filthy monster so that they cannot sleepe till such time as they haue giuen it its fill of disobedience and iniquitie when they once thorough some stirring of their conscience come to haue their eyes opened whereby they beginne to perceiue the terriblenesse of this monster they become hatefull and fearefull vnto their owne selues and oftentimes murther themselues hoping thereby to get out of the sight and presence of that grim hellish monster which now they begin to see in themselues whereat they are affrighted as it came to passe with Iudas and many others Now the reasons for which originall sinne or naturall corruption may truly be held to be such an hatefull and deadly monster may besides that which shall be hereafter spoken be taken out of those reasons which we haue already giuen in the opening of the Text wherein wee shewed wherefore this naturall corruption is termed a bodie of death And if so be that it bee a monstrous thing when in a bodie the members are all mishapen and misplaced and moreouer in themselues exceedingly depraued so must this naturall corruption needs be held to be a monstrous thing wherin the vnderstanding which should be gouernour and leader of the will and fleshly lustes and affections not onely lieth subdued vnder them both but also is in it selfe vtterly obscured darkned and the will and affections in themselues altogether peruerted and disordered Furthermore if the death and pollution of body and soule if a deadly broode of all manner of haynous and deadly sinnes nay if eternall death and damnation are most odious and terrible things then this naturall corruption must needes be judged to bee a hatefull and fearefull thing which occasioneth and bringeth forth all these things as was made manifest before in the opening of the Text Wherefore we conclude as wee beganne that the naturall corruption wherein we were all conceiued and borne and which we all brought into the world with vs from our mothers wombe is a most vgly deformed body of death a fearefull and deadly monster Now let vs see what Vse we can make of that which hath beene spoken and in the first place here is great cause of mourning and lamentation even because that although this body of death our naturall corruption which in euery place is knowne by the name of brittle weake and corrupt flesh bee such an abominable and deadly monster as that it deserues and ought to bee of euery one persecuted and hunted euen to death yet is so generally serued and obeyed in the lusts thereof as at this day it is Behold and marke the course of the world and consider well the actions of the most part of men and you shall finde that they tend chiefely to the fulfilling and satisfying the desires of this horrible monster their corrupt flesh to the susteyning and supporting of it and to the giuing it the fill of whatsoeuer it requireth if it will haue men eat till they surfet and drinke till they be drunke you shall find multitudes of them that will doe it although they should eat and drinke vp goods bodies and soule and all if it lusteth after wantonnesse you shall find those that fit and addresse themselues for that also by lurking here and there in corners gazing and staring out at Windowes and doores and frequenting dishonest places or by vsing idle and immodest exercises as lasciuious dauncing wanton sporting amorous songs corrupt and rotten communication stuffed with vaine and vnfruitfull iestes and prophane passages and that vpon the Sabboth day the which although some seeme to obserue and keepe by resting from the workes of their calling and seruing the world yet you shall haue the same men prophane and violate that blessed day which God hath set apart for his own seruice by doing the workes of their corrupt flesh and toyling to serue it in the lustes thereof as in taking their carnall sports and such pas times as their base and sensuall affections shal lead them vnto when they should be best employed in spirituall exercises Wheras if they saw their spirituall estate and were sensible of the wants thereof they would thinke one day too little for them to spend in bewayling their sins miseries in prayer meditation reading and hearing the word of God or if they did but know and duely consider the wonderfull bountifulnesse mercy patience and long-suffering of God who hath so safely protected them so carefully prouided for them and so mercifully spared them notwithstanding their sinnes vnworthinesse they would thinke that time rather too short then too long for them to blesse him and prayse him enough and to spend in godly and sanctified discourse and conference vpon those things which appertaine and tend to Gods glory and their owne mutuall comfort and edification in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Furthermore how many doe wee see whose daily practise and trade of life is to fulfill and satisfie the lustes and desires of this vile and vgly monster their corrupt flesh in lying deceiuing vsury seeking vnlawfull and vngodly gaines slandering and backbiting their neighbours vndermining for offices and places of dignitie by a thousand vngodly and sinister meanes and deuises and infinite wayes els which would be too long here to be repeated so that it is a thing most lamentable and neuer enough to be bewayled that Man that excellent creature which at first was created to serue the Lord his God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of his life to his euerlasting comfort should be found to be so base as to sell himselfe to be a slaue and a drudge to his corrupt and sinfull flesh and to serue it in the vile and contemptible lustes and appetites thereof to his euerlasting woe and destruction yea I say that it is a thing altogether lamentable that this bodie of death this pernicious and deadly monster our naturall corruption should be thus diligently obeyed and