A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon…

Thirdly, this also showeth the error of those, who hold that concupiscence or original sin, is not a quality, but an essence or substance living and subsisting by it self. For, here we see a plain difference between a mans body and soul, and original sin that compasseth them; else the holy Ghost would not bid us to cast off this sin: for, that which is of the substance of man, cannot by man be cast off. And to make this more plain, we must know, that in man descending from Adam, there be three things: 1. The substance of his soul and body: 2. The powers and faculties in them both. 3. The corruption or bad disposition in those powers and faculties, whereby a man is unconformable to the will of his Creator, and prone to that which is evil. And this third thing is it, which is here spoken of, different from mans substance and faculties; and so is not a substance in man, or mans nature corrupted, but an ill disposition therein. Fourthly, hence also we learn, what a regenerate man doth most feel in himself; namely, original sin, the corruption of his nature: for, that hangs on fast, and hinders him in the practice of all good duties. This, Paul knew well; and therefore confesseth, that he saw another Law in his members, rebelling against the Law of his mind, and leading him captive unto the Law of sin, which was in his members, Rom. 7.23: This caused him to leave undone ⟨p. 587⟩the good which he would have done; and to do the evil, which he would not do, Verse 19. And David felt the same thing when he said; I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Why doth David speak of the enlarging of his heart? Surely, he felt in himself this original sin, which did straiten his good affections, so as he could not put them forth so much as he would toward the Law of God. And when he saith, Psal. 51.12, Stablish me oh Lord by thy free spirit; he would give us to understand, that by original corruption he was restrained of his Christian liberty, and hindered in all good affections, holy actions, and heavenly meditations: which causeth him to pray for liberty and freedom by the spirit. So that it is plain, the servant of God feels this corruption, clogging and hindering him from all good duties.

Thirdly, this also sheweth the errour of those, who hold that concupiscence or originall sinne, is not a quality, but an essence or substance liuing and subsisting by it selfe. For, here wee see a plaine difference betweene a mans body and soule, and originall sinne that compasseth them; else the holy Ghost would not bid vs to cast off this sinne: for, that which is of the substance of man, cannot by man bee cast off. And to make this more plaine, we must knowe, that in man descending from Adam, there be three things: 1. The substance of his soule and body: 2. The powers and faculties in them both. 3. The corruption or bad disposition in those powers and faculties, whereby a man is vnconformable to the will of his Creator, and prone to that which is euill. And this third thing is it, which is here spoken of, different from mans substance and faculties; and so is not a substance in man, or mans nature corrupted, but an ill disposition therein. Fourthly, hence also wee learne, what a regenerate man doth most feele in himselfe; namely, originall sinne, the corruption of his nature: for, that hangs on fast, and hinders him in the practice of all good duties. This, Paul knew well; and therefore confesseth, that hee saw another Law in his members, rebelling against the Law of his minde, and leading him captiue vnto the Law of sinne, which was in his members,