An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

I answer; first, In every wicked man sin reigneth, that is, sin hath not only a being in him, but dominion over him; he yieldeth ready and free obedience to it, as to his natural Lord, not a forced and involuntary obedience only, as to a tyrant. Our committing of sin gives not the rule to sin: but our submitting to it. As a man may do many good things, and yet grace not reign and rule in his heart: so it is possible for a man to do many evil things, and yet not have sin rule in his heart. A man may lay by the actings of a sin, and yet that be a reigning sin, and a man may fall into the act of sin, and yet that no reigning sin. The reign of sin or of grace are chiefly seen in that professed subjection or resignation of our selves to the dictates and commands of grace or sin. No man can be at once Gods Son, and sins servant; no nor at once a servant to both.

I answer; first, In every vvicked man sin reigneth, that is, sin hath not only a being in him, but dominion over him; he yeeldeth ready and free obedience to it, as to his naturall Lord, not a forced and involuntary obedience only, as to a tyrant. Our committing of sin gives not the rule to sinne: but our submitting to it. As a man may do many good things, and yet grace not raign and rule in his heart: so it is possible for a man to do many evil things, and yet not have sin rule in his heart. A man may lay by the actings of a sin, and yet that be a raigning sinne, and a man may fall into the act of sin, and yet that no raigning sin. The raign of sin or of grace are chiefly seen in that professed subjection or resignation of our selves to the dictates and commands of grace or sinne. No man can be at once Gods Son, and sins servant; no nor at once a servant to both.

Secondly, A wicked man is a customary sinner, he driveth a trade in sin. A godly man (possibly) may commit the same sin again, yet the custom is broken, because he putteth in a plea against sin, and often moveth God for power, not only against, but over it: if he attain not this blessed victory, yet he ceaseth not to complain, and pray, O wretched man that I am, ⟨p. 477⟩who shall deliver me from this body of death? When shall I be delivered from this burden and bdage of corruption? When shall it once be? O that it might once be! Wicked men are so far from pleading against, that they usually plead for their sins; and labour more to make excuses and apologies for them, then to get power and victory over them. They in stead of making preparation to resist the lusts of the flesh, make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.