serued notwithstanding the wages thereof be death eternall both of soule and bodie when in the meane time the seruice of our good and gracious God is vtterly neglected and yet the reward which hee offereth is euerlasting ioy and happinesse In the second place this serues to warne and admonish all the children of men that they take good notice of this cruell and deadly monster which keepes all this quarter in the world and which they all haue brought with themselues into the world When some noysome beast is discouered to be in a Countrey the people of the same are not a little moued therewith how doe they bestirre themselues consult and lay their heads and helpes together to chase it or ensnare it that they might by some meanes bring it to death how shall we then behaue our selues which haue receiued such credible and certaine information that such a pernicious and deadly monster as the corrupt flesh is risen vp amongst men shall we be idle and secure shall wee not bestirre
PAVLS COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS NATVRALL CORRVPTION WITH THE MEANES HOW TO BEE DELIVERED FROM the power of the same Set forth in two Sermons vpon the 24 verse of the 7. Chapter of his Epistle to the Romanes Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death By me WILLIAM TEELINCK Preacher of the Word of GOD at MIDDLEBVRGH LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Iohn Bellamie 1621. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL HIS VVORTHIE FRIEND M r THOMAS NICHOLAS Esquire As also To the vertuous Gentlewoman M rs IANE NICHOLAS his wife Grace and peace in this life with perfection of glory and happinesse in that to come WORSHIPFVLL The consideration of the dutie which euery Christan is in Conscience bound to performe namely To aduance the glory of God by whom he was created and vpon whom he wholy dependeth and also to further the good of his Brother the Image of God and fellow member with him of the same misticall bodie of Christ compelled me to take in hand the Translation of these two Sermons following as being the good which I hauing opportunitie of time and place to accomplish might in no wise omit They were first preached and published in the Netherlandish Dutch for the benefit of the people of God in those parts which being also my desire in this place I according to my slender ability haue translated and published them here and as a token of the respect I beare vnto your worth and of the thanks I owe vnto you for the many fauourable fruites of your loue am bold to tender them vnto your acceptance and commit them vnto your Patronage They may fitly be tearmed the Anatomizing of the body of sinne a touch stone for a Christian or a Receipt for a sicke soule for they ioyntly containe matter suting vnto these three titles and vse full for all sortes of men as well those that have a name to be aliue but are dead hauing a shew of Religion but want substance as those that are Christians indeed and in truth Whose prayse is not of men but of God But being loath to be too troublesome vnto you with abundance of words I referre you vnto the booke it selfe which being iealous of mine owne errors and insufficiencie I submit vnto your judicious censure euer consecrating my selfe vnto you for your seruice in all that I am or shal be able to performe and my prayers vnto God for your safetie and protection in bodie and soule and thus I humbly take my leaue euer remaining your Worships to be commanded in whatsoeuer C◠HARMAR ¶ The Author his Epistle to the Reader ALthough in all the holy Scripture the word of truth it be found to be most true that in the world there is nothing more hatefull and fearefull then sinne yet daily experience teacheth that there are very few which are grieued and troubled therewith there are to bee found in this cursed world multitudes of them that mourne for their temporall losses and crosses the fruit of sinne one complaineth pittifully of his pouertie of the losse and damage he hath susteined another of his sicknesse of the griefe and paine that he hath suffered a third of the shame contempt disgrace or iniurie which this or that man hath offered vnto him but few consider that sinne is the mother of all this mischiefe yea when they are free from the foresaid inconueniences though they lie plunged and smoothered in sinne they are neuer touched therewith but passe away their time carelesly and securely Let them care that care will onely some few whose eyes God hath opened for to see the mysteries of his kingdome doe make their sinnes their greatest trouble and griefe and not without good cause for it is most certaine and true that he shall neuer see God with ioy hereafter in heauen which commeth not to see his sinnes with a holy and godly sorrow here vpon earth In this sense those that mourne are called blessed of our Sauiour himselfe Therefore for to moue men unto this godly sorrow for their sins and to stirre them vp vnto an holy zeale against all sinnes I haue published these Sermons following wherein I haue shewed how we may be deliuered both from the condemning and commanding power of sinne unto our eternall comfort whereby if any man reape benefit I shall highly reioyce in my labour herein bestowed Farewell in the Lord. Middleburgh the 21. of Iuly 1620. Thine in the Lord WILLIAM TEELINCK PAVL HIS COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS NATVRALL CORRVPTION WITH THE MEANES HOW TO be deliuered from the power of the same Set forth in two Sermons vpon the 24. verse of the 7. Chapter of his Epistle to the Romaynes O miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death THE Apostle Paul hauing declared at large in the foregoing verses the cumbersome contention he had with his flesh and naturall Corruption the which was alwayes in his way and exceedingly hindered him in the seruice of his God and now