1First, That even the most spiritual that are, the Christians of the first magnitude, even those that shine like Suns in the world, have yet spots, blemishes and wrinkles in them. So that not only these Corinthians, of an inferior form, but even Paul himself, who reproveth those for being carnal, yet Rom. 7. he complaineth of himself, That he is carnal, and that when he would do good, evil is present with him. That Chapter doth excellently declare, what a great conflict and combat the people of God have in these: for when they would believe, unbelief hindereth them; when they would be heavenly-minded, earthliness hinders them. And Gal. 6. the Apostle speaks there universally of all the godly, of those that are Pillars, as well as others, of the •yes and head in the body, as well as the feet; The Spirit lusteth against the flesh, and the flesh against the Spirit, Gal. 5.17. That the things you would not do, those you do. So that it's plain, no godly man in the world, is enabled in his whole heart with all might to what is good, as Adam, or the Saints glorified in Heaven; but they have opposition within them. They have heart against heart, mind against mind, will against will, affections against affections. They are like a blind man, and a dead man coupled together. Austin did much dispute this point, by reason of the Pelagians, Whether any man might be perfect in this life, free from all sin? And although he seemed not to deny, that a man might be, yet he affirms (de facto) none ever was. But that former also must be distinguished of. For if you regard the power of God, no question he can cure all diseases. He that gives thee any degree of grace, can make thee altogether godly. God who made the world by degrees in the space of six days, could have done it in a moment, as Austin thought he did. And so may we say, Men may be without sin. But if we speak of the ordinary power of God, or his declared will, whereby he hath decreed not to give to men such a measure of grace, as shall subdue all sin, then we say it cannot be: But the best gold will have some dross; The best Garden will have some weeds. Hence they have a perpetual pattern of Prayer, which a David, a Paul is to pray, as well as babes in Christianity, that God would forgive their sin.
1First, That even the most spiritual that are, the Christians of the first magnitude, even those that shine like Sunnes in the world, have yet spots, blemishes and wrinkles in them. So that not only these Corinthians, of an inferiour form, but even Paul himself, who reproveth those for being carnal, yet Rom. 7. he complaineth of himself, That he is carnal, and that when he would do good, evil is present with him. That Chapter doth excellently declare, what a great conflict and combate the people of God have in these: for when they would believe, unbelief hindereth them; when they would be heavenly-minded, earthlinesse hinders them. And Gal. 6. the Apostle speaks there universally of all the godly, of those that are Pillars, as well as others, of the •yes and head in the body, as well as the feet; The Spirit lusteth against the flesh, and the flesh against the Spirit, Gal. 5.17. That the things you would not do, those you do. So that it's plain, no godly man in the world, is inabled in his whole heart with all might to what is good, as Adam, or the Saints glorified in Heaven; but they have opposition within them. They have heart against heart, mind against mind, will against will, affections against affections. They are like a blind man, and a dead man coupled together. Austin did much dispute this point, by reason of the Pelagians, Whether any man might be perfect in this life, free from all sinne? And although he seemed not to deny, that a man might be, yet he affirms (de facto) none ever was. But that former also must be distinguished of. For if you regard the power of God, no question he can cure all diseases. He that gives thee any degree of grace, can make thee altogether godly. God who made the world by degrees in the space of six dayes, could have done it in a moment, as Austin thought he did. And so may we say, Men may be without sinne. But if we speak of the ordinary power of God, or his declared will, whereby he hath decreed not to give to men such a measure of grace, as shall subdue all sinne, then we say it cannot be: But the best gold will have some drosse; The best Garden will have some weeds. Hence they have a perpetual patern of Prayer, which a David, a Paul is to pray, as well as babes in Christianity, that God would forgive their sinne.
- 1The imperfections and sins of the godly.
