Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of…

Quest. You will say then, What is it for sin to have dominion?

Answ. When sin shall set up a kind of Throne in the soul, and give Laws as a King, and thou shalt obey: It is one thing for an enemy to come with violence and take possession, and hurry one on to do that one would not do, and another thing to be subject, and to yield to the laws and commandments of sin. Now sin hath dominion when it is as a King upon his Throne, that thou yieldest subjection unto it, and for the satisfying of thine own lusts, thou art willing that this sin should rule over thee: Now that you may know a little further for the meaning of this; sin and Jesus Christ cannot have dominion both together: Then thus far we may go safely, that except Jesus Christ hath dominion over you, then sin hath: But how shall I know whether Christ hath dominion? I will but appeal to you in this plain and familiar kind of expressing of my self; canst thou say as in the presence of God that seeth and searchest thy heart, O Lord, thou knowest that I have given up my heart to the Rule of Jesus Christ? I would put this to every soul here present, and I beseech you weigh it, for we are speaking of matters of life and death, of salvation and damnation; now therefore I put this unto you, and think of it, canst thou appeal to God in the sincerity of thy heart, and say, Lord, thou art the seer and searcher of all hearts, and thou knowest, that though I have many weaknesses and infirmities, and am often overcome by temptation, yet thou knowest that I have given up my heart to the obedience of Jesus Christ, and I do give it up, and it is that that my soul desires above all things, that Jesus Christ may rule in it, that Christ may have dominion, that his Laws may be set up, and if I knew any more of the mind of Jesus Christ, whatsoever it cost me, thou that knowest all things, knowest I would submit unto it, and if there be any thing that is against the mind of Jesus Christ, ⟨p. 294⟩if it be but known to me, thou knowest that my heart is against it, and I would rather than a world that I were delivered from the power of it; canst thou speak thus as in the presence of God? and certainly a Christian, though a weak Christian, can appeal to God in the sincerity of it, and is able to venture its self upon such an appeal to God. And if there be not this dominion of Jesus Christ, then there is the dominion of sin, and then thou art not under grace;