A Golden Chain

This further must be conceived, that when the spirit prevails, it is not without resistance and striving: as Paul testifieth, I do not the good which I would, but the evil which I would not, that do I. Which place is not to be understood only of thoughts and inward motions (as some would have it) nor of particular offences: but of the general practise of his duty or calling, through the whole course of his life. And it is like the practise of a sick man, who having recovered of some grievous disease, walks a turn or twain about his chamber, saying, ah, I would fain walk up and down but I can not: meaning not that he can not walk at all, but signifying that he can not walk as he would, being soon wearied through faintness.

This further must be conceiued, that when the spirit preuailes, it is not without resistance and striuing: as Paul testifieth, I doe not the good which I would, but the euill which I would not, that doe I. Which place is not to be vnderstood onely of thoughts and inward motions (as some would haue it) nor of particular offences: but of the generall practise of his dutie or calling, through the whole course of his life. And it is like the practise of a sicke man, who hauing recouered of some grieuous disease, walkes a turne or twaine about his chamber, saying, ah, I would faine walke vp and downe but I can not: meaning not that he can not walke at all, but signifying that he can not walke as he would, beeing soone wearied through faintnesse.

I added further, that this prevailing is with foils. A foil is, when the flesh •or the time vanquisheth and subdueth the spirit. In this case, the man regenerate is like a soldier, that with a blow hath his brain-pan cracked, so as he lies grovelling astonished not able to fight: or like him that hath a fit of the falling sickness, who for a time lies like a dead man. Hence the question may be moved, whether the flesh prevailing doth not extinguish the spirit, and so cut off a man from Christ, till such time as he be ingrafted again. The answer is this: There be two sorts of Christians: one who doth only in show & name profess Christ: and such an one is no otherwise a member of Christs mystical body, then a wooden leg set to the body is a member of the body. The second is he that in name and deed is a lively part & member of Christ. If the first fall, he can not be said to be cut off, because he was never ingrafted. If the second fall, he may be and is cut off from Christ. But mark how: he is not wholly cut off, but in some part, namely in respect of the inward fellowship and communion with Christ, but not in respect of conjunction with him. A mans arm taken with the dead palsy, hangs by and receives no heat, life, or sense from the rest of the members, or from the head, yet for all this, it remains still united and coupled to the body, and may again be recovered by plasters and physic: so after a grievous fall the child of God feels no inward peace and comfort, but is smitten in conscience with the trembling of a spiritual palsy for his offence: and yet indeed still remains before God a member of Christ in respect of conjunction with him, and shall be restored to his former estate after serious repentance.