The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Thirdly,¹ it being the state of every mans proper Lust, which is the Fountain of all sin, two things will follow.

Thirdly,¹ it being the state of every mans proper Lust, which is the Fountain of all sinne, two things will follow.

1. 1§. 7.

First, That in whomsoever it is, in its compass and power as above described, as' tis in every unregenerate Man, how ever convinced of sin, he sins with his full and whole consent; all that is within him consents to every sin he commits; Unregenerate men sin with their whole hearts and souls. In every act their carnal minds are not, will not be subject to the Law of God; their wills and all their Affections delight in sin; and this because there is no principle in them, that should make any opposition to sin, I mean such a spiritual opposition, as would really take off from their full consent; It is true Conscience repines, witnesses against sin, reproves, rebukes, excuses or causes; but Conscience is no real principle of operation, but either a Judge of what is done, or to be done, or a moral inducer to doing or not doing; and whatever Conscience doth, however it tumultuate, rebuke, chide, persuade, trouble, cry, and the like, whatever conviction of the guilt of sin may show into the judgement, yet sin hath the consent of the whole soul. Every thing that hath a real influence into operation, consents thereto, originally and radically, how ever any principle may be dared by Conscience. To take off any thing from full consent, there must be something of a spiritual Repugnancy in the mind and will, which when Lust is thus enthroned, there is not.

First, That in whomsoever it is, in its compasse and power as above described, as' tis in every unregenerate Man, how ever convinc'd of sinne, he sinnes with his full and whole consent; all that is within him consents to every sinne he commits; Unregenerate men sinne with their whole hearts and soules. In every act their carnall minds are not, will not be subject to the Law of God; their wills and all their Affections delight in sinne; and this because there is no principle in them, that should make any opposition to sinne, I meane such a spirituall opposition, as would really take off from their full consent; It is true Conscience repines, witnesses against sinne, reprooves, rebukes, excuses or causes; but Conscience is no reall principle of operation, but either a Judge of what is done, or to be done, or a morall inducer to doing or not doing; and whatever Conscience doth, however it tumultuate, rebuke, chide, perswade, trouble, cry, and the like, whatever conviction of the guilt of sinne may shew into the judgement, yet sinne hath the consent of the whole soule. Every thing that hath a reall influence into operation, consents thereto, originally and radically, how ever any principle may be dared by Conscience. To take off any thing from full consent, there must be something of a spirituall Repugnancy in the mind and will, which when Lust is thus enthroned, there is not.