Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

CASE II. "If I were a new creature, sin could not prevail against me as it doth." Ans. Tho' we must not lay pillows for hypocrites to rest their heads upon, who indulge themselves in their sins, and make the doctrine of God's grace subservient to their lusts, lying down contentedly in the bond of iniquity, like men that are fond of golden chains: yet it must be owned, the just man falleth seven times a-day, and iniquity may prevail against the children of God. But, if thou art groaning under the weight of the body of death, the corruption of thy nature; loathing thyself for the sins of thy heart and life; striving to mortify thy lusts; fleeing daily to the blood of Christ for pardon; and looking to his Spirit for sanctification: tho' thou mayst be obliged to say with the Psalmist, Iniquities prevail against me? Yet thou mayest add •ith him, As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away, Psal. lxv. 3. The new creature doth not yet possess the house alone: it dwells beside an ill neighbour; namely, remaining corruption, the reliqu••s of depraved nature. These struggle together for the m•stery: The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, Gal. v • And sometimes corruption prevails, bringing the […] ⟨p. 152⟩of God into captivity to the law of sin, Rom vii. 23. Let not therefore the prevailing of corruption, make thee in this case conclude thou art none of God's children: but let it humble thee to be the more watchful, and to thirst the more intensely after Jesus Christ, his blood and Spirit; and that very disposition wil• evidence a principle of grace in thee, which seeks the destruction of sin, that prevails so often against thee.

CASE II. "If I were a new creature, sin could not prevail against me as it doth." Ans. Tho' we must not lay pillows for hypocrites to rest their heads upon, who indulge themselves in their sins, and make the doctrine of God's grace subservient to their lusts, lying down contentedly in the bond of iniquity, like men th•t are fond of golden chains: yet it must be owned, the just man falleth seven times a-day, and iniquity may prevail against the children of God. But, if thou art groaning under the weight of the body of death, the corruption of thy nature; loathing thyself for the sins of thy heart and life; striving to mortify thy lusts; fleeing daily to the blood of Christ for pardon; and looking to his Spirit for sanctification: tho' thou mayst be obliged to say with the Psalmist, Iniquities prevail against me? Yet thou mayest add ith him, As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away,