Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

But now in the fight of the regenerate it is quite otherwise; there every faculty, all the faculties fight in their courses, as it is said the stars fought against Sisera. A man fights against it in his judgement, in his understanding, in his will and affections. That is, a man that is sanctified, he is enlightened to look upon sin with another eye then before. When he looked on his beloved lust before, he looked on it as one that which was pleasant and profitable to him: now he looks on it as poison, as an enemy, as a thing contrary to him; so that he fights against sin in his judgement. And while a man fights against sin in his judgement, though it may sometimes transport him, yet so long as his judgement is right, I say when that is set right, there is a continual fighting against sin: for it is one thing to know, and approve; but when the bent of the mind is set against sin, then when the passion ⟨p. 364⟩is past he returns again, and goes on in the ways of godliness.

But now in the fight of the regenerate it is quite otherwise; there every faculty, all the faculties fight in their courses, as it is said the stars fought against Sisera. A man fights against it in his judgement, in his understanding, in his will and affections. That is, a man that is sanctified, he is enlightened to looke upon sin with another eye then before. When he looked on his beloved lust before, he looked on it as one that which was pleasant and profitable to him: now he looks on it as poyson, as an enemy, as a thing contrary to him; so that he fights against sin in his judgement. And while a man fights against sin in his judgement, though it may sometimes transport him, yet so long as his judgement is right, I say when that is set right, there is a continual fighting against sin: for it is one thing to know, and approve; but when the bent of the mind is set against sin, then when the passion ⟨p. 364⟩is past he returns again, and goes on in the wayes of godliness.

And then as he fights against this Law in his mind, so likewise he doth it in his will, as Saint Paul saith, I do the things that I would not, as if he should say, my will stands fm, though sometimes I am transported. And so Joshua, I and my house will serve the Lord. That is, there was a fixed, constant mature, resolute will to do that which was good. So David oft we shall hear him say, I have sworn to run the ways of thy commandments.