A92846:755
The anatomy of secret sins, presumptuous sins, sins in dominion, & uprightness. Wherein divers…
The anatomy of secret sins, presumptuous sins, sins in dominion, & uprightness. Wherein divers weighty cases are resolved in relation to all those particulars: delivered in divers sermons preached at Mildreds in Bread-street London, on Psalm 19. 12, 13. Together with the remissibleness of all sin, and the irremissibleness of the sin against the Holy Ghost preached before an honourable auditory. By that reverend and faithful minister of the Gospel, Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Perfected by himself, and published by those whom he entrusted with his notes.The anatomy of secret sins, presumptuous sins, sins in dominion, & uprightness. Wherein divers weighty cases are resolved in relation to all those particulars: delivered in divers sermons preached at Mildreds in Bread-street London, on Psalm 19. 12, 13. Together with the remissibleness of all sin, and the irremissibleness of the sin against the Holy Ghost preached before an honourable auditory. By that reverend and faithfull minister of the Gospel, Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Perfected by himself, and published by those whom he intrusted with his notes.
London: printed by T.R. for Adoniram Byfeild, 1660
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.
First, particular victory depends upon inequality of actual strength, but dominion depends upon the fullness of a corrupt nature.
First, particular victory depends upon inequality of actuall strength, but dominion depends upon the fulness of a corrupt nature.
There is in all holy men an habitual strength, which is seated in the new nature of grace or holiness, by which they are inclined to all good, and their hearts made averse to all evil, it is the natural temper of true grace thus to work: And then there is an actual strength, by which, when any particular good is proposed, they incline unto the obedience of it; and when any particular evil is objected, they strive against it and resist. Now it may fall out, that when a temptation presents it self and inward corruption works with that temptation; I say it may so fall out, that the strength of grace may be insufficient, it may not actually equal or exceed that vehement & actual strength of inclination and temptation, though it doth resist (as a weak man may a strong enemy) yet it may not be able to conquer, but is surprised and led captive: and here the fall depends, not on the disposition of the will or heart, but upon the impotency of resistance; the person doth not fall down, but is beaten down; the sin is acted, not through choice, but through weakness; not because the person loves it, but because he is not able to conquer the temptation: But where sin hath dominion, there the sinning comes from the heart, as a stream from the fountain: it is natural and not violent: It is acted, not because a man is not able to make sufficient resistance, but because the heart is wholly set that way with fullest complacence.
There is in all holy men an habitual strength, which is seated in the new nature of grace or holinesse, by which they are inclined to all good, and their hearts made averse to all evil, it is the natural temper of true grace thus to work: And then there is an actual strength, by which, when any particular good is proposed, they incline unto the obedience of it; and when any particular evil is objected, they strive against it and resist. Now it may fall out, that when a temptation presents it self and inward corruption works with that temptation; I say it may so fall out, that the strength of grace may be insufficient, it may not actually equal or exceed that vehement & actual strength of inclination and temptation, though it doth resist (as a weak man may a strong enemy) yet it may not be able to conquer, but is surprised and led captive: and here the fall depends, not on the disposition of the will or heart, but upon the impotency of resistance; the person doth not fall down, but is beaten down; the sinne is acted, not through choice, but through weakness; not because the person loves it, but because he is not able to conquer the temptation: But where sinne hath dominion, there the sinning comes from the heart, as a streame from the fountaine: it is natural and not violent: It is acted, not because a man is not able to make sufficient resistance, but because the heart is wholly set that way with fullest complacence.