Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

I grant there is some difference among Divines in their expressions, concerning the sins of Gods own people, though they mean one and the self-same thing. Some call them only sins of infirmity; and others grant the name of reigning sins; but with this limitation, that this is not a total reigning. Sin reigneth as a Tyrant over them, not as a King; at sometimes (as in Davids case) the will and consent may run along with sin, no actual resistance may be made against sin at all;¹ and yet at the very same time the seed of God remaineth in them, though it seem dead; and in Gods good time, that very seed will revive again, and throw out the Tyrant; there is not, cannot be that antecedent and consequent consent to sin in the godly, as in the wicked: O my soul, consider this! if the virtue of Christ's life come in, it will take down that sovereign high reign of sin which the wicked suffer, and will not strive against; the flesh indeed may sometimes lust against the Spirit, but it shall not totally prevail or get the upper hand; Sin shall not have dominion over you. Sin may tyrannize in me for a time, but it shall not King it in me. Look to this!² Doth the power and dominion of Christs Life throw out of thy heart and life that Kingly power and dominion of my sin? here is one ground of hope.

I grant there is some difference among Divines in their expressions, concerning the sins of Gods own people, though they mean one and the self-same thing. Some call them only sins of infirmity; and others grant the name of reigning sins; but with this limitation, that this is not a total reigning. Sin reigneth as a Tyrant over them, not as a King; at sometimes (as in Davids case) the will and consent may run along with sin, no actual resistance may be made against sin at all;¹ and yet at the very same time the seed of God remaineth in them, though it seem dead; and in Gods good time, that very seed will revive again, and throw out the Tyrant; there is not, cannot be that antecedent and consequent consent to sin in the godly, as in the wicked: O my soul, consider this! if the vertue of Christ's life come in, it will take down that soveraign high reign of sin which the wicked suffer, and will not strive against; the flesh indeed may sometimes lust against the Spirit, but it shall not totally prevail or get the upper hand; Sin shall not have dominion over you. Sin may tyrannize in me for a time, but it shall not King it in me. Look to this!