The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Thirdly, As corruption doth thus abide in all the godly, and worketh differently, ⟨p. 23⟩so it doth sometimes flame out into open fire; so that it's no longer the lust and motions of sin within, but the gross operations without. In Peter, you see what a leak there was ready to drown the whole Ship. He perfidiously denieth his Master with terrible cursings and execration. We need not tell of David and others. The Apostles, how often did they discover their carnal frame of heart, by contentions about honour and primacy? Thus you see, […] •••ven in the godly, there are not only sparks and seeds of sin, but through negligence and carelessness they may notably backslide and fall into the hands of the Philistines, into the hand• of gross sins. It is greatly disputed, Whether the sins they may fall into, may be called reigning sins? Some learned men say, I; some say, No: But they may be reconciled, by a true explication of the word [reigning] for they do not so reign, as to have full possession, with plenary delight, and constant content. Indeed David did deliberate and wilfully consent to accomplish his wickedness; so that for the present, there was no actual resisting in him; yet there was the life of grace radically in him, he was kept by Gods power, and the promise against his own will. And thus in regard of that dominion of sin, for a while it might be said to reign; but because this was not perpetual, grace quickening of him, to recover again, it is justly said not to reign. Now because such sins may arise, and carry the whole man away captive; therefore the godly are exhorted. To watch and pray, 1 Pet 4, 7. Yea constantly to pray, That God •ould not lead them into temptation. Whereas if there were no tinder within, upon which the sparks of temptation falling, would presently blow up, there need to be no fear of any temptation.

Thirdly, As corruption doth thus abide in all the godly, and worketh differently, ⟨p. 23⟩so it doth sometimes flame out into open fire; so that it's no longer the lust and motions of sinne within, but the grosse operations without. In Peter, you see what a leak there was ready to drown the whole Ship. He perfidiously denieth his Master with terrible cursings and execration. We need not tell of David and others. The Apostles, how often did they discover their carnal frame of heart, by contentions about honour and primacy? Thus you see, ven in the godly, there are not only sparks and seeds of sinne, but through negligence and carelesnesse they may notably backslide and fall into the hands of the Philistims, into the hand of grosse sinnes. It is greatly disputed, Whether the sinnes they may fall into, may be called reigning sinnes? Some learned men say, I; some say, No: But they may be reconciled, by a true explication of the word [reigning] for they do not so reign, as to have full possession, with plenary delight, and constant content. Indeed David did deliberate and wilfully consent to accomplish his wickednesse; so that for the present, there was no actual resisting in him; yet there was the life of grace radically in him, he was kept by Gods power, and the promise against his own will. And thus in regard of that dominion of sinne, for a while it might be said to reign; but because this was not perpetual, grace quickening of him, to recover again, it is justly said not to reign. Now because such sinnes may arise, and carry the whole man away captive; therefore the godly are exhorted. To watch and pray, 1 Pet 4, 7. Yea constantly to pray, That God ould not lead them into temptation. Whereas if there were no tinder within, upon which the sparks of temptation falling, would presently blow up, there need to be no fear of any temptation.