A25470:475
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers, September 1661.
London: printed for Joshua Kirton and Nathaniel Webb, 1661
Sermon 5: How may we be so Spiritual, as to check Sin in the first risings of it?
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.
Fifthly, If thou resistest, the victory is thine, James 4.7. And […] my Text, Walk, &c. and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the f••sh Tho• canst never be conquered, if thou wilt not yield. Stand but […] thou art invincible, while thou art unwilling, all the Devil• in hell ⟨p. 108⟩cannot force thee to sin. Temptation puts on it's strength, as the will is. Cease but to love the sin, and the temptation is answered. Indeed if thou choosest to be a slave, thou shalt be one. Nothing but thy own choice can undo thee.
Fifthly, If thou resistest, the victory is thine, Iames 4.7. And 〈…〉 my Text, Walke, &c. and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the f••sh Tho• caust never be conquered, if thou wilt not yield. Stand but 〈…〉 thou art invincible, while thou art unwilling, all the Devil• in hell ⟨p. 108⟩cannot force thee to sin. Temptation puts on it's strength, as the will is. Cease but to love the sin, and the temptation is answered. Indeed if thou chusest to be a slave, thou shalt be one. Nothing but thy owne choice can undo thee.
Sixthly, Consider what thou dost, if thou fulfillest the lusts of the flesh,1 thou provokest thy Heavenly Father, rebellest against him, and Rebellion is as witchcraft, and stubbornness as idolatry. Thou crucifiest Jesus Christ afresh, and puttest him to open shame. Is this thy love, and thanks to thy Lord, to whom thou art so infinitely beholding? Canst thou find in thy heart to put thy Spear again in his side? Hath he not suffered yet enough? Is his bloody passion nothing? must he bleed again? Ah monster of ingratitude! ah perfidious Traitor as thou art, thus to requite thy Master! Again, thou grievest thy Comforter, and is that wisely done? Who shall comfort thee, if he depart from thee grieved? Or is it ingenuous, thus unworthily to treat that noble Guest, to affront Gods sacred Spirit to his very face? and in despite, and mockery of him to side with his Enemy, the flesh? Is this thy kindness to thy best Friend, thy faithful Counsellor, thy infallible Guide, thy Minister, and Oracle, thy sweet and only Comforter? What need I add, that thou breakest thy peace, woundest thy conscience, forfeitest the loss of Gods countenance, and makest a gap in the divine protection for all evil to rush in at.