed unto holiness, and not to uncleanness, why should we take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? or why should we make the temple of the Spirit a sty for Satan? Shall we do such injury to the members of Christ? shall we do such violence to the temple of God his spirit? shall we rather be rotten imps, and grow in our sins, than remain in the root, and spring in Christ? If Christ his cross be as a Chariot of triumph, if Christ his passion to free us from condemnation, was in the entrance so grievous, in the end so lamentable, what is our unthankfulness by remaining still in our corruption, to let him loose his labour in all his sufferings, wherein as we have no care of our salvation; so we manifest an open contempt of his most precious Passion, well worthy are we to die, and unworthy are we to live, in that the choice being set before us, we choose rather to be murdered with our sins, than to be rescued to life by Jesus Christ. For justly is the reward promised to such as overcome▪ Revel. 3. 15. 12. 22. that2 is, to such as will not only strangle & press out the breath of sin, and close up the eyes of it at the fall and death of it, but also follow it to the grave, and cover it with moles, so as it never rise again. Not that we think that sin in this life is so wholly martyred, but that the life of sin may well be weakened, counting it a rebel to regeneration, not a Prince over the spirit of sanctification. And as a Serpent cut in divers pieces hath but certain relics3 of poison and remnants of fierceness in the maimed members, and mangled parts thereof, and is not able to exercise the like violence to a man, as when it was whole and perfectly membered: so howsoever some relics of sins remain in our old, but in our martyred Adam, yet it hath no such force or fierceness to prevail against us, as when it was in it perfect age, like rather a mighty Monarch than a poor prisoner.
21 Whosoeuer is ioyned to Christ for his iustification, must also be ioyned to him for his1 sanctification. For if we be redeemed vnto holines, and not to vncleannes, why should we take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? or why should we make the temple of the Spirit a stie for Sathan? Shall we do such iniurie to the members of Christ? shall we doe such violence to the temple of God his spirit? shall we rather be rotten impes, and grow in our sinnes, than remaine in the roote, and spring in Christ? If Christ his crosse be as a Chariot of triumph, if Christ his passion to free vs from condemnation, was in the entrance so grieuous, in the end so lamentable, what is our vnthankfulnes by remaining still in our corruption, to let him loose his labour in all his sufferings, wherein as we haue no care of our saluation; so we manifest an open contempt of his most pretious Passion, well worthie are we to die, and vnworthie are we to liue, in that the choise being set before vs, we chuse rather to be murdered with our sinnes, than to be rescued to life by Iesus Christ. For iustly is the reward promised to such as ouercome▪ Reuel. 3. 15. 12. 22. that2 is, to such as will not onely strangle & presse out the breath of sin, and close vp the eyes of it at the fall and death of it, but also follow it to the graue, and couer it with moules, so as it neuer rise againe. Not that we thinke that sinne in this life is so wholy martyred, but that the life of sinne may well be weakened, counting it a rebell to regeneration, not a Prince ouer the spirit of sanctification. And as a Serpent cut in diuers peeces hath but certaine relicks3 of poyson and remnants of fiercenes in the maimed members, and mangled parts thereof, and is not able to exercise the like violence to a man, as when it was whole and perfectly membred: so howsoeuer some relicks of sins remaine in our old, but in our martyred Adam, yet it hath no such force or fiercenes to preuaile against vs, as when it was in it perfect age, like rather a mightie Monarch than a poore prisoner.
- 1Christ freeing us from the condemnation of sin, will also free us from the corruption and power of sin.Christ freeing vs from the condemnation of sin, will also free vs from the corruption and power of sinne.
- 2The death of sin in us.The death of sinnne in vs.
- 3Simile.
