3. First, the whole corruption of our evil nature,1 is in Scripture compared to a mans body, and called, The body of death; wherefore the several corruptions are fitly termed members, or parts, concurring to the full constitution of the whole body. You know, that Nature hath prepared for man, head, shoulders, arms, breast, belly, thighs, legs, feet, and the rest; in the fit and apt joining together of which, the being of the humane body doth consist. So doth our wickedness consist in many particular disorders, pride, unbelief, rebellion, impatience, hypocrisy, carnal sorrow, carnal confidence, wrath, uncleanness, earthly-mindedness, and divers others as bad as these; the joining of which together, doth make up the universal sinfulness of our nature, called, The flesh & the old man. Again, they are called members upon the same consideration, wherein our Saviour (enjoining the same ⟨p. 96⟩duty that here the Apostle) is pleased to use this figurative kind of speech;2 If thy eye offend thee, pull it out, and cast it from thee: if thy foot offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: and if thine hand offend he, cut it off, and fling it from thee. Because to a man now corrupted, his corruptions are as natural as his members; he brings them into the world with him, together with his hands, eyes, feet; they begin and grow in him, with the beginning and growing of his limbs, and, in his account, they are as necessary, useful, pleasing, and as dear and tender to him, as his arms, or his legs, or his very eyes, yea, the apple of his eye. Nothing in the world is more precious to the unsanctified and unregenerate man, then his lusts; he could as easily part with the joints of his body, as with them, yea, with his whole hart, he would be content to redeem the liberty of following them, by the loss of his eye. Well are they termed members, because to the carnal man, they are as well-beloved, as his members; and he will as loathly part with them, and as il spare them, as his members; yea, a man already in part sanctified, finds it as much to do to wrestle against them (till they be not thoroughly mastered, as it were a member mortified and deadened) as if he were to wound and mangle his own flesh, and with the right hand to chop off the left.
3. First, the whole corruption of our euill nature,1 is in Scripture compared to a mans body, and called, The body of death; wherefore the seuerall corruptions are fitly termed members, or parts, concurring to the full constitution of the whole body. You know, that Nature hath prepared for man, head, shoulders, armes, brest, belly, thighes, legs, feete, and the rest; in the fit and apt ioyning together of which, the beeing of the humane body doth consist. So doth our wickednes consist in many particular disorders, pride, vnbeliefe, rebellion, impatiency, hypocrisie, carnall sorrow, carnall confidence, wrath, vncleannes, earthly-mindednes, and diuers others as bad as these; the ioyning of which together, doth make vp the vniuersall sinfulnesse of our nature, called, The flesh & the old man. Againe, they are called members vpon the same consideration, wherein our Sauiour (inioyning the same ⟨p. 96⟩dutie that here the Apostle) is pleased to vse this figuratiue kind of speech;2 If thy eye offend thee, pull it out, and cast it from thee: if thy foote offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: and if thine hand offend hee, cut it off, and fling it from thee. Because to a man now corrupted, his corruptions are as naturall as his members; hee brings them into the world with him, together with his hands, eyes, feete; they begin and grow in him, with the beginning and growing of his lims, and, in his account, they are as necessarie, vsefull, pleasing, and as deare and tender to him, as his armes, or his legs, or his very eyes, yea, the apple of his eye. Nothing in the world is more precious to the vnsanctified and vnregenerate man, then his lusts; he could as easily part with the ioynts of his body, as with them, yea, with his whole hart, he would be content to redeeme the libertie of following them, by the losse of his eye. Well are they termed members, because to the carnall man, they are as welbeloued, as his members; and hee will as lothly part with them, and as il spare them, as his members; yea, a man already in part sanctified, finds it as much to doe to wrestle against them (till they be not thorowly mastered, as it were a member mortified and deadned) as if he were to wound and mangle his owne flesh, and with the right hand to chop off the left.
- 1Why Lusts are called, Members.
- 2Mark. 9.43, &c.
