A09473:178
Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…
Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit.Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit.
Cambridge: printed by John Legate printer to the University of Cambridge. 1593., 1593Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legate printer to the Vniversitie of Cambridge. 1593., 1593
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hence it is manifest, that sins of infirmity are committed only of such as are regenerate. As for the man unregenerate he cannot sin of infirmity whatsoever some falsely think. For he is not weak but stark dead in sin. And sins of infirmity are such only as rise of constraint, fear, hastiness, & such like sudden passions in the regenerate. And though they sin of weakness often by reason of this spiritual combat, yet they do not always: for they may sin against knowledge & conscience of presumption.
Hence it is manifest, that sinnes of infirmitie are cōmitted only of such as are regenerate. As for the man unregenerate he cannot sin of infirmity whatsoeuer some falsly think. For he is not weak but stark dead in sinne. And sinnes of infirmity are such only as rise of constraint, feare, hastines, & such like sudden passions in the regenerate. Aed though they sin of weaknes often by reason of this spirituall combat, yet they do not alwaies: for they may sinne against knowledge & cōscience of presumptiō.
To come to the second point: the regenerate man cannot do the good which he would: because he cannot do it perfectly & soundly according to Gods will as he would. Paul saith, To will is 1present with me, but I find no means ([Greek or Hebrew]) perfectly to do that which I would. In this point the godly man is like a prisoner that is gotten forth of the gayle, & that he might escape the hand of the keeper, desires & strives with all his heart to run an 100 miles in a day: but because he hath strait and weighty bolts on his legs, cannot for his life creep past a mile or twain, & that with chafing his flesh & tormenting himself. So the servants of God do heartily desire, & endeavour to obey God in all his commandments: as it is said of king Josiah, That he turned to God with all his heart, with 2all his soul, with all his might, according to all the laws of Moses, &c. yet because they are clogged with the bolts of the flesh, they perform obedience both slowly and weakly, with divers slips & falls.