The new covenantThe nevv covenant

Last of all,¹ there is this difference between them, that he that hath a perfect heart, he that is sound-hearted, while he is himself, he never relapseth into any sin; mark it, while he is himself, which note I take out of Romans 7.² a place which you know: It is no longer I, but sin that dwelleth in me: that is, as if he should say, I, while I am my self, never fall into any sin; but when I am distempered, when I am overcome, and overruled ⟨p. 10⟩by sin, that dwelleth in me, then I sin and fall back: But, otherwise, I say, a godly man, while he is himself, never relapseth into any sin, he cannot sin, because he is borne of God, he keeps himself that the evil one touch him not; the ground of which is, because, while he is himself, He that is in him is stronger then all the world:³ 1 Joh. 4. 4. He that is in you, is stronger, &c. that is, if he be upon even terms, still he gets the victory. But, my beloved, now let there be an inequality, let him not be himself, let there be some violent transportation from the flesh, so that he is led Captive b• it, now he is overcome: for he is not himself in such a case; i• is, as Paul saith of himself, the good I would do, that do I not; and the evil that I would not do, that do I: tha•, as you see in a combat between two, suppose that one that were the stronger, were it upon equal terms, would carry the victory; notwithstanding, when his adversary gets the hill, and hath the wind on him, he overcomes him, and leads him captive: So it is in this case; •he Spirit, the regenerate part, though it might and would alway get the better, were it upon equal terms with the •••sh; yet, when the flesh shall get the hill, as it were, get upon the hill of temptation, and shall have wind to drive he smoke upon the eyes and face of the Combatant, that is, to blind him; in such a case, upon such a disadvantage, he is overcome, and falls into sin: And therefore you see how the