A12198:333
The Soul's Conflict with Itself
The souls conflict with it self, and victory over it self by faith a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs ...The soules conflict with it selfe, and victory over it self by faith a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs ...
London: printed by M.F. for R. Dawlman, 1635
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.
4. The consideration of this likewise 1should enforce us to carry a double guard over our souls, David was very watchful, yet we see here he was surprised unawares by the sudden rebellion of his heart; we should observe our hearts as governors do rebels and mutinous persons: Observation awes the heart; We see to what an excess sin groweth in those that deny themselves nothing, nor will be denied in any thing; who if they may do what they will, will do what they may; who turn liberty into licence, and make all their abilities and advantages ⟨p. 171⟩to do good, contributary to the commands of overruling and unruly lusts.
4. The consideration of this likewise 1should enforce us to carry a double guard over our soules, David was very watchfull, yet we see here he was surprized unawares by the sudden rebellion of his heart; we should observe our hearts as governours doe rebells and mutinous persons: Observation awes the heart; We see to what an excesse sinne groweth in those that deny themselves nothing, nor will be denied in any thing; who if they may doe what they will, will doe what they may; who turne liberty into licence, and make all their abilities and advantages ⟨p. 171⟩to doe good, contributary to the commands of overruling and unruly lusts.
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Were it not that God partly by his power suppresseth, and partly by his grace subdueth the disorders of mans nature for the good of society, and the gathering of a Church upon earth; Corruption would swell to that excess, that it would overturn and confound all things together with it self. Although there be a common corruption that cleaves to the nature of all men in general, as men, (as distrust in GOD, self-love, a carnal and worldly disposition, &c.) yet God so ordereth it, that in some there is an ebb and decrease, in others (God justly leaving them to themselves) a flow and increase of sinfulness, even beyond the bounds of ordinary corruption, whereby they become worse then themselves, either like beasts in sensuality, or like devils in spiritual wickedness; though all be blind in spiritual things, yet some are more blinded: though all be hard hearted, yet some are more hardened: though all be corrupt in evil courses, yet some