A Golden Chain

Minister. ¹In man we must consider his estate by nature, and his estate by grace. In the first, he and his flesh are all one, for they are as man & wife: therefore one is accessory to the doings of the other. When the flesh sinneth the man also sinneth, that is in subjection to the flesh; yea when the flesh perisheth the man likewise perisheth, being in this estate, with the flesh; a loving couple they are, they live and die together. But in the estate of grace, though a man have the flesh in him,² yet he and his flesh are divorced asunder. This divorcement is made when a man begins to dislike and to hate his flesh, and the evil fruits of it: this separation being made, they are no more one but twain, and the one hath nothing to do with the other. In this case though the flesh beget sin, & perish therefore, yet the Christian man shall not incur damnation for it. To come more near the matter; you say the flesh begets in you waverings, doubtings, and distrustings: what then? it troubleth you, but fear not, remember your estate; you are divorced from the flesh, and you are new married unto Christ: if these sins be laid at your door, account them not as your children, but renounce them as Bastards: say with Paul, I doubt indeed, but I hate my doubtings, and I am no cause of these, but the flesh in me which shall perish when I shall be saved by Christ.

Minister. ¹In man we must consider his estate by nature, and his estate by grace. In the first, hee and his flesh are all one, for they are as man & wife: therfore one is accessarie to the doings of the other. When the flesh sinneth the man also sinneth, that is in subiection to the flesh; yea when the flesh perisheth the man likewise perisheth, beeing in this estate, with the flesh; a louing couple they are, they liue and die together. But in the estate of grace, though a man haue the flesh in him,² yet hee and his flesh are diuorced asunder. This diuorcement is made when a man begins to dislike and to hate his flesh, and the euil fruits of it: this separation beeing made, they are no more one but twaine, and the one hath nothing to doe with the other. In this case though the flesh beget sin, & perish therefore, yet the Christian man shal not incurre damnation for it. To come more neere the matter; you say the flesh begets in you wauerings, doubtings, and distrustings: what then? it toubleth you, but feare not, remember your estate; you are diuourced from the flesh, and you are new married vnto Christ: if these sins be laid at your doore, account them not as your children, but renounce them as Bastards: say with Paul, I doubt indeede, but I hate my doubtings, and I am no cause of these, but the flesh in me which shall perish when I shall be saued by Christ.