A Golden Chain

Timoth. Every member of Christs congregation is a sinner, and sinneth daily, some more, and some less: for it is written, 1. Joh. 1. If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us. And Paul Rom. 7. That good which I would, that do I not: but that evil which I would not, that do 1. So it is not I that do it (saith he) but sin that dwelleth in me. So the Christian man is both a sinner and no sinner: which how it can be, show it me by your experience.

Timoth. Euery member of Christs congregation is a sinner, and sinneth daily, some more, and some lesse: for it is written, 1. Ioh. 1. If we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues, and the truth is not in vs. And Paul Rom. 7. That good which I would, that doe I not: but that euill which I would not, that doe 1. So it is not I that doe it (saith he) but sinne that dwelleth in me. So the Christian man is both a sinner and no sinner: which how it can be, shew it me by your experience.

Euseb. I being one man in substance and two men in quality, flesh and spirit, which in me so fight perpetually the one against the other, that I must go either backward or forward, and cannot stand long in one estate. If the spirit overcome in tentations, then is she stronger and the flesh weaker. But if the flesh get a custom, then is the spirit none otherwise oppressed of the flesh, then as though she had a mountain on hi• back, and as we sometime in our dreams think we bear heavier then a millstone on our breasts: or when we dream now and then that we would run away for fear of some thing, our legs seem heavier then lead: even so is the spirit oppressed and overladen of the flesh through custom, that she struggleth and striveth to get up, and to break loose in vain, until the God of mercy which heareth my groan through Jesus Christ, come and loose her with his power, and put something on the back of the flesh to keep her down, to minish her strength, and to mortify her. So then no sinner I am if you regard the Spirit, the profession of my heart toward the Law of God, my repentance and sorrow that I have both because I have sinned, and am yet full of sin, and look unto the promises of mercy in our Saviour Christ, and unto my faith. A sinner am I if you look to the frailty of my flesh which is a remnant of the old Adam, and as it were the stock of the old olive tree, ever and anon when occasion is given, shooting forth his branches, leaves, bud, blossom, and fruit also: which also is as the weakness of one which is newly recovered of a great disease, by the reason whereof all my deeds are imperfect, and when occasions be great I fall into horrible deeds, and the fruit of the sin which remaineth in my members breaketh out. Notwithstanding, the Spirit leaveth me not, but rebuketh me, and bringeth me home again unto my profession, so that I never cast off the yoke of God from off my neck, neither yield up my self unto sin to serve it, but fight a fresh, and begin a new battle. And I had rather you should understand this forth of the Scriptures, by the example of Jonah and the Apostles. Jonah was the friend of God, and a chose