A55752:1107
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
THE LAW OF SIN and GRACE COMBATING.THE LAVV OF SIN and GRACE COMBATING.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And if we shall a little open this to you, you shall see that it wageth war, and exerciseth a fight, in that 1manner that one army doth against another: For
- 1How it warreth.
First, This Law in our members, these warring, fighting 1lusts, they take the bridges, they keep the passages, that is, when we are about to perform any good duty, it stops us in our proceedings, and suffers us not to do it. If a man have any good motion, or intention put into his mind, to pray, to hear the word, or to do any other holy duty, then cometh a prohibition: this Law hath a prohibiting party in the soul, that stays the proceedings. As you see Saint Paul often complains that when he would do good evil was present with him. That is, he found a prohibition in his flesh; so that either the mind is taken off from the main duty, or it causeth us to omit the duty, altogether; or if it cannot do that, it hinders us from such a lively performance of it, that is required: or if it cannot do that neither, yet it puts us upon the d•ing of the duty, for evil ends, for vain glory, &c. And this is one part of the war, it stops the passages.
First, This Law in our members, these warring, fighting 1lusts, they take the bridges, they keep the passages, that is, when we are about to perform any good duty, it stops us in our proceedings, and suffers us not to do it. If a man have any good motion, or intention put into his mind, to pray, to hear the word, or to do any other holy duty, then commeth a prohibition: this Law hath a prohibiting party in the soul, that stayes the proceedings. As you see Saint Paul often complains that when he would do good evil was present with him. That is, he found a prohibition in his flesh; so that either the mind is taken off from the main duty, or it causeth us to ommit the duty, altogether; or if it cannot do that, it hinders us from such a lively performance of it, that is required: or if it cannot do that neither, yet it puts us upon the ding of the duty, for evil ends, for vain glory, &c. And this is one part of the war, it stops the passages.