I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

But in Scripture Phrase, it is called a weakness; as here in this Chapter, The Spirit is willing, but the Flesh is weak and Rom. 6.19. I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity, or weakness of your flesh. And therefore,

It must be in one that hath Spiritual Life: You do not say that a stone is infirm, or weak; Why? Because a stone hath no life in it: infirmity is a defect in one that hath life.

And I say, it doth arise, not from wilfulness, but want of strength to resist. Now this want of strength to resist, doth either arise from some Natural cause, which one cannot avoid; of which Paul speaks, in Rom. 7.19. The good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do: and why so? he gives the reason at verse 21. I find then a Law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me; and verse 23. I find a Law in my Members, fighting against the Law of my Mind, and leading me captive, &c. Or else it doth arise from some present distemper, and that either in the Mind and Judgment, and then it is called an Error, Who knoweth the Errors of his Life? ¹Or else this distemper doth arise from some present passion, fear, or the like, whereby a man is hurried into evil, and then he is said to be overtaken, Gal. 6.1. So that when a man is alive unto God, and doth commit a Sin for want of strength to resist, then he is said to sin out of infirmity.