Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

2. But, for the weak Christian, though he have mortified the deeds of the body by the spirit, and live not after the flesh but be freed from its captivity or reign (Gal. 5.24. Rom. 8.1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.) yet hath he such remnants of concupiscence and sensuality, as make it a far harder matter to him to live in temperance, and deny his appetite, and govern his senses; and restrain them from rebellion, and excess: He is like a weak man upon an ill-ridden headstrong horse, who hath much ado to keep his saddle and keep his way. He is stronglier inclined to fleshly lusts, or excess in meat, or drink, or sleep, or sports, or some such fleshly pleasure, than the mortified temperate person is, and therefore is oftener guilty of some excess: so that his life is a very tiresome conflict, and very uneasy to himself: because the less the flesh is mortified, the more able it is to raise perturbations, and to put faith and reason to a continual fight. And most of the scandals and blemishes of his life arise from hence; even the successes of the flesh against the spirit; so that (though he live not in any gross or wilful sins; yet) in lesser measures of excess he is too frequently overtaken: How few be there that in ⟨p. 45⟩meat and sleep do not usually exceed their measure? And they are easily tempted to libertine opinions, which indulge the flesh, having a weaker preservative against them than stronger Christians have. Mat. 16.22, 23. Gal. 5.13. & 1.16. & 2.12, 13, 14. Col. 2.11.

2. But, for the weak Christian, though he have mortified the deeds of the body by the spirit, and live not after the flesh but be freed from its captivity or reign (