The Sincere Convert

Secondly, In judging the striving §2of conscience against sin, to be the striving of the flesh against the Spirit, and hence come these speeches from carnal black mouths? The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak: and hence men think, they being thus compounded of flesh and spirit, are regenerate, and in no worse estate then the Children of God themselves: as ⟨p. 186⟩sometime I once spake with a man that did verily think, that Pilate was an honest man, because he was so unwilling to crucify Christ; which unwillingness did arise only from the restraint of conscience against the Fact. So many men judge honestly, yet simply upon such a ground of themselves, they say, they strive against their sin•es, but Lord be merciful unto them, they say the flesh is frail; and hence Arminius gives a diverse interpretation of the seventh Chapter of the Romans from ordinary Divines; concerning which, Paul speaks in the person of an unregenerate man, because he observed divers graceless persons (as he saith himself) having fallen, and falling commonly into sins against conscience, to bring that chapter in their own defence and comfort, because they did that which they allowed not, vers. 15. and so it was not they, but sin that dwelled in them.

Secondly, In judging the striving §2of conscience against sinne, to be the striving of the flesh against the Spirit, and hence come these speeches from carnall blacke mouthes? The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weake: and hence men thinke, they being thus compounded of flesh and spirit, are regenerate, and in no worse estate then the Children of God themselves: as ⟨p. 186⟩sometime I once spake with a man that did verily thinke, that Pilate was an honest man, b•cause he was so unwilling to crucifie Christ; which unwillingnesse did arise onely from the restraint of conscience against the Fact. So many men judge honestly, yet simply upon such a ground of themselves, they say, they strive against their sin•es, but Lord be mercifull unto them, they say the flesh is fraile; and hence Arminius gives a diverse interpretation of the seventh Chapter of the Romans from ordinary Divines; concerning which, Paul speakes in the person of an unregenerate man, because he observed divers gracelesse persons (as hee saith himselfe) having fallen, and falling commonly into sinnes against conscience, to bring that chapter in their owne defece and comfort, because they did that which they allowed not, vers. 15. and so it was not they, but sinne that dvvelled in them.