Captives bound in chains made free

1. None of Gods Elect are freed by Christ from being born in original sin; we are not born free, but are made free; even those that are descended from free-men in Christ, are by birth in spiritual bondage: for grace doth not come by blood, but by the will of God, John 1. 13. No man since the Fall, except Christ the Redeemer hath been free from this sinful contagion ⟨p. 160⟩that hath infected all mankind, Rom. 5. 12. 17, 18.

2. Christ doth free us in this World from the indwelling of sin; Christ doth free all Believers from the reigning power of sin, Rom. 6. 14, but not from the conflicting power of sin, no, nor altogether from the captivating power of sin: the Lords free-men might sometimes be overpowered with a temptation, and with a corruption, and in a particular combat be carried captive, Rom. 7. 23. nor doth Christ free us at all from the indwelling of sin. As God did not presently free the people of Israel from the Nations that did vex them, nor drive them out at once, but by degrees, he left some of them to prove them and to humble them, Exod. 23. 28, 29. so all Gods redeemed and free servants do still experience the remainders of sin and corruption, and do complain thereof and cry out because of it, Rom. 7. 24. there are still relics of pride, and unbelief, and hardness o• […] Thus we are not free from distracti•• […]ghts in holy duties, nor from all dullness of […]ction, and deadness of heart in the service of God. This is reserved for the state of glorious freedom in the life to come, when we shall be and live in the immediate presence of the blessed God above, and shall […] in the beholding of him immediately that hath redeem us from our Captivity and Bondage.