The new birthThe nevv birth

And in these terms stands he with Satan, ever (almost) assailed and encumbered by him. And besides this, the flesh also,¹ as a more dangerous enemy, though not so violent, steps forth to encounter him. For though by grace it be wounded and mortified, yet is it not quite and clean taken away and removed. Wherefore the corruptions of his heart also grow violent in him, lusting against the spirit, and with a kind of insinuating and secret inclination, carrying him forward to all the former lusts of his ignorance, and perhaps to some that are more loathsome and abominable. Now unbelief, passion, lust, revenge, ⟨p. 44⟩wantonness, worldliness, and all the old distempers, will be moving in his soul: and he shall find himself ever and anon, little less then ready to yield unto them, and to be quite overcome by them. But the spirit, in this case, reviveth it self also, and lusts against the flesh; stirring up good motions against the bad, and holy desires against the unholy, and virtuous wishes against the vicious, and hearty prayers and requests to God against the sinful inclinations of the evil heart: so that at length his godly purposes grow strong, and he remaineth resolute, not to work wickedness, for all his earnest proneness thereunto. Thus the regenerate finds himself strangely divided within and against himself: Sometimes he would be sinful, and commit such and such wickedness; and yet again, having better thought of the matter, he would not. At other times he would cast away all sin, and fain perform all good duties with all constancy: but he finds something within, resisting and rebelling, and he would not be so good. But still in conclusion either sooner or later, the sanctified part gets the better of the unsanctified; the desires and purposes of goodness, prevail against the desires and purposes of evil; and he is settled in the holy determinations, that the spirit of God doth lead him unto. His heart is even a pitched field of contrary desires; the bad often grow very strong and vehement, and able almost to overthrow and chase away the good. But the good gather head again, and beat back the bad; and by the spirit he mortifies the flesh, and by the word of God and prayer subdueth and crucifies those carnal affections of his.

And in these termes stands hee with Satan, euer (almost) assailed and incumbred by him. And besides this, the flesh also,