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

Dr. Jacomb,¹ in his Discourse of the Law of sin, attempts to assign the difference between the Law of sin in the regenerate, ⟨p. 540⟩and it in the unregenerate; and hath given such a Description of an unregenerate state, that there is scarce such an unregenerate Man in the World; and yet if we must judge what a regenerate Man is, by inverting the Character of the unregenerate, he is by odds much the worse Man: As first, When the whole bent and tendency of the heart is towards sin, when the propensities of the Soul thereto are entire and unmixed, there it is the Law of sin in the unregenerate: But is every one a regenerate Man, who hath some good propensities in him? who hath some wouldings and velleities to that which is good? then there are few unregenerate in the World. Secondly, which is the explication of the former, when all the several Faculties of the Soul are altogether on sins side, and wholly take its part, then it is the Law of sin in the unregenerate; where the understanding gives in its final positive dictate, that sin is good, represents it as eligible to the will, the will upon this closes with it, embraces it it, cleaves to it, the affections, desire, joy, delight, run out upon it; where it is thus, the case is determined, yea, without controversy: But where shall we find such a Man? I believe there was never such a ⟨p. 541⟩Man born; too many choose evil though they know it to be evil, for the seeming advantages of profit or pleasure; but to choose evil, as believing it to be good, and to rejoice and delight in it, as good and eligible for it self, is such an unregenerate state as the Devil never arrived at; for though he be a wicked Spirit, yet he is no Fool, as those must be, who mistake evil for good in such plain instances: The Heathens themselves at this rate were all regenerate, for their consciences accused them for doing evil, Rom. 2. They knew good to be good, and evil evil: There was never such a Man as he describes, when he tells us, That sin comes to the Sinner, and says: Art thou willing that I should rule? Yes, saith he, with all my heart, I like thy commands, I am thine, I submit to be at thy dispose, I here swear fealty and allegiance to thee, &c. This Oath, &c. might very well have been spared, for there is enough without it;