Thirdly, consider what is the special sin that your 1heart is naturally most inclined unto, and you find the corruption of your hearts vent it self most in, and look to that, take heed that be not your bane in the conclusion, let there be a renouncing of that, or else all is to no purpose, all your serving of God is nothing. St. Paul when he spoke concerning his running the race, and attaining an incorruptible crown, says, I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, and so fight I, as not one that beateth the air; as if 2he should say, I hope my labours and endeavours after Heaven and this incorruptible Crown shall not be in vain, as one that beateth the air: How so? because I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, my self should be cast away. He was afraid of that ⟨p. 717⟩body of his, wherein corruption did stir, and his giving way to some bodily fleshly content that he found stirring in him should disappoint him, and therefore says he, I keep down my body, in the Original 3it is, I beat my body black and blew, I club it down: his conscience was convinced of Gods ways, but he felt the flesh and body of his working in some sinful way, and his conscience began so far to reflect upon himself, as to think if I do not look to this body of mine, I shall lose this incorruptible crown, and I shall but beat the air, therefore says he, I keep under my body. What shall St. Paul, such a glorious Apostle, so filled with the grace of God as he was, have such thoughts, for fear he should labour after Heaven and the incorruptible crown, as one that beateth the air; what shall become of a company of wretched creatures, that do nothing but satisfy the flesh, & mind nothing but to give full satisfaction to the desires of the flesh every way, their thoughts are after nothing else but to make provision for the flesh. If you will not labour after heaven as one that beats the air, beat down your bodies; if you do not beat down your bodies, there is little hope of the salvation of your souls: it was St. Pauls care, let it be yours.
Thirdly, consider what is the special sin that your 1heart is naturally most inclined unto, and you finde the corruption of your hearts vent it self most in, and look to that, take heed that be not your bane in the conclusion, let there be a renouncing of that, or else all is to no purpose, all your serving of God is nothing. St. Paul when he spoke concerning his running the race, and attaining an incorruptible crown, says, I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, and so fight I, as not one that beateth the air; as if 2he should say, I hope my labors and endeavors after Heaven and this incorruptible Crown shall not be in vain, as one that beateth the air: How so? because I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, my self should be cast away. He was afraid of that ⟨p. 717⟩body of his, wherein corruption did stir, and his giving way to some bodily fleshly content that he found stirring in him should disappoint him, and therefore says he, I keep down my body, in the Original 3it is, I beat my body black and blew, I club it down: his conscience was convinced of Gods ways, but he felt the flesh and body of his working in some sinful way, and his conscience began so far to reflect upon himself, as to think if I do not look to this body of mine, I shall lose this incorruptible crown, and I shall but beat the ayr, therefore says he, I keep under my body. What shall St. Paul, such a glorious Apostle, so filled with the grace of God as he was, have such thoughts, for fear he should labor after Heaven and the incorruptible crown, as one that beateth the ayr; what shall become of a company of wretched creatures, that do nothing but satisfie the flesh, & minde nothing but to give full satisfaction to the desires of the flesh every way, their thoughts are after nothing else but to make provision for the flesh. If you will not labor after heaven as one that beats the ayr, beat down your bodies; if you do not beat down your bodies, there is little hope of the salvation of your souls: it was St. Pauls care, let it be yours.
- 13.
- 21 Cor. 9. 26, 27.
- 3[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
