9 We must not think that sin will go from us of it self, or that salvation will be wrought with a trice, but we must deal forcibly with nature, because when sin and the word cannot dwell together, Satan will take such order, as he will by all means hinder us from the word: which if he cannot do, then he stirreth up a fight in us, like the struggling of the two children in Rebeccaes womb, so as sometime we are ready to say with Rebecca, 1had I known of this, I would never have done so; I would never have heard the word. Rebecca had two nations in her womb, Paul had two Princes in him, and we have two Monarchs2 dwelling within us. We can be content to hear, until the word rifle us. But as a purging potion, as long as it is a drinking, is but as another drink until it work, and then we could be content to cast it up again; or as a drawing plaster seemeth favourable enough until it worketh, and after we could willingly put it off again: so we can quietly3 hear the word, until it works upon us, and then we could forsake it. But if ye be such, as because ye will not for your health suffer a little pain, but will cast up your purgation, and scratch off your plaster, go to, ye shall be seared, and a crust shall be upon you, and ye shall not feel it, but in death the crust shall be taken off. This fight must be in us, as it was in David, Psal. 42. and in Paul, Rom. 7. whose heirs if we will be, we must follow their steps. But here is the help, many will keep off the word, that it shall not have a full blow, and so they shield and ward that stroke, that should martyr and crucify sin in them. Let us thrust the word upon him, by hearing and meditation: but alas, many give so few blows, or so weak strokes in using these exercises so seldom, that they prevail little. But thou wilt4 say, Christ hath overcome for thee. True it is, but had he suffered a thousand times, he never overcame for thee, unless in some measure he overcome in thee. Now we must overcome, even as Christ (Matth. 4.) did overcome. Do this, do that, saith the devil. No, saith Christ, it is not agreeable to the word. But how did Christ overcome the world? even by being overcome of the world. First of the crosses of the world, a strange thing to observe by being overcome, and so shall we do. How then must we overcome the flesh? By crucifying it, Galath. 5.
9 We must not thinke that sinne will goe from vs of it selfe, or that saluation will be wrought with a trice, but we must deale forcibly with nature, because when sinne and the word cannot dwell together, Sathan will take such order, as he will by all meanes hinder vs frō the word: which if he cannot doe, then he stirreth vp a fight in vs, like the strugling of the two children in Rebeccaes wombe, so as sometime we are readie to say with Rebecca, 1had I knowne of this, I would neuer haue done so; I would neuer haue heard the word. Rebecca had two nations in her wombe, Paul had two Princes in him, and we haue two Monarches2 dwelling within vs. We can be content to heare, vntill the word rifle vs. But as a purging potion, as long as it is a drinking, is but as another drinke vntil it work, and then we could be content to cast it vp againe; or as a drawing plaister seemeth fauourable enough vntill it worketh, and after we could willingly put it off againe: so we can quietly3 heare the word, vntill it workes vpon vs, and then we could forsake it. But if ye be such, as because ye will not for your health suffer a little paine, but wil cast vp your purgation, and scratch off your plaister, go to, ye shall be seered, and a crust shall be vpon you, and ye shall not feele it, but in death the crust shall be taken off. This fight must be in vs, as it was in Dauid, Psal. 42. and in Paul, Rom. 7. whose heires if we will be, we must follow their steps. But here is the helpe, many will keepe off the word, that it shall not haue a full blow, and so they shield and ward that stroke, that should martyr and crucifie sin in them. Let vs thrust the word vpon him, by hearing and meditation: but alas, many giue so few blowes, or so weake strokes in vsing these exercises so seldome, that they preuaile little. But thou wilt4 say, Christ hath ouercome for thee. True it is, but had he suffered a thousand times, he neuer ouercame for thee, vnlesse in some measure he ouercome in thee. Now we must ouercome, euen as Christ (Matth. 4.) did ouercome. Doe this, doe that, saith the diuell. No, saith Christ, it is not agreeable to the word. But how did Christ ouercome the world? euen by being ouercome of the world. First of the crosses of the world, a strange thing to obserue by being ouercome, and so shall we doe. How then must we ouercome the flesh? By crucifying it, Galath. 5.
- 1Strife in the regenerate.
- 2Rom. 7▪
- 3Simile.
- 4Christ must not only overcome for us, but also in us.Christ must not onely ouercome for vs, but also in vs.
