Minister. In man we must consider his1 estate by nature, and his estate by grace. In the first he and his flesh are all one, for they are as man and wife: therefore one is necessary to the doings of the other. When the flesh striveth the man also striveth 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, yet he and his flesh are divorced a sunder. This divorcement is ⟨p. 268⟩made, when a man begins to dislike and to hate his flesh, and the evil fruits of it: this separation being made, they are no2 more one, but twain, and the one hath nothing to do with the other. In this case though the flesh beget sin and 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 distrustinges▪ 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 you• 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 the flesh in me which shall perish when I shall be saved by Christ.
Minister. In man wee must consider his1 estate by nature, and his estate by grace. In the first he and his flesh are all one, for they are as man and wife: therefore one is necessarie to the doings of the other. When the flesh striueth the man also striueth that is in subiection to the flesh, yea when the fleshe perisheth, the man likewise perisheth being in this estate, with the fleshe: a louing couple they are, they liue and die together. But in the estate of grace, though a man haue the flesh in him, yet hee and his flesh are diuorced a sunder. This diuorcement is ⟨p. 268⟩made, when a man beginnes to dislike and to hate his flesh, and the euill fruites of it: this separation beeing made, they are no2 more one, but twaine, and the one hath nothing to doo with the other. In this case though the flesh beget sin and perish therefore, yet the Christian man shall not incu• damnation for it, To come more neere the matter; you saie the fleshe begettes in you wauerings, doubtinges, and distrustinges▪ what then? it troubleth you: but feare not, remember your estate; you are diuorced from the flesh, and you are newe married vnto Christ: if these sinnes be laide at you• doore, accompt them not as your children▪ but renounce them as Bastards, saie with Paul, I doubt indeede, but I hate my doubtings, and I am no cause of these, but the the flesh in mee which shall perish when I shall be saued by Christ.
- 1Ro. 7. ca. 5.
- 2Rom. 7. 17 Rom. 8. 1.
