First, he must bewail his spiritual nakedness, thraldom and vassalage under sin acknowledging his inability to free and deliver him self. Into what misery and bondage have I brought my self. Thou Lord madest me holy, pure and upright: But by sin I sold my self unto the service of sin, from which to this day, I cannot get deliverance: Every faculty of soul is deeply infected with that contagious leprosy; the Mind is blind, vain, ⟨p. 253⟩foolish; the will perverse and rebellious: all the affections out of order: there is nothing whole or sound within me. Night and day I am pestered with sinful motions. The desires of my sinful heart be so strong and prevailing, that I am carried head-long to that which is evil. The body is weary after labour, and requires rest, but sin is ever stirring, never quiet, no not when occasions be wanting. And that it might appear out of measure sinful, it takes occasion by the commandment, it resideth the good motions of the Spirit, it disin•bleth to every good work, it diffuseth it venom into every action, and leadeth captive to the committing of sin against knowledge and conscience. The cursed earth is not so apt to be over-grown with weeds, briars, thorns and thistles, as the soul with lusts, passions, distempers, worldly cares, and sinful delights. The law of the flesh rebelleth against the law of the mind, and carrieth with violence to the works of darkness. The Galley-slaves condition is very hard and miserable: but the spiritual bond-slave is in far worse estate. No drudgery so base as the service of sin, no Tyrant so cruel as sin, which allows no respite, or time of refreshing.1 O miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dominion of sin, this body of death. I have deeply defiled my self by transgression, but have no power to cleanse my heart: O Lord, I have defaced thine Image, but cannot repair it: I have yielded the powers of my soul to the obedience of sin, and now I would cast off that subjection and break those snares, I am altogether unsufficient for it. When I would do well, evil is present with me: 2but I find no means to perfect what I desire. I cannot desire good, my will is so in bondage: I am not able to crawl about the doing of that which is good, such is my feebleness:
First, he must bewaile his spirituall nakednesse, thraldome and vassalage vnder sinne acknowledging his inabilitie to free and deliuer him selfe. Into what miserie and bondage haue I brought my selfe. Thou Lord madest me holy, pure and vpright: But by sinne I sold my selfe vnto the seruice of sinne, from which to this day, I cannot get deliuerance: Euery facultie of soule is deeply infected with that contagious leprosie; the Mind is blinde, vaine, ⟨p. 253⟩foolish; the will peruerse and rebellious: all the affections out of order: there is nothing whole or sound within me. Night and day I am pestered with sinfull motions. The desires of my sinfull heart bee so strong and preuailing, that I am carried head-long to that which is euill. The bodie is wearie after labour, and requires rest, but sinne is euer stirring, neuer quiet, no not when occasions be wanting. And that it might appeare out of measure sinfull, it takes occasion by the commandement, it resideth the good motions of the Spirit, it disin•bleth to euery good worke, it diffuseth it venome into euery action, and leadeth captiue to the committing of sinne against knowledge and conscience. The cursed earth is not so apt to bee ouer-growne with weedes, bryars, thornes and thistles, as the soule with lusts, passions, distempers, worldly cares, and sinfull delights. The law of the flesh rebelleth against the law of the minde, and carrieth with violence to the workes of darknesse. The Gally-slaues condition is very hard and miserable: but the spirituall bond-slaue is in farre worse estate. No drudgerie so base as the seruice of sinne, no Tyrant so cruell as sinne, which allowes no respite, or time of refreshing.1 O miserable man that I am, who shall deliuer me from this dominion of sinne, this bodie of death. I haue deeply defiled my selfe by transgression, but haue no power to cleanse my heart: O Lord, I haue defaced thine Image, but cannot repaire it: I haue yeelded the powers of my soule to the obedience of sin, and now I would cast off that subiection and breake those snares, I am altogether vnsufficient for it. When I would doe well, euill is present with me: 2but I finde no meanes to perfect what I desire. I cannot desire good, my will is so in bondage: I am not able to crawle about the doing of that which is good, such is my feeblenesse:
- 1Rom. 7.24.
- 2Rom. 7.21.
