The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

I need say no more, only that is observable in Rom. 7. The Text saith there, That sin becometh out of measure sinful, because of the Commandment. How is that? It is as if he had said: Sin is the greater, and the more notorious doth it manifest it self, by how much the more the Commandment of God is the more openly published, sin becometh out of measure sinful, because that God in the Commandment gainsayeth it, and the more the Commandment is pressed, the more sin opposeth it, and gainsays it, and becometh the more violent, and so grows out of measure sinful.

I need say no more, onely that is observable in Rom. 7. The Text saith there, That sin becommeth out of measure sinfull, because of the Commandment. How is that? It is as if he had said: Sin is the greater, and the more notorious doth it manifest it self, by how much the more the Commandment of God is the more openly published, sin becommeth out of measure sinfull, because that God in the Commandment gainsayeth it, and the more the Commandement is pressed, the more sin opposeth it, and gainsaies it, and becometh the more violent, and so grows out of measure sinfull.

Briefly, look as it is with a stream and current or Rivulet, set but a little dam there, and it will run over it easily of it self, but if the dam be strong and high, the River grows deep, and cometh to be great and large: Why so? because it is stopped. So it is here, the Commandment of God is the dam (as I may say) every natural man hath a stream of corruption that is always issuing forth in a continued current; if it be so now, that the Word of God stoppeth him at every turn, in every ungodly practise, admitteth of no vent, giveth no way to any sinful course, gainsays him in every carnal and sensual delight, bars him of the sinful enjoyment of pleasures and worldly lusts; then the heart of a sinner beginneth ⟨p. 227⟩to rise up against God, and against his word, and Commandment, and that only because the Word of God crosseth him, and gainsays him. And therefore observe it, if there be but a sleepy-headed Magistrate, or a careless Minister in a Congregation, that will lot a great deal of the water go, give leave for the stream and current of corruption to pass, let men have a vent for their lusts, all will be at great peace, and the stream will run as calm as can be; that Magistrate shall never have an ill word, that Minister that any way permits a vent to corruption, he and his Parish shall agree as quietly as may be; but if a man be stout and courageous, either Magistrate or Minister, he shall find violent opposition, and marvellous strivings and workings of heart against him, and that word which he delivers, and the means of grace, which God vouchsafeth to a people.