The third special privilege bestowed upon the godly, is, that the Spirit of God sanctifieth them, changing and renewing their natures, from sinful corruption, to sanctity and holiness. For it so enlighteneth their minds, that they behold sin as it is in it own nature, most ugly and deformed, and causeth them to condemn it as the greatest evil. It worketh their wills, hearts and affections to a loathing and detestation of it, so that they consent not unto it, so far forth as they are renewed, even when the Law of their members, warring 1against the Law of their minds, doth lead them captive. Neither can they sin, as in former times, with full consent of will, because it is in part sanctified, nilling that which the flesh willeth, in which regard the Apostle John saith, that he who is borne of God, sinneth not, for 2his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is borne of God. And as being thus sanctified, they are inwardly kept from sin, in respect of the love of it, and free and full consent unto it; so also from innumerable outward acts of sin, into which others fall; partly, because they look more carefully & conscionably to their ways, but especially, because the good Spirit of God dwelling in them, quencheth the fiery darts of Satan's tentations, by his holy motions and monitions, 3which oppose and fight against them, and so stayeth them when they are ready to slip, and upholdeth them when they are ready to fall. Yea, by renewing and changing of our natures, it worketh in us, so far forth as we are sanctified, an utter averseness to sin, and maketh us ⟨p. 734⟩spiritually to hate it as much as ever we naturally loved it; so that it is no pain to us, nor any violence offered unto our will, when we resist and flee from sin, as it is to the wicked and unregenerate, who naturally drinking in iniquity as the Fish water, are (as it were) tormented 4with thirst, when they are forced to to forbear it. But though there were no shame nor punishment to restrain them, no law to condemn them, nor heaven or hell to reward or punish them, yet they would be a law to themselves, and with all cheerfulness flee and forsake sin, out of that hatred and detestation which they have conceived of it. And as they are thus preserved from sin;
The third speciall priuiledge bestowed vpon the godly, is, that the Spirit of God sanctifieth them, changing and renuing their natures, from sinnefull corruption, to sanctity and holinesse. For it so inlighteneth their mindes, that they behold sinne as it is in it owne nature, most vgly and deformed, and causeth them to condemne it as the greatest euill. It worketh their wills, hearts and affections to a loathing and detestation of it, so that they consent not vnto it, so farre forth as they are renued, euen when the Law of their members, warring 1against the Law of their mindes, doth leade them captiue. Neither can they sinne, as in former times, with full consent of will, because it is in part sanctified, nilling that which the flesh willeth, in which regard the Apostle Iohn saith, that he who is borne of God, sinneth not, for 2his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is borne of God. And as being thus sanctified, they are inwardly kept from sinne, in respect of the loue of it, and free and full consent vnto it; so also from innumerable outward acts of sinne, into which others fall; partly, because they looke more carefully & conscionably to their waies, but especially, because the good Spirit of God dwelling in them, quencheth the fiery darts of Satans tentations, by his holy motions and monitions, 3which oppose and fight against them, and so stayeth them when they are ready to slip, and vpholdeth them when they are ready to fall. Yea, by renuing and changing of our natures, it worketh in vs, so farre forth as we are sanctified, an vtter auersnesse to sinne, and maketh vs ⟨p. 734⟩spiritually to hate it as much as euer we naturally loued it; so that it is no paine to vs, nor any violence offered vnto our will, when wee resist and flee from sinne, as it is to the wicked and vnregenerate, who naturally drinking in iniquity as the Fish water, are (as it were) tormented 4with thirst, when they are forced to to forbeare it. But though there were no shame nor punishment to restraine them, no law to condemne them, nor heauen or hell to reward or punish them, yet they would be a law to themselues, and with all cheerefulnesse flee and forsake sinne, out of that hatred and detestation which they haue conceiued of it. And as they are thus preserued from sinne;
- 1Rom. 7. 23.
- 21. Joh. 3. 9.1. Ioh. 3. 9.
- 3Gal. 5. 17.
- 4Job 15. 16.Iob 15. 16.
