A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

3. Grace goes to work by way of Argument and Persuasion: Grace out-reasons and out-pleads Lust, and so it cannot obtain a Grant from the Soul, but is denied. The chief Argument which Grace urgeth, is the Unsuitableness of Lust to our Condition, that so it may shame the Soul. Those things that become us while we are Children, as Toys and Rattles, will not become us when we are Men: so certainly those things that suited well enough with us while we were mere Men, become us not when we are Christians; 1 Pet. 4.1, 2, 3. He that hath suffered in the Flesh, hath ceased from Sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the Flesh to the Lusts of Men, but to the Will of God. For the time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought the VVill of the Gentiles, when we walked in Lasciviousness, Lusts, Excess of Wine, Revellings, Banquetings, and abominable Idolatries. Rom. 13.11. And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of Sleep. It is high time to leave worldly Lusts. For a Man after Grace to be addicted to Lusts, it is a Relapse into a spiritual Disease; and in all Diseases, Relapses you know are dangerous: as a Man that falls into a distempered Heat, is recovered out of a Fever; 1 Pet. 1.14. As obedient Children, not fashioning your selves according to the former Lusts in your Ignorance. These were your former Lusts, when you were under spiritual Distempers, and were only fit for you then.

3. Grace goes to work by way of Argument and Perswasion: Grace out-reasons and out-pleads Lust, and so it cannot obtain a Grant from the Soul, but is denied. The chief Argument which Grace urgeth, is the Unsuitableness of Lust to our Condition, that so it may shame the Soul. Those things that become us while we are Children, as Toys and Rattles, will not become us when we are Men: so certainly those things that suited well enough with us while we were mere Men, become us not when we are Christians; 1 Pet. 4.1, 2, 3. He that hath suffered in the Flesh, hath ceased from Sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the Flesh to the Lusts of Men, but to the Will of God. For the time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought the VVill of the Gentiles, when we walked in Lasciviousness, Lusts, Excess of VVine, Revellings, Banquettings, and abominable Idolatries.