A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

Sixthly, In all regenerate persons though never so highly sanctified, there is a conflict more or less: It is true, some are more holy then others; some are babes, and some are strong men; some are spiritual, some in a comparative sense are carnal; some are weak, some are strong; and according to the measure of grace they have received, so is this conflict more or less, Amyraldus a much admired Writer by some, (neither do I detract from that worth, which is due to him,) doth industriously set himself. (Constd. cap. 7. ad Rom.) to expound the 7th of the Romans of a person not regenerated, but in a legal state, yet disclaiming Arminianism and Socinianism: which Exposition being offensive and excepted against, (as justly it might) by William Rivet; he maketh a replication thereunto, wherein he delivereth many novel assertions. Among which this may be one; That making four ranks, or classes of Christians, he apprehendeth the first, to be such who have attained to so high a degree of sanctification, that they consult, and deliberate of nothing, but from the habit of grace that is within them; and that this conflict within a man, is rather to be referred to the legal work upon a man, then the Evangelical condition we are put into: hence he understands this Text not universally, but particularly of the Galatians, who were then in that state, viz. a legal one, not Evangelical, which he thinketh the next Verse will confirm, where the Apostle saith, If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law: now of this sort, who may be apprehended ordinarily to live without such a combat; he placeth the Apostles, especially when plentifully endowed with the Spirit of God, after Christs resurrection: and for Paul he is so far ravished with the Idea of godliness represented in his life, that he saith, (Consid. in cap. 7. ad Rom. cap. 74.) if God had pleased so to adorn Paul, with the gifts of the Spirit, that in this life, he should attain to that perfection, which other believers have only in heaven, none might find fault herein. The general rules he goeth upon (and others though disclaimed by him,) is, because there are many places of Scripture, which show that some godly persons are victorious and triumphing above this conflict; as when this Apostle saith afterwards, ver. 24.

SIxthly, In all regenerate persons though never so highly sanctified, there is a conflict more or less: It is true, some are more holy then others; some are babes, and some are strong men; some are spiritual, some in a comparative sence are carnal; some are weak, some are strong; and according to the measure of grace they have received, so is this conflict more or less, Amyraldus a much admired Writer by some, (neither do I detract from that worth, which is due to him,) doth industriously set himself. (Constd. cap. 7. ad Rom.) to expound the 7th of the Romans of a person not regenerated, but in a legal state, yet disclaiming Arminianisme and Socinianisme: which Exposition being offensive and excepted against, (as justly it might) by William Rivet; he maketh a replication thereunto, wherein he delivereth many novel assertions. Among which this may be one; That making four ranks, or classes of Christians, he apprehendeth the first, to be such who have attained to so high a degree of sanctification, that they consult, and deliberate of nothing, but from the habit of grace that is within them; and that this conflict within a man, is rather to be referred to the legal work upon a man, then the Evangelical condition we are put into: hence he understands this Text not universally, but particularly of the Galathians, who were then in that state, viz. a legal one, not Evangelical, which he thinketh the next Verse will confirme, where the Apostle saith, If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law: now of this sort, who may be apprehended ordinarily to live without such a combate; he placeth the Apostles, especially when plentifully endowed with the Spirit of God, after Christs resurrection: and for Paul he is so far ravished with the Idea of godliness represented in his life, that he saith, (Consid. in cap. 7. ad Rom. cap. 74.) if God had pleased so to adorne Paul, with the gifts of the Spirit, that in this life, he should attain to that perfection, which other believers have only in heaven, none might find fault herein. The general rules he goeth upon (and others though disclaimed by him,) is, because there are many places of Scripture, which shew that some godly persons are victorious and tryumphing above this conflict; as when this Apostle saith afterwards, ver. 24.