Captives bound in chains made free

3. So doth this too, that thou art a voluntary bond-slave to Satan and to Sin; thou art the Devils servant, and art willing to be so; in bondage, and art willing to remain therein; thou mightest have liberty, but thou wilt not. Thou art like the servant that plainly said, I love my Master, I will not go out free; and would rather have his ears bored through with an Awl, and serve him for ever, than be made free, Exod. ⟨p. 145⟩21. 5, 6. Slaves in Turkey are there against their wills, it is not matter of their choice; Captives they be, but they are not willing Captives; they do not love their fetters, nor their chains, nor the work and service that they are there put unto: but thou art in Captivity to Satan, and thou lovest to have it so; thou drudgest in his service, and dost love to do it; but what wilt thou do in the end thereof? Jer. 5. 31. Others are by power and force taken and continued Captives, but thou dost voluntarily yield thy self to be a slave; for Satan could not have taken men captive, nor hold them therein, without their own consent. Like Ahab, thou dost sell thy self for a slave, 1 King. 21. 20: and what dost thou sell thy self, thy soul, a captive for? For a little profit, and for a little short and momentary pleasure? That thou mightest gratify thy lusts for a while, and please thy palate and thy flesh for a while, thou art contented to be a slave for ever. When a man is taken captive, yet his will is not taken; when his body is fettered, yet his will is not overcome; he hath a will to resist still, if he had but power; he hath a will to have off his chains, though he cannot; and a will to escape, and be set at liberty, though there is none to lay down a ransom for him: But the Devils Captives have no will to be delivered, or freed from their bondage, though there be a ransom paid, and the benefit of it be offered unto them.

3. So doth this too, that thou art a voluntary bond-slave to Satan and to Sin; thou art the Devils servant, and art willing to be so; in bondage, and art willing to remain therein; thou mightest have liberty, but thou wilt not. Thou art like the servant that plainly said, I love my Master, I will not go out free; and would rather have his ears bored through with an Awl, and serve him for ever, than be made free,