A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

To the Right Honourable, Truly Noble, and Renowned Religious LADY, My Lady Marquess of Argile.

Noblest Madam,

HAD it so seemed good to the Sovereign Holy, and Infinite Wise God, he might at the first moment of his Peoples Conversion, have quite expelled all, even the very least remainders of indwelling Corruption, and perfectly conformed them to his own Image in Holiness; but he hath in the depth of his insearchable Wisdom, otherwise disposed for ends best known to himself: concerning which (whatever may be, even here, our strongly-probable, and, in a good measure quieting Conjectures as to some of them) it will be our Wisdom to make a reference for full satisfaction to the day of that great Solemn and Celebrious general Assembly of the first Born, wherein all such references shall be called and satisfyingly discussed: And seeing he hath thought it fit that some relicts of sin (but exanctorated of its ring and dominion) should indwell; and that thereby the spiritual constitution of sojourning Saints should be a mixture of Grace and Corruption (each of these, notwithstanding, retaining still its own natural irreconcilable Antipathy with the other, and lusting against the other; so that in all their actings, both gracious and ⟨image 3⟩sinful, they are still divided; and neither one, as they were before Regenerating Grace, nor as they shall be in Glory) its highly congruous and suitable to the same infinite Wisdom, that there should be a proportionable and correspondent mixture in the dispensations of his Providence towards them while on this side Heaven, some more smiling, and some more cross: the Flesh and Unregenerate part requiring crosses to whip it up, and drive it forward; and the Spirit and Regenerate part calling for them also, to keep it awake and on its guard, against the surprising prejudice and hurt it may sustain from the restless ill Neighbour, and troublesome Companion, a Body of Death, that cleaveth close to them, as a Girdle doth to the Loins of a Man, by reason of which they have not many hours, let be days, to do well to an end: When their Constitution cometh to be purely Grace, perfectly defecate and refined from all the dreggy and drossy mixture of indwelling Corruption, then will their Lot be pure Solace and Joy, even perfection and perpetuity of Joy, without any the least mixture of Sorrow or Trouble of what ever sort; but till then (and Blessed Eternally be God, it is not long to that, even but a moment).