finding himselfe dangerously beset with this enemy he cryeth out for helpe as it were with a loud voyce saying O miserable man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of death The summe A mournefull Lamentation or Complaint against that naturall corruption wherwith the Apostle found himselfe oppressed The parts are these 1. Against what hee complaineth against the body of death 2. Who complaineth The Apostle himselfe I miserable man 3. How he complaineth Two manner of wayes First he declareth himselfe therefore to be miserable in that he hath this body of death about him secondly he wisheth to bee deliuered from it 1. Of what he Complaineth He complaineth of the body of death by which we must vnderstand as it appeareth in the former Verses our naturall corruption which makes vs in our selues vnapt to any good and prone and readie to all euill euen that originall sinne wherin we were conceiued and borne concerning which the Apostle formerly testifieth that it worketh death Ver. 13. And in another place is termed by him the body of sinne Rom. 6.6 in which respect also he declareth himselfe to be carnall sold vnder sinne ver 14. and witnesseth that it is in him a Law in his members whereby he is greatly hindered in the performance of obedience vnto the Law of God ver 22.23 But we shall better iudge of the meaning of this manner of speech if so be we obserue the reasons why originall sinne or naturall corruption is called a body yea a body of death Our naturall corruption is named a body for these reasons following 1. As a body hath many members so also hath this naturall corruption it is a coniunction or knitting together of many euill members or rather it spreadeth it selfe through all the powers and parts of the whole man therefore it is not onely called a body but also a Man even the olde Man Ephes 4.22 Implying that there is nothing in man which
and hast thou no holy indignation with thy selfe when thou hast broken the law of God Behold it is a signe thou art in a bad case Furthermore canst thou being poore and needie lament and bewayle thy state and cry out O miserable man and canst thou not because thou art sinfull cry out vnfainedly O miserable man Then it is greatly to bee feared that thou art not onely poore in body but also accursed in thy pouertie and want if so be thou remainest the same in soule as thou art Againe if thou hauing spoken a lye beene angry or peraduenture drunke the last night canst easily disgest it and goe on frolickly without once being touched at heart with any sorrow for it behold it is a lamentable signe that thou art dead in sin and art blind not hauing an eye to see the hatefulnes of sinne that thou hatest not sinne as thou shouldest nor iudgest of it as God doth yea that thou art altogether in sinne and sinne in thee is in its owne place And to be short it is an infallible signe that if thou cryest not out because of thy sinnes O miserable man who shall deliuer me Thou thy selfe art one of the most miserable men that liueth vpon the earth Secondly here is great cause of mourning and lamentation For is it not a miserable thing that sinne which is so common in the world among name-bearing Christians and hath so many lamentable effects is so little complained of by men and yet the want of being troubled with it is such an infallible signe of a miserable soule Hath not sinne as a sea ouer-flowne all places goe vnto the houses shopps markets counsells Courts Consistories Churches or any place els and if it bee full of men you shall finde it to be full of sinne also but where shall you finde the holy complaint and outcry of Paul against sinne Where shall you find those that from their hearts hold themselues to be miserable because they be sinfull and make the sorrow for their sinnes to exceed all their other sorrowes as the Saints of God were wont to doe Nay are there not multitudes to bee found which harden themselues in sinne and are so far from any remorse of Conscience for sinne that they reioyce and take pleasure in it and are at no time so much grieued as when they cannot bring their sinfull intents to effect not making a meale but it must be with sinne to whom it is not enough that they eat and drinke but they must eat and drinke sinfully or els they cannot bee merry there are also those that plough iniquitie Hosea 10.13 that are inuenters of wicked things Rom. 1.30 Workers of vnrighteousnesse practitioners in sinne whose will and vnderstanding are onely imployed to plot and deuise iniquitie to couer extenuate and defend it with subtle Arguments or so cunningly and cleanly to carry their sinfull and vngodly proiects that they may not be perceiued There are likewise those that liue onely in sinne whose meate and drinke it is to worke iniquitie Pro. 4.16 There are also those that build their houses and hold them open in sinne as those wicked and filthy Alehouses and worse yet all these will giue themselues out for true Christians and appropriate vnto themselues the comforts and prerogatiues of the Children of God when remaining as they are they haue no part in them which is a thing altogether lamentable and miserable Thirdly this serueth to terrifie and affright all abstinate and hard hearted men which drinke in iniquitie like water and can without any sorrow or remorse of conscience commit and digest the most grosse and abominable sinnes which can lye sweare deceiue drinke drunke prophane the Sabboth or doe any wicked thing els and yet passe away their time in ioy and mirth yea and boast of their strong faith and that they are sure of the pardon of their sinnes and the saluation of their soules But the faith of these men is mad and foolish it is no Apostolicall faith it is not of the nature of the Apostle Pauls faith who being vpon good groundes assured that his sinnes were forgiuen yet was troubled and grieued with