In a carnal man the light breaks in upon him, but he labours to shut the passages, ⟨p. 111⟩he hath no delight to •ome to the light. It is impossible before the spirit of grace hath subdued the hart, but that it should sin against the light, either by resisting of it, or keeping it prisoner under base lusts, burying it as it were in the earth; or perverting of it, and so making it an agent and factor for the flesh, in searching out arguments to plead for it, or abusing that little measure of light they have, to keep out a greater, higher, and more heavenly light, and so at length make that light they have, a misleading guide to utter darkness. ⟨p. 112⟩And the reason is that it hath no friend within, the soul is in a contrary frame, and light always hindereth that sinful peace that men are willing to speak to themselves, whence we see it oft enrage men the more: as the Sun in the Spring breedeth agui•h distempers, because it stirreth humours, and doth not wast them. There is nothing in the world more unquiet, than the heart of a wicked man, that sitteth under means of knowledge, until like a thief he hath put out the candle that he may sin with the less ⟨p. 113⟩check. Spiritual light is distinct, it seeth spiritual good, with application to our selves; but common light is confused, and lets sin lye quiet. Where fire is in any degree, it will fight against the contrary matter•: GOD hath put irreconcilable hatred between light and darkness at first, so between good and ill, flesh and spirit. Grace will never join with sin, no more than fire with water. Fire will mingle with no contrary, but preserveth its own purity, and is never corrupted as other Elements are. Therefore those that ⟨p. 114⟩plead and plot for liberties of the flesh, show themselves strangers from the life of God. Upon this strife gracious men oft con plain that they have no grace, but they contradict themselves in their complaints: as if a man that seeth, should complain he cannot see, or complain that he is asleep, when the very complaint springing from a displeasure against sin, showeth that there is something in him opposite to sin. Can a dead man complain? Some things, though bad in themselves, yet discover good; as smoke discovers ⟨p. 115⟩some fire. Breaking out in the body shows strength of Nature. Some infirmities discover more good than some seeming beautiful actions;
In a carnal man the light breakes in upon him, but he labours to shut the passages, ⟨p. 111⟩hee hath no delight to •ome to the light. It is impossible before the spirit of grace hath subdued the hart, but that it should sin against the light, either by resisting of it, or keeping it prisoner under base lusts, burying it as it were in the earth; or perverting of it, and so making it an agent and factour for the flesh, in searching out arguments to plead for it, or abusing that little measure of light they have, to keep out a greater, higher, and more heavenly light, and so at length make that light they have, a misleading guide to utter darknesse. ⟨p. 112⟩And the reason is that it hath no friend within, the soule is in a contrary frame, and light alwayes hindreth that sinfull peace that men are willing to speake to themselves, whence we see it oft inrage men the more: as the Sunne in the Spring breedeth agui•h distempers, because it stirreth humours, and doth not wast them. There is nothing in the world more unquiet, than the heart of a wicked man, that sitteth under meanes of knowledge, untill like a thiefe hee hath put out the candle that he may sinne with the lesse ⟨p. 113⟩check. Spirituall light is distinct, it seeth spirituall good, with application to our selves; but common light is confused, and lets sin lye quiet. Where fire is in any degree, it will fight against the contrary matter•: GOD hath put irreconciliable hatred betweene light and darknesse at first, so betweene good and ill, flesh and spirit. Grace will never joyne with sinne, no more than fire with water. Fire will mingle with no contrary, but preserveth its owne purity, and is never corrupted as other Elements are. Therefore those that ⟨p. 114⟩plead and plot for liberties of the flesh, shew themselves strangers from the life of God. Vpon this strife gracious men oft cō plaine that they have no grace, but they contradict themselves in their complaints: as if a man that seeth, should complaine he cannot see, or complain that he is asleepe, when the very complaint springing from a displeasure against sinne, sheweth that there is something in him opposite to sinne. Can a dead man complaine? Some things, though bad in themselves, yet discover good; as smoake discovers ⟨p. 115⟩
