An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

To discover this truth:¹

1. 1Propositions clearing the truth. There are two selves in every regenerate man.

First, We must know, That in every regenerate man, there are two selves, (as it were) the carnal self, and the spiritual self; From which issue all the works we do, Galat. 5. 17. and also Rom. 7. For although Amyraldus. Expos. in cap. 7. ad Rom. (yet professing both against Socinians and Arminians) doth industriously labour to understand it of a man only legally wrought upon, and that it would be a dishonour to Paul, and injurious to the work of Sanctification, to affirm, That Paul speaketh those things in his own person while regenerated: yet by that Text in the Galatians, Chap. 5. 17. it is plain, That those who are godly like Rebekah, have these two twins struggling in their womb; and that as a man consisting of soul and body, we may say, he is mortal and immortal, visible and invisible; in different respects mortal and visible, in respect of his body; but immortal and invisible, in respect of his soul. Thus also it is with a godly man in a theological consideration; he hath both corruption and grace, he hath both flesh and spirit. Now although this be so, yet a godly man is not to be called an unregenerate person, as well as a regenerate; a sinner and a wicked person, as well as holy: Because denominations are always from the more noble part; and this corruption, though remaining, yet is to be subdued and conquered. Even as Canaan might be called the possession and inheritance of the Israelites, although many Jebusites did still continue therein, and could not be cast out. Let not then any godly man look for such perfection in this life, as to have only one principle within him, and that of grace. Do not look that it should be altogether as the Spirit will have it in thee, not finding the least opposition, or renitency from the flesh: No, this estate is to be enjoyed only in Heaven.