them euen as a maide who hauing slipt into folly and now liueth chastly mourneth and lamenteth all her life long because of the scandall reproach where with shee hath steined her selfe although shee be forgiuen of her friends and companions and as well respected and esteemed by them as she was in times past but the peace and securitie of those idle and vaine boasters ariseth not from the strength of their faith but onely from this that they haue a dead and benummed Conscience and are still in their naturall state where sinne being as in its proper element is not heauie and grieuous But looke before thee thou wretched man behold there shall a judgement come and then thou shalt know that this thy idle ioy and mirth is nothing els but the seede of thine eternall paine and torment vnlesse thou doest in time turne and repent for it is most certaine that thou must either temporally here or els eternally hereafter lament and bewayle thy sinnes Fourthly this serueth to reproue those large Consciences which when they see the Childe of God humbled and grieued for his sins are wont to maruaile and say they know not wherefore one should be so troubled for sinne for God is mercifull say they Christ is dead and all things are well but did not the Apostle know what hee did when he cryed out so earnestly because of his sinnes O miserable man who shall deliuer mee But these men doe not know that it is the property of the childe of God to mourne and grieue because he hath displeased his good and gracious Father by his sinnes although with the Apostle he be confident that they be remitted euen as a good natured childe when he hath committed a fault will be sorry that he hath offended his Father although he hath forgiuen him Lastly here is matter of comfort and encouragement for all those which out of the sense and feeling of their sinnes and corruptions are vnfainedly grieued and troubled with them complaining and crying out from their harts with the Apostle O miserable man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of death Oh my beloued brethren and sisters be not dismayed because you find sinne to be so heauie a burthen behold it must be so if you wil be eased of it the more light a man thinks it is the more heauie and grieuous it shall fall vpon him it is a signe that you are in a ioyful estate if your greatest sorrow be for your sins a wound being full of dead flesh smarteth not but then it is the more incurable it is a liuing and quicke conscience that feeleth the smart of sin this corruption is not felt by corruption it is a signe that there is spirituall life in vs when we can mourne for the transgression
as it were receiuing their deaths wound beganne presently to decay being in the first place depriued of that excellent beautie and luster wherewith they were cloathed For at first they were more glorious and beautifull in their bodies then the Lillyes in Paradise but when this filthie pollution had once ouerrunne them then beganne they to be ashamed of their owne bodies and to couer them yea this sinne so wrought vpon them that by reason therof they could not remaine in Paradise but went and hid themselues amongst the trees of the Garden Gen. 3. Such deadly and destroying poyson both to soule and bodie there is in this corruption This naturall corruption is also called a bodie of death because it engendreth and bringeth forth a broode of deadly sinnes Iam. 1.14.15 Which are nothing else but dead workes Heb. 6.1 Dauid hauing committed those two great and haynous sinnes of Adultery and Murther and being greatly humbled and broken in hart for the same went as one would say to seeke out the fountaine by the streame and to enquire how it might come to passe that he should so exceeding foolishly forget himselfe and he findes his naturall corruption to be the originall cause from whence those most hatefull and deadly crimes did proceede Psalme 51.5 Wherefore in this regard with good cause is it termed a bodie of death It is likewise called a body of death because it is destined to euerlasting death as the man in whom it raigneth Rom. 6.23 Euen as Dauid was called a Childe of death not onely because he had killed another but because he himselfe had deserued to die So this corruption is likewise called a bodie of death because it is condemned to die and to death it must goe Colos 3.5 Gal. 5.24 Yea it is a matter of such consequence that what man soeuer doth not in this life begin to kill and crucifie this monster he himselfe shall die eternally As the Apostle sayth Rom 8.13 If you liue after the flesh yee shall die that is to say eternally for wee must all die once Heb 9. ver 27. but if by the spirit yee mortifie the deedes of the bodie that is of this wicked body of sinne which is condemned to die Rom 6.6 yee shall liue Thus then stands it with this naturall corruption this hatefull vgly monster that vnlesse we begin to kill it while we are here it will not onely bring vpon vs the spirituall death of our soules and the temporall death of our bodies but also the eternall death of both whereby we shall perish for euer Yea wee haue all of vs alreadie deserued that we together with our naturall corruption or sinful flesh should be pluckt out of the Land of the liuing and cast into euerlasting darkenesse where is weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth But here in appeareth the wonderfull and vnspeakeable louing kindnesse patience and long suffering of God inviting vs to repentance and saluation in that there is space giuen vs here wherin to repent and crucifie this body of death Therefore it is the greatest madnesse that can be in the world that a poore wretched condemned caytiffe dares be so bold as to put off from day to day his Repentance and the mortifying of the wicked body of his originall corruption which he knowes not in how short a time may bring him into euerlasting perdition Behold these are the reasons for which the Apostle nameth our naturall corruption a bodie of death from whence ariseth this obseruation that the originall corruption wherein wee were all conceiued and borne is a most deformed mishapen bodie of death a monster altogether vgly and fearefull Which is manifest in that it not onely corrupteth and destroyeth soule and bodie but also bringeth them both into euerlasting condemnation vnlesse a course be taken in time as it was plainely proued in the opening of the Text and may also further be gathered out of this that the Apostle himselfe cryeth out so earnestly and complaineth that he is a miserable man because hee was troubled and oppressed therewith For this cause is it that naturall vnregenerate men in whom the corrupt flesh hath the vpperhand are so commonly in the Scriptures compared to most noysome and hurtfull Creatures as Serpents and Vipers Mat 23.33 Lyons Psal 10.9 Beares Pro 28.15 Rauening Wolues Mat 7.15 Wilde Swine Psal 80.13 wilde Asses Iob 1â— 12 Foxes and young Foxes which spoyle and bring to naught euery thing about which they come Cant 2.15 Yea the naturall man is sayd to haue the Diuell to his Father Ioh 8.44 So that a child is not more like to his Father then an vnregenerate man spiritually is to the Diuell and iudge you what a monstrous thing this is that man which was created after Gods owne image should now bee likened vnto those Creatures aforesaid not onely in some respects as God himselfe is vnto some of them but euen in the most odious and hatefull things that are in them and not onely so but in sinne and wickednesse to resemble the Diuell himselfe too therefore the Scripture sayth of carnall men which haue nothing in them but nature that their throte is an open Sepulcher the poyson of Aspes is under their lips their mouth is sull of cursing and bitternesse their feete are swift to shed bloud destruction and calamity are in their wayes as in the way of some deuouring Monster which destroyes and spoyles all things where he passeth or comes For this cause is it that the Saints of GOD whose eyes he hath opened for to see the hatefulnesse of this Monster our naturall corruption which wee all brought with vs into the world from our Mothers wombe had rather die then fulfill the lusts thereof which are alwayes against God and contrary to his holy Commandements Such is the nature of this body of death that it will no longer do any worke of God then it may with profit or pleasure and when eyther of these is crost then farewell obedience If Nabuchadnezzar commands contrary to the Law of God that all men must worship the Golden Image or els be cast into the fiery furnace naturall corruption flesh and bloud will straight way conclude that it is best to obey the King but the Saints of God which know the hatefulnesse of this Monster will rather vndergoe the punishment then giue it his desire If that adulterous woman Potiphars wife should goe about to draw Ioseph to commit folly with her this monster our naturall corruption would presently consent but Ioseph the seruant of God rather then he will doe so will leaue his garment behinde and venture his life too for he knoweth that this body of death is a fearefull vgly monster the lusts whereof are enmitie to God Yea the accursed vnregenerate wretches themselues whose ioy delight and chiefest happines is placed in pleasing their corrupt sinfull flesh and whose onely care and studie is to satisfie the lustes of this vile and
flesh then beginne they to iustifie themselues and to say we haue all drunke of one cup he that is without sinne let him cast the first stone at me haue I my imperfections Another hath his I am not alone I hope I shall get into heauen as well as another and so they set themselues in equall degree with the true Children of God they themselues being no other then fleshly men and children of the world But thou miserable man which speakest after this manner vnderstandest thou not or wilt thou not vnderstand that there is a great difference betweene hauing the sinfull flesh in one and fighting with it and hauing it in one and louing and seruing it in the lustes thereof Is there no difference betweene chast Ioseph who being set vpon by Potiphars wife and tempted to commit folly ranne away and betweene the light and wanton woman who sought to draw him vnto it Is there no difference betweene a modest and chast Matron who hauing a Ruffian in her house resisteth him striueth against him seeketh by all meanes to driue him out and cryeth out earnestly O wretched woman that I am who shall deliuer me from this wicked villaine and betweene a lasciuious woman which reioyceth and is glad that the Ruffian is in her house which maketh a bed for him and solaceth her selfe with him so is there great difference betweene you which let sin raigne in your mortall bodies that you might obey it in the lusts thereof Rom. 6.12 and betweene the seruants of God which wrestle and fight with it and labour to beat it downe and bring it in subiection 1 Cor. 9 27. Yea there is so great difference marke it well that you with your sinfull flesh shall be cast into Hell where you shall eternally be tormented if in time you repent not where on the contrary side the Children of God shall be freed and deliuered from their sinfull flesh and be exalted into Heauen yea behold there is so great difference betweene you two that the one shall be damned and the other saued the one goe to heauen and the other to hell But although this naturall corruption is not alike in all men yet it is truely in all men and that in the very best as daily experience teacheth for who is there among the most holy and sanctified that liue which feeleth not in himselfe the pricke of the corrupt flesh and findeth not something to be in him which standeth in his way keepeth him from doing the good which he would doe greatly hindering him in the seruice of the most high First this serueth to incite and stirre vp euery one to walke warily and circumspectly seeing that we carry about vs and in vs such a bodie of sinne and of death such a deadly and deceitfull monster as the flattering flesh which alwayes lieth in ambush to entrap the soule and is conspired with the Diuell to bring it vnto destruction Shall we not then stand vpon our gard Shall wee not watch and pray and put on all the Christian Armour of proofe to defend our selues withall how can a poore man escape destruction and condemnation if he looketh not well to himselfe seeing he is so beset on euery side within and without with such dangerous and cruell enemies Admit that a Frontier towne be straightly besieged with a strong Army without and hath within it mutinous souldiers which alwayes seeke their opportunitie to betray and deliuer it ouer into the enemies handes how can such a Towne bee safe if good watch be not kept Must it not of necessitie be wasted and ransacked vnlesse the Citizens doe take more then common care and diligence to secure themselues We see it is bad enough with a Cittie in such a case let it doe the best it can and euen thus standeth it with vs the Diuell runneth round about vs seeking to deuoure our soules the corrupt flesh is within vs readie to betray our soules into his hands how then can wee auoid destruction if we be secure and negligent For this cause sayth the Scripture If the righteous shall scarcely be saned where shall the sinner and vngodly man appeare 1. Pet. 4.18 If that the Apostle Paul was thus troubled and grieued with the sin that cleaued so fast vnto him which was then vpon his guard and stroue manfully with it which had then denied himselfe and made it his continuall practise and trade to beate downe and kill this bodie of sinne 1. Cor. 9.27 What will then become of secure and negligent men that take no more care for their noble and precious soule then as though there were no deceitfull Sathan alwayes seeking his aduantages to enter vpon it nor any corrupt flesh and body of death to kill and putrifie it It shall surely come vnto them as the Apostle sayth when they shall say peace and safetie then shall come vpon them suddaine destruction as the trauayle vpon a woman with childe and they shall not escape 1. Thes 5.3 vnlesse in time they preuent it And it is most certaine that all this securitie which is in worldly and carnall men ariseth onely from this that they neither thinke nor consider that there is a whole kingdome of darknesse and all the power of hell vp in armes for to destroy their soule and a whole bodie of death and of sinne within them which is euermore readie to betray them into the hands of the destroyer this ignorance is the cause and ground of all their securitie for did they but see how mighty and cruell their enemies are and what deadly and poysonous concupiscences they carry in their bosomes they would surely be affrighted and tremble and cry out with the Apostle as if they were in some great exigent O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death Wherefore we must suffer our selues to be admonished euermore to stand vpon our guard to pray to haue God alwayes before our eyes and often to heare read and meditate on his Word and to follow his will reuealed therein those that are subiect to any disease in their bodie as the stone the gout or the like when they beginne to perceiue any signe of their old griefe they presently make their moane and complaine of it and liue more carefully respectiuely auoiding whatsoeuer may further and encrease their disease vsing all meanes to haue it cured so must we also doe for our soules vnlesse by giuing ouer all care of them we brand our selues with the marke of men reprobated and giuen vp of God In the second place this serueth for the iust reproofe of the exceeding great blindnesse and sottishnesse of many worldly and carnall men who because they lead an outward ciuill life among their neighbours paying euery man his owne and defrauding no man of a penny as their manner of speech is are therefore accustomed to iustifie themselues before God and beare themselues in hand that they haue no
and doest not studie to obey and please them but seekest by the spirit to mortifie and kill them know I say that thou art a childe of God continue therefore in thy spirituall combat fight valiantly and put on all the Christian armour of proofe and let this serue to make thee long and desire to be deliuered from this body of death and to be with Christ and in the meane time be humbled in thy selfe and patient toward thy brother out of the sense of thine owne imperfections and striue not onely against this or that sinne according to the manner of worldly men whereby it appeareth that their heart is not vpright with God but with the Apostle fight against the whole bodie of sinne vsing the meanes that God hath ordained whereby thou mayest ouercome and auoiding all occasions that may make thee fall and so doing be assured in thy selfe that thus to striue against thy naturall corruption is an infallible marke that thou art a Childe of God and a sure ground of vnspeakeable comfort ⸪ ⧠The second Sermon Thirdly How the Apostle lamenteth ouer the bodie of Death The Apostle his lamentation is two-fold first he declareth himselfe therefore to be miserable secondly he wisheth to bee deliuered Of both which wee shall speake by Gods assistance and first of this that the Apostle declareth himselfe to beo miserable because he had the bodie of death in him O miserable man sayth the Apostle who shall deliuer me It is very strange the Apostle lamenteth here after this manner in other places he affirmeth and that confidently that hee reioyced euen in the greatest tribulations 2 Cor. 4.8 c. 2 Cor. 6.4 c. How doth he here then so mournefully complaine Did he speake from his heart when he said O miserable man Was he not then a man blessed of the Lord Was he not then assured of his saluation How commeth it then that he calleth himselfe miserable Without doubt the Apostle speaketh here in good earnest for he was then in a hot skirmish and had little time or cause to dally or lest yea he spake not onely in earnest but also vpon good groundes for the other afflictions wherein hee sayth he did glory and reioyce were outward afflictions wherein in truth hee might well reioyce but here he speaketh as wee haue heard before of his naturall corruption of the sinne that hanged fast vpon him and of the olde man which he began to behold in all the parts and members thereof The which made him lament and complaine in good earnest as being a thing out of which he could draw no comfort at all in which regard he might instly account himselfe to be miserable For this body of death considered in it selfe maketh a man truely wretched and miserable the which may sufficiently be gathered out of the first part of our Text whereunto wee will briefely adde that the body of death in respect of which the Apostle so earnestly complaineth hath these miserable and cursed effects which follow First it defaceth and depraueth the Image of God the which is a thing altogether lamentable and miserable If a man doth breake a leg or an arme how doth he cry out and complaine of his misery What cause then is there of mourning and complaint when the soule of man is broken to peeces and made vnfit for euery good vse When the most noble and eminent of man is â—â—terly depraued and corrupted Wee see that in a mans body when any member is wounded or afflicted with any griefe the more worthie and excellent that member is the greater is both the griefe and danger of the sore prick a man in the arme or the legg with the point of a Needle and he will both feele it complaine of it but pricke him in the apple of his eye and that shall pierce him to the heart and make him cry out If it bee so with the eye of the body how great is the paine and griefe when the eye of the minde is not onely prickt but wholly put out When the most noble and precious soule is wounded and that to death this is it that made the Apostle cry out O miserable man Secondly Man thus depraued in soule by originall corruption is by nature a childe of disobedience and a child of wrath Ephes 2.2.2 That is vnfit for the seruice of God liable to the curse of God both which are miseries beyond comparison First he cannot doe the workes of God for he is as a broken tooth which serueth for no vse at all and as a broken arme wherewith a man cannot worke As soone as a man beginnes to frame himselfe vnto the seruice of God hee findeth his corruption euer to be in his way so that the good that he willingly would doe he cannot doe as he would With this are the children of God greatly moued howsoeuer the children of the world which put not forth their strength to the seruice of God feele no inconuenience herein euen as one that hath a broken legge and lyeth still feeleth not the smart thereof so much as he that is euer assaying to walke and therefore they complaine not neuerthelesse this exceedingly grieueth the seruants of God and they account it as a great misery that they can no better performe their dutie to God Secondly the naturall man is liable to the curse of God Deut. 27.26 He that destroyeth the image of God him will God destroy This is it that did cast many of the Angells out of heauen into hell this droue Adam out of Paradise and maketh all the sonnes of men subiect vnto eternall death and from hence doe arise all the plagues and punishments which are inflicted vpon man now as a man hauing committed murther being come to himselfe accounteth himselfe to be miserable in regard of the offence which maketh him worthie of death although he be neither apprehended nor condemned to die euen so it is with the children of God who notwithstanding that they are deliuered as the Apostle was from the feare of death thorough our Lord Iesus Christ Heb. 2.15 yet because they know that their sinfulnesse causeth God to hide his cheareful countenance from them Esay 59.2 Which is vnto them as bitter as death it selfe therefore they cry out vnfainedly because of this bodie of death O miserable man Now in that the Apostle himselfe which had alreadie in a great measure mortified and subdued this body of death 1 Cor. 9.27 yet neuerthelesse so pitifully complaineth against it whereas there are many thousands that goe frolikely along being neuer touched much lesse troubled therewith yet are as it were wrapped and plunged ouer head and cares in sinne and iniquitie from thence followeth this Doctrine The more sanctified and holy that a man is the more sensible is he of his corruptions and the more troublesome are they vnto him This is manifest in that the Apostle that was none of the
nearer vnto them and demand of them vpon what ground they hope that God will be more mercifull vnto them for to saue them from hell and bring them to heauen then he is to many other whom he casteth into destruction then they are at a stand not knowing what to say or doe or it may be run vnto their workes for to seeke their saluation there or els answere you that it is too high a question for them and that they are not so deepely learned and albeit they are conuinced that they are ignorant of the meanes wherby they may be deliuered from eternall perdition yet they let it sticke there troubling themselues no further but goe on carelesly and securely not so much as once asking or inquiring of that man of God which hath so conuinced them how and which way they may be deliuered but let it so remaine being negligent of their eternall good and this their fearefull miserable blockishnesse and dotage ariseth onely from this that they haue no sense nor feeling of the miserable estate wherein they are by sinne but onely prate and discourse of it because they heare others doe so thinking that men must say so and because for the present they haue their bodily health and the things of this world at will and feele no smart in their consciences for they are dead in sinnes and trespasses and consequently without feeling therefore are they secure and seeke not to bee deliuered from their sinnes but liue taking their pleasure and delight therein for they haue neither true knowledge nor feeling of the misery and wretchednesse whereinto their sinnes haue brought them how their soule is depraued and corrupted and what a curse hangeth ouer them but this securitie of theirs is like vnto that of a condemned person who sleeping before execution is secure no longer then his sleepe dureth for from this that worldly men are ignorant of the misery wherein they are thorough their sinnes ariseth it that they are so negligent and carelesse not troubling not themselues with the Apostle about their deliuerance nor yet once looking after Christ Iesus vnfainedly and heartily whereas had they learned tightly to know and vnderstand the misery wherein they are by reason of their sinnes they would with all earnestnesse and vehemencie haue sought their deliuerance from the body of death as the Apostle did Secondly this sheweth how necessary it is that the Law should be thoroughly Preached to the end that men being made thereby to know the miserable and woefull estate whereinto their sins haue brought them might the better be driuen to seeke their deliuerance thorough Iesus Christ For it is most certain that neither the deliuerance is heartily sought after nor Iesus Christ the Physitian worthily esteemed there where the hate fulnesse of sinne and the greatnesse of the misery by reason of sinne is not thoroughly knowne Goe tell a man which feeleth no griefe and thinketh himselfe to be well and in health that he should seeke for helpe and goe vnto the Physitian for to be cured and he will mocke and deride you but one that findeth his disease and feeleth the paine thereof will thanke you for your counsell so vntill such time that men haue learned thoroughly to know their misery Iesus Christ the Physitian is not respected nor accounted off according to his worth and desert and although the Ministers of Christ come vnto them praying and beseeching them in the name of Christ and entreating them for the loue of Christ to carrie themselues so and so yet these men which know not their misery regard it not at all but set light by all the requestes and entreaties of Christ and suffer his Ministers to pray and entreate as much as they will passing away their time without any care or thought at all and no maruayle for they feele no want of Christ neither finde they any more sweetnesse in the Lord Iesus then in a dry Wort-stalke But on the contrary side those that haue learned truely to know their misery and which giue vp their hearts soules vnto Christ for to be deliuered thorough him those esteeme and count of all things as dung and drosse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Iesus Christ whatsoeuer is required of these in the name of Christ as soone as they truely know it to bee his will they fashion themselues according vnto it they onely being those that honour and esteeme of Christ according vnto his worth and excellencie as daily experience maketh it vndeniably manifest for this cause we see it to be most necessary that men should learne to know their misery by the preaching of the law to the end that they may come vnto the Gospell for their deliuerance in and thorough Iesus Christ Thirdly This serueth to admonish all those which seeke to be deliuered from the bodie of death that they willingly and gladly suffer the reproofe and reprehension of their sinnes and the discouery of the filthinesse and hatefulnesse of them but men are impatient of this auoyding shunning it as the death yet without this they cannot be deliuered from the body of death some when they heare sinne sharply reproued cry out that it is the way to preach men to destruction but truely they know not what they say are they those that thinke to bee deliuered by their owne workes that they cannot suffer to haue it truely declared vnto them that the very best of them according to the tenor and strictnesse of the Law hath by their owne actions deserned no lesse then hell and damnation But if they be wise right minded Christians let them be willing to heare their owne insufficiencie and vnworthinesse discouered and layd open vnto them that they may the more reuerence and esteeme of Iesus Christ and learne not in their owne workes but in his worthines and merites to seeke their deliuerance and saluation and to acknowledge and follow him not from the teeth outwardes like hypocrites but vnfainedly and from their hearts as the onely Physitian and sauiour of their soules Therefore most commendable is the practise of those Ministers of God which are carefull earnest to lay open before mens eyes their insufficiencie vilenesse and cursed estate by nature endeuouring by that meanes to bring men highly to esteeme of Christ whom the end of all our preaching is to make knowne vnto them for by experience we finde and the truth it selfe maketh it cleare that our Lord Iesus Christ is worthily esteemed and honoured of none but of such as by the feeling of their misery are brought into the estate of the Apostle when he cryed out O miserable man who shall deliuer me from this body of death Fourthly this serueth to admonish vs whensoeuer we finde our selues wanting in our loue and due estimation of Christ and feele that wee haue not such a heartie and grounded affection vnto him and such a hungry desire and longing after our deliuerance from the