A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Their third kind of arguments are drawn from equity and reason.

Their third kind of arguments are drawne from equitie and reason.

I. He that is a member of an harlot, and of the devil, ceaseth wholly to be a member of Christ: but a child of God truly believing, may become the member of an harlot, and of Satan, as David did. Answ. There be three kinds of members; dead, decayed, and living members: a dead member is that which is only in show a member: as a leg of wood or of brass in a mans body. A decayed member is a true member, though weak, as is a leg or arm that is taken with a palsy, or sore wounded. But a lively member is that which doth move, and do all it functions perfectly. So in the church there be some members dead, and only in show; others feeble and weak, that by reason of some grievous sins are not able to do their duties. And there be lively members, which serve God with an upright and perfect heart. Now, though a member of an harlot cannot be a lively member of Christ, because by his sins he weakeneth and woundeth the graces of God (for every adulterer and fornicator doth as much as in him lieth cut himself off from Christ) yet he may be a decayed member of Christ. And this may the rather stand, because a man is made the member of Christ one way, namely, spiritually; and the member of an harlot another way, namely, bodily.

I. Hee that is a member of an harlot, and of the deuill, ceaseth wholly to bee a member of Christ: but a child of God truly beleeuing, may become the member of an harlot, and of Sathan, as Dauid did. Answ. There be three kinds of members; dead, decaied, and liuing members: a dead member is that which is onely in shew a member: as a legge of wood or of brasse in a mans bodie. A decayed member is a true member, though weak, as is a legge or arme that is taken with a palsie, or sore wounded. But a liuely member is that which doth moue, and do all it functions perfectly. So in the church there be some members dead, and onely in shew; others feeble and weake, that by reason of some grieuous sinnes are not able to doe their duties. And there bee liuely members, which serue God with an vpright and perfect heart. Now, though a member of an harlot cannot be a liuely member of Christ, because by his sinnes hee weakeneth and woundeth the graces of God (for euery adulterer and fornicator doth as much as in him lieth cut himselfe off from Christ) yet hee may bee a decayed member of Christ. And this may the rather stand, because a man is made the member of Christ one way, namely, spiritually; and the member of an harlot another way, namely, bodily.