An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

But indeed in this compunction, there is not such a leaving of sin, as if we could be our own Physicians, and heal our corrupt natures, as if we could our selves reach that victory over the world and its lusts, which is the triumph of Faith, ⟨p. 493⟩as if we could mortify the deeds of the body, without that holy Spirit, which is given to Believers for that end: This were to render Christ, Faith, the holy Spirit unnecessary to our Sanctification, and to render our selves like those Pagans (of whom St. Austin speaks) who would not be made Christians, Quia quasi sibi sufficiunt de bonâ vitâ suâ. Mr. Shepherd saith,¹ That this separation from sin cuts off the Soul from the will to sin, not from all sin in the will, which is mortified by the Spirit of Holiness: Now this (saith the Author) is down right non-sence; for he must be a subtle man, who can distinguish between a will to sin, and sin in the will: But, I suppose, no great subtlety is required to solve this; by a will to sin is meant that act of the will, whereby it is carried out to sin as its beloved Object; and by sin in the will is meant that habitual corruption, which is there: In compunction there is such a separation from sin, that the will is not in its acts carried out, as before, to sin as its pleasure, joy, and pursuit; but not such a separation from sin, as if the habitual corruption in the will were mortified, as after Faith it is by the holy Spirit: But, saith Mr. Shepherd, ⟨p. 494⟩Humiliation breaks off the Soul from self-confidence: after compunction men are apt to seek ease by repentance and reformation, to try a good course: but if they trust in themselves, or rest in their duties without a Saviour; they are uncapable of Christ; that is, saith the Author, all those who repent and reform, are uncapable of Christ: And must the world believe, that Mr. Shepherd is against repentance and reformation? Surely, there is no reason at all for it, the thing is very plain, if a man will stand like the proud Pharisee upon his bottom; if with the Jews he will go about [Greek or Hebrew], to make to stand his own weak cadaverous righteousness, if he will repent and reform in his own strength, and without coming to Christ the Fountain of Grace: Surely he is not, whilst in this proud posture, capable of Christ: