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
need to feare hell yea heauen is their due notwithstanding they are conuinced in conscience that they are sinfull yet they know no other sinnes that they haue then some small sinnes which they hold to be veniall and those they thinke are so few in number that they need not to make any doubt of their saluation and in the meane time they forget that howsoever they carry it outwardly there is a whole body of death in them which maketh them accursed before God and lyable vnto eternall condemnation this they consider not but say in their heart I am no thiefe no murtherer no drunkard no cheater no whore-monger I can go to Church with my neighbours I need not hide my head for any man and why should they tell me then that I shall not come to heauen as well as another And in the meane while poore men they thinke nor what God hath to say vnto them and what he can alledge against them they weigh and consider not that there is a body of death in them which maketh them to be damnable and accursed before God yea though while they liue they should neither moue nor stirre and doe neither good nor bad But O thou poore man that art thus minded how lamentable is thy case Thou hasf a whole body of sinne with in thee and that as thou liest and sleepest there is a moustrous deformitie in thee which maketh thoe most abominable before God and being not couered will certeinly bring thee to hell thy naturall corruption possesseth thy soule killeth it and maketh it stinke before God Psal 53.2 It destroyeth thy body also for from whence thinkest thou doth it come that thy body is subiect vnto so many paines and difeases that it so decayeth and consumeth away commeth it not from this inward bodie of sinne which hath in it selfe the sting of temporall and eternall death 1 Cor. 15.56 So then yee need not be a thiefe or a murtherer or an adulterer or a drunkard or a deceiuer or an vsurer thou mayest chuse whether thou wilt take so much paines for to goe to hell remaine the same that thou art by nature and thou shalt not escape it continue still an olde wife vnto the olde Man as by nature thou art and thou canst not be saued thou must perish Luc. 13.3.5 if so be thou art not renewed in the spirit of thy minde if the hand of God come not vpon thee if his spirit worketh not in thy heart and create in thee a new heart and a new spirit if hee causeth not the light of his grace to arise in thy heart that thou mayest no longer remaine darkenesse but mayest be light as the day beginning to breake if this I say be not wrought in thy heart it is not possible that thou shouldest euer enter into the kingdome of heauen or inherite eternall life for thou hast a bodie of death in thee which will bring thee into euerlasting death except thou begin to kill the works of this body which thou canst not doe but thorough the spirit which by nature thou hast not neither canst haue but from God alone O what a lamentable thing is it that the naturall man is so blockish and dull that hee not so much as once thoroughly considereth this admonish and exhort these men to marke Gods word diligently to repaire to the Congregation of the faith to watch and pray to redeeme the time and to worke out their saluation with feare and trembling they cast it in the wind they see no reason why they should so trouble themselues they suppose it standeth well enough with them because they are not so openly scandalous and offensiue in their conuersation as others and peraduenture somewhat better then some of their neighbours of whom they report that there is no goodnes in them when as they themselues know not yet what it meaneth to be renewed in the spirit of their minde and what it is to mortifie the deeds of the body thorough the spirit Thirdly let this serue to exhort all the people of God to put farre from them this opinion and conceite of worldly and carnall men let vs giue out selues no rest till we finde that we are renewed in the spirit of our minde and that wee haue some power thorough the spirit to mortifie the workes of this body of death let vs also take heed that we be not so foolish as to seeke our iustification in our selues or in our owne works nothing but that which is perfect can stand before the judgement of God but wee haue a body of sinne in vs which hinders vs from perfection therfore let vs seeke it onely in Iesus Christ our Lord. Fourthly this may moue vs to humilitie shall we be proud and insolent which beare about vs and in vs a body of death which are condemned men vpon whom by the law of God the sentence of death hath already passed Is it a seemely thing that persons condemned and readie to be executed should be proud and arrogant shall we then be high minded and grudging shall we be enuious and malicious shall we be wanton and carelesse which haue in vs a body of death whereby we are lyable vnto eternall death Shall wee in the pride of our hearts make of our body of death a body of insolencie and murmuring a body of voluptuousnesse and mirth a body of wantonnesse and iesting let that be far from vs humilitie becommeth condemned men Abraham was humbled because he was but dust and ashes Gen. 18 27. and shall not we be so too which are nothing els but an accursed lumpe Iob was humbled because the fores had ouer-runne his body but the naturall corruption hath runne thorough all the parts and powers of our soule and body and shall we not be humbled shall a man be cast downe for a disease in the body and shall wee that are so deadly sicke in soule not be cast downe at all Fiftly here is matter of comfort and encouragement to all good hearts who knowing that there is a body of death in them are therewith vnfainedly grieued and troubled and earnestly busied and exercised in mortifying and killing the same by the spirit doe notwithstanding feele in themselues the prickes of the flesh and the continuall buffetts and assaults of this body of sinne Behold my beloued brothers and sisters bee not dismayed and thinke not therefore that you are Bastards among the sonnes of God No as you haue before heard it is the lot of all the Children of God marke in all the foregoing verses of the seuenth chapter to the Romanes what the Apostle himselfe had to doe with his naturall corruption be not then discouraged but stand to it stoutly and although the Deuill goes about to perswade thee that thou art no child of God because thou feelest the pricke of the flesh so strong in thee yet know for certaine that in as much as thou striuest manfully with thy corruptions
and iniquitie of our sinnes I say for the transgression iniquitie of our sins because they are contrary to the will of God and do displease him the children of the world which are dead in sinne can mourne and lament enough for the punishment which is or they feare will come vpon them by reason of their sinnes but it is the propertie of the children of God to sorrow and grieue because by their sins they haue offended and displeased their good and gracious Father so then goe forwardes thus must it be with you if you will haue it be well with you step one step further with the Apostle and as with him you mourne because of the wickednesse of your sins so cease not and giue your selues no rest till with him also you finde your selues to bee deliuered both from the guilt dominion of sin thorough Iesus Christ our Lord whereof by his assistance wee purpose to speake in this part of the Text which now followeth HEre the Apostle wisheth to be deliuered from the bady of death O miserable man sayth he who shall deliuer me from this body of death Now we are deliuered from the body of death in this life for therunto hath the Apostle respect as it appeareth in the verse following when in this life we are saved from our sinnes Mat. 1.21 namely when we haue not onely obteined forgiuenesse of our sins but are also strengthened against the power of sin more and more set free from the bondage therof Ioh. 8.32.36 thus the Apostle wisheth here that the power of his corruptions might more more be broken and decayed Moreouer the Apostle here wishing asketh who shall deliuer him which we must not vnderstand as though he did not know thorough whom hee should be deliuered for he declareth in the verse following that he knew it well enough but here he asketh the question onely to let vs vnderstand that in himselfe he found no meanes whereby he might be deliuered Like Iosaphat being enuironed with his enemies seeing no way to escape cryed vnto God for helpe 2 Chron. 18.31 Or as the sea-faring men who in time of storme and tempest when their owne art and industrie cannot helpe them doe cry vnto the Lord Psal 107.28.29 So the Apostle cryeth here as out of great miserie and affliction vnto God for helpe knowing that it must come onely from him for sinne maketh man so miserable that nothing but the almightie power of God can deliuer him for by sinne we are cast vnder the feete of Sathan we lie condemned vnto eternall death and the wrath of God is incensed kindled against our soules for which who knoweth in himselfe any remedy Iudas finding none ran vnto the tree but Paul runneth vnto Christ vers 25. For it is the sonne of God alone which can deliuer the wretched sons of men from the misery of their sinnes But some man may aske how commeth it to passe that the Apostle Paul which was none of the greatest sinners yea which was alreadie in a great measure freed from the might of sinne yet wisheth thus earnestly to bee deliuered more and more from it whereas the children of the world which lie euen drowned therein and are very slaues vnto it yet speake not once of this deliuerance Beloued it came from this that the Apostle had a feeling and experimentall knowledge of the misery that ariseth from sinne and therefore hee wisheth to be deliuered from it this the children of the world doe not feele and therefore they thinke not of deliuerance he that can feelingly and vnfainedly complaine that he is miserable because he is sinfull he will also heartily cry out and wish to be deliuered from sinne from hence followeth this obseruation The true sense and feeling of the misery which sinne bringeth vs into causeth vs vnfainedly to seeke our deliuerance out of sinne by Iesus Christ This we see manifestly in the Apostle Paul For this cause was it that our Lord Iesus Christ according to his infinite wisedome sent Iohn the Baptist before him as a forerunner to prepare the way for him by teaching men to know their misery whereinto they were brought thorough sin to the end that they might seeke their deliuerance out of sinne thorough Christ Mat. 3. For this cause also is the law preached that me◠being thereby brought to the knowledg of their misery through sin Rom. 7.7 might the better be driuen to Christ in which respect the Law is called our leader to Christ Gal. 3.24 In this regard also Christ sayth that those that are whole haue no neede of the Physitian but those that feele their maladies they call and cry for him And the reason is because it is by nature ingrafted into all Creatures when they are in distresse and misery to seeke ease and deliuerance as the young Rauens in the wood when they are hungry doe cry vnto God Psal 147.9 And the greater the misery and affliction is the greater is the desire to be deliuered Now there is no smart like vnto the smart of sin vnto a feeling conscience and there is no affliction like vnto the affliction of the conscience for as wee sayd before the more noble and excellent that member is which is affected with any sore the greater is the griefe and paine thereof So the soule being the most worthie and eminent part of Man and in misery and distresse the sorrow and griefe must of necessitie be great and the desire to be deliuered from it equall thereunto Vses First this serueth for to discouer vnto vs from whence it commeth that there are so many which notwithstanding they are miserably possessed with this body of sinne and polluted with all manner of impious transgressiōs the damnable brood thereof yet neuer seeke for their deliuerance truly it commeth onely from this that they know not the misery wherein they are by sin yea from whence commeth it that many a man goeth vnder the curse of God because of his sinnes and neuer thinkes of his deliuerance passing along as it were with an easie gale in a smooth Sea without any perturbation at all and many also who knowing that they are sinfull and being ignorant of the meanes whereby they may be deliuered yet are not a whit troubled aske them haue you not sinned against God they will answere yes then aske them whether they by their sinnes haue not deserued eternall death euen as others they confesse that also aske them then what meanes they know whereby to be deliuered from the body of death they answere that God is mercifull and they trust that he will not cast them away because of their sinnes but will saue them for his mercies sake Demand of them then whether God saueth all and condemneth none they must needs acknowledge that the way is broad that leadeth into destruction and many there be that enter into it and that there be goates as well as sheepe then come
body of death thorough this Prince of life as we should that then we betake our selues vnto a serious and due consideration of the manifold and wonderfull hatefulnesse and vilenesse of our sinnes how miserably the image of God is thereby depraued and defaced in vs how vnfit it maketh vs for the seruice of God how fearefully by it the wrath of God is kindled against vs how thereby wee haue deserued eternall death and damnation and consequently what great neede we haue of the mediation of Iesus Christ and this will make vs aboue all things vnlesse we are dead in sinne seeke our deliuerance from this body of death thorough Iesus Christ our Lord as the Apostle did Now in that the Apostle thus earnestly and aboue all things in the world as here it is manifest wisheth desireth and longeth more and more to be deliuered and freed from the power of sinne and in as much as he elsewhere requireth vs to be his followers from hence ariseth this instruction that it behooueth vs aboue all things in the world with all diligâ—nce to endeuour more and more to be deliuered from the power of sinne We see here in our Text that it is the practise of the Apostle and his example being good we ought to make it our rule This hath euermore beene the opinion and practise of all the seruants of God as it is here the out-cry of the Apostle Who shall deliuer me from this body of death Such is Dauids wish Psal 119.5 O that my way were directed to keepe thy statutes and it hath not onely beene the longing and desire of the seruants of God but also their daily practise and endeuour to attaine vnto it as the Apostle Paul witnesseth of himselfe that he desired in all things to walke honestly Heb. 13.18 Yea that it was his daily occupation his greatest exercise and endeuour to haue alwayes a cleare conscience toward God and towardes men Act. 24.16 And Dauid also testifieth as much of himselfe that he refrained his feete from euery euill way that he might keepe Gods word Psal 119.101 First This must be the endeuour of euery one that will serue God because true Religion and vndefiled before God euen the Father is to visite the widdow and fatherlesse in their aduersitie and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world Secondly If so be we were in slauery vnder the Turkes should wee not by all meanes labour for our libertie If we were griped in the clawes of a Lyon should we not desire and striue to come forth If we were in danger of some fearefull fire or ouer-flowing of water should we not make the best speed we could to escape Now the bondage the tyranny the brunt the flood of sinne is worse then the bondage of the Turkes the crueltie of a Lyon or the vnmercifulnesse of fire or water for these fasten onely on the body and but for a short space but the other on the soule and that for euer Therefore vnlesse wee will make it appeare that we be vnbeleeuing contemners and mockers of the Doctrine of heauen and hell and whatsoeuer appertaineth thereunto accounting it as meerely verball and vaine babbling Let vs aboue all things in the world labour and endeuour more and more to be deliuered and freed from the bondage of sinne Vses First Here is matter of mourning and lamentation euen that there are so few that labour and exercise themselues in this notwithstanding it be matter of such necessitie and consequence You shall find men that are plunged vp to the eares in sinne yet neuerthelesse take no paines at all to get out of it yea they are so farre from vsing any diligence of themselues to worke out their libertie and freedome from the bondage of sinne as that they cannot suffer any man to admonish them of their sinnes or to lend them a hand to pluck them out of them being in madnesse and folly like vnto him which being possessed with a deep sleepe and hauing an Adder creeping vpon him is angry and taketh it in ill part when his friend awaketh him to the end that he might auoyd the present danger so truely is it a miserable and lamentable thing and yet common that worldly men which doe lie in wickednesse 1 Ioh. 5.19 as a beast lyeth in hay for so the word there signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are so farre from stirring and rousing vp themselues to rise out of their sinnes and to harken vnto the voyce which cryeth awake thou that sleepest stand vp from the dead and Christ shall giue thee light as that they had rather goe seeke some bodie to set a cushin vnder their elbow to the end that they might sleepe the more easily and soundly in their sinnes but it shall be with them as the Lord protesteth Ezech. 13.18.19 Secondly let this moue vs to stirre vp our selues aboue all things according to the manner of the Apostle to labour and endeuour to haue our selues deliuered from the body of death and set free from the power thereof for we see that we are altogether and wholly in the captiuitie and bondage of sinne therefore to endeuour to get our libertie must we preferre before all our workes and especially seeing the glory of our good and gracious God and the eternall well-fare of our owne soules doe stand vpon it yea it is most certaine that whosoeuer setteth not himselfe against his sinnes for to be freed and deliuered from his sinnes shall die in his sinnes Iohn 8.24 For this body of sinne shall peirce him with the venemous and cursed sting thereof which shall bring him not onely to temporall but also to eternall death 1 Cor. 15.56 For as those that die in the Lord are blessed and rest from their labours and enioy eternall happinesse Reuel 14.13 So those that die in their sinnes are certainely accursed and shall haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Reuel 21.8 Therefore must wee make it our chiefest worke to get our selues deliuered from the power of sinne vnlesse we be willing thereby to bee brought into eternall condemnation But if we find our selues to bee alreadie truely deliuered from the power of sinne so that it hath no dominion ouer vs howsoeuer it remaineth in vs Rom. 6.12 yet we must with the Apostle Paul earnestly labour and endeuour more and more to be freed from it because the comfort of our souls and the peace of our consciences doe stand vpon it for it is most sure and certaine that we can no further reioyce comfort our selues in our faith and good conscience then we refraine our selues from sinne and endeuour in all things to walke honestly Psal 119.101 Heb. 13.18 Here may some man demand What are we to doe to the end that we may be deliuered from the power of sinne and more and more set free from the bondage thereof To the end that we may be set free from the power
our sinfull flesh is like vnto a wicked Enchantresse which smileth vpon vs when she purposeth to destroy vs the pleasing and delightfull concupiscences thereof are like Ioabs kisses who killed Amasa when he seemed to kisse him 2 Sam 20.9.10 Therefore wee must not fauour and please this monster of sinne but we must in this thing denie our selues and kill our earthly members Col. 3.5 And crucifie our old man Gal. 5.24 If we will liue and be deliuered from the eternall crosse and the eternall death Neither must we shrinke or be afrayd to doe it for the lustes of our flesh which we are to cut off are as rotten members members of the bodie of death cankered and putrified members which if we cut them not off in time will corrupt and destroy our whole man yea and bring vs also into eternall death as the truth it selfe teacheth vs expressely testifying that if we fauour and make much of the members of this body of death that is our sinfull lustes and cut them not off we shall with them be cast into hell where the Worme neuer dyeth and the fire neuer goeth out Mar. 9.44 Secondly the man that would willingly bee more and more deliuered from the body of death thorough Iesus Christ our Lord must not onely denie and forsake himselfe but also with all his affections and the deepest desires of his heart make all possible speede to come vnto Christ that he may be cured of him as he himselfe teacheth namely that all that are wearie and laden must come vnto him and he will ease them Mat. 11.28.29 and Mat. 13.15 He then that would be healed by Christ and deliuered from the bodie of death must giue vp himselfe vnto him to be cured by him euen as a poore patient which hauing long beene possessed with a grieuous disease putteth himselfe into the hands of a skilfull Phisitian which by Gods helpe can cure him to be ruled and handled according vnto his will prescription Now the dyet the phisicke the receipts which Christ the onely Phisitian of the soule prescribeth vnto his patients that I may so speake for their curing are found onely in the holy Scripture Ioh 5.39 which is the Phisick booke wherein are plentifully conteined the words which are life to them that finde them and health vnto their flesh Pro. 4.22 Therefore the poore sinfull man that would haue helpe must order and gouerne himselfe according to the rule and true meaning of the holy Scripture wherein is comprehended the great wisedome of God and all the mysteries of spirituall Phisicke according to which whosoeuer truely frameth and carrieth himselfe shall certainely and vndoubtedly be healed Therefore it is the greatest folly and madnesse in the world and a sinne whereof very many stand guiltie before God that wretched sinfull men should be slacke and negligent to enquire and search after the wisedome and counsell of God and to frame and fashion themselues according vnto it notwithstanding the great wife and mercifull God hath reuealed vnto them in his word which he hath put into our handes how they should walke to the end that they may be healed of the bodie of death but run vnaduisedly after the blind conceipt of their owne head without once rightly considering what the Lord Iesus Christ the onely Phisitian of the soule hath prescribed and deliuered in the holy Scripture for poore soule-sicke man to practise and apply vnto himselfe to the end that he may bee cured yea the great stayne of this sinne of the godlesse children of the world shall neuer be purged from them vnlesse they amend therefore those that would bee deliuered from the body of death thorough our Lord Iesus Christ must so giue themselues vp vnto him to be cured of him as that they diligently search and learne out of his word how they must order and addresse themselues to the end that they may bee healed Thirdly He that would be deliuered from the body of death thorough our Lord Iesus Christ must by all meanes endeuour to beleeue and hold as firme and certaine that he thus denying and giuing vp himselfe vnto Christ shall truely bee deliuered and cured by him this did Christ require in the curing of bodily diseases Marc. 9.23 and else-where teaching vs thereby that this faith is aboue all things necessary and requisite vnto the curing of the mortall disease of our soules it being the Conduit which conueyeth vnto vs vertue from Christ whereby we are healed of our corruptions But the Diuell which setteth vp himselfe as a God of the world laboureth by all his might and pollicie to hinder and stop this for hee will eyther perswade a man that he shall liue and bee saued by his faith and beliefe in Christ when hee liueth in a course of perdition seruing the flesh wherein if he continueth it is not possible that he should be saued Rom. 8.13 or else hee will make him beleeue if he can that his sinnes are so great that he shall not obteine pardon and remission of God when he hath denied himselfe forsaken his sinnes laboureth to be conformed vnto the will of God and is heartily grieued because he cannot performe such obedience vnto him as hee should and as hee would but let vs take heede of both these Rockes let vs not presume of the mercy of God when wee are not fit Objects of mercie standing in open rebellion against God being friendes of sinne and let it also bee farre from vs to thinke that God will not haue mercy vpon vs when wee come vnto him for mercie with true sorrow and griefe because wee haue offended him for it is his glory to haue mercie and to haue respect vnto them that humble themselues but let vs wrestle with our vnbeleiefe and beleeue that thorough the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ wee shall bee saued Act. 15.11 This faith thus being founded not vpon an idle conceipt of our owne braynes but vpon the fore-named groundes the word and councell of Christ wee accordingly endeuouring truely to forsake our selues and to put our selues into his hands to be ruled and gouerned by him This faith I say is mightie and worketh wonders and there is no disease of the soule so mortall or incurable of which wee shall not bee cured if so be wee hold fast and continue in this our true and holy faith following the councell of Christ for then may wee expect the blessing of Christ more and more to bee deliuered from the bodie of death Then shall it bee done vnto vs according to the words of Christ Mathew the fifteenth Chapter and the twentie eyght verse Be it vnto thee as thou wilt Then shall wee be more and more freed from the power of sinne and assured of our Saluation to our great and neuer ending comfort ⸪ Laus honor gloria sole Deo FINIS The connection of the Text with the former verses The summe of the Text. The parts of the Text. Why our naturall
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
our selues and looke about vs and ioyne all our forces together to kill and destroy this fell and cruell monster Seâ—ing it hath beene so manifestly and vndeniably made to appeare vnto vs that vnlesse we kill it it will kill and destroy vs and that eternally Rom. 8.13 And to the end that the Apostle might the more thoroughly make vs to vnderstand this and consequently the better deterre and affright vs from the loue and seruice of this our corrupt flesh which we so gladly and readily obey he calls it in our Text a bodie of death now there is nothing more terrible and fearefull to man then death yet there is nothing more pleasing vnto him then to obey his corruption in all its filthy lustes notwithstanding the Apostle declareth it how-soeuer it slatteringly laugheth and smileth vpon a man to be a deadly and destroying monster a body of death hauing in it selfe the sting both of temporall and eternall death wherwith it giueth the deaths-wound to euery carelesse and vnprouident person which serueth and obeyeth it euen as Ioab did vnto Amasa when he embraced him 2. Sam. 3. Wherefore euery one that loueth his soule must lay to heart the Apostles admonition Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no care for the flesh to obey it in the lustes thereof yea hee must set himselfe against his corrupt flesh which is no other thing then a most dangerous monster how sweet and louely soeuer it seemeth to be he must in nothing take care to please and obey it for then it will grow more strong and hurtfull but he must weine it of its lust and denie it of whatsoeuer it desireth and so crucifie it and by little and little as it were hunger-sterue it that he himselfe may liue What we are to know and doe further as touching this body of death shall be declared in the parts of the Text which now follow to be handled 2. Who it is which here complaineth against this body of death IT is the Apostle himselfe which complaineth against the body of death which was in him for in the verse following he speaketh of himselfe and sayth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I my selfe and thus speaketh he euery where not as being vnregenerate but as hauing an vnfained and sincere loue and delight in the law of God which flesh and bloud did neuer teach him in which regard also by the testimony of the Psalmist he may be knowne to bee blessed Psal 1.2 From hence followeth this obseruation The body of sinne and of death is in the best that is the naturall corruption which maketh man of himselfe vnapt and vnfit to any good and prone and readie to all euill is euen in the best and most holy of all This appeareth out of that the Apostle himselfe here complaineth that it was in him who without doubt was one of the best Christians in the world at that time and he further declareth vnto vs that the faithfull among whom he shuts himselfe also while they are here vpon earth how farre soeuer they are proceeded in the new birth doe know but in part 1. Cor. 9.10.11.12 And he sayth of the Thessalonians that there was something wanting in their faith 1. Thes 3.10 When in another place he witnesseth of them that vnto other Christians they were notable examples and patternes of true faith 1 Thes 1.7.8 Yea in this regard Elias himselfe was subiect vnto the same passions vnto which other of Gods children are Iam. 5.17 and all the children of God are sayd to haue in them fleshly concupiscences which striue against their soule 1. Pet. 2.11 The best as long as they remaine in this life haue alwayes somewhat in them which they must crucifie which they must mortifie thorough the spirit Whereby it manifestly appeareth that there is in euery one an euill eye which must be pluckt out and a bad hand that must be cut off Mar. 9.43 c. Here it may be asked why God doth suffer his best Children thus to be oppressed and cumbered with this body of death so long as they liue here vpon earth First God doth it for the greater glory of himselfe and of his children and the greater shame and disgrace of the Diuell for truely it tendeth greatly to the prayse and glory of God and to the honour of his children and to the shaming of the Diuell that he knoweth how is able to keepe and preserue such weake and feeble vessels against all the power of Hell and to make them conquerours ouer Sathan in that very flesh which is so polluted with sinne and was once depraued by the Diuell Secondly the Lord doth it because it is fit that there should bee a difference put betweene the cursed earth and blessed heauen to be without finne and free from combat with it is a prerogatiue and priuiledge belonging onely to the seate royall and court of heauen it cannot be that we should enioy it here vpon earth no we must long after the fruition of it in heauen It may be demanded againe that seeing the very best are polluted with this naturall corruption what difference is there then betweene the children of God and the children of the world betweene true beleeuers and carnall men There is as great difference betweene them as is betweene the darkenesse of the darkest night and the light of the morning at the breake of the day as we heard before yea the difference betweene the carnall and spirituall man in respect of this inherent corruption is great euery manner of way for in the vnregenerate man this monster of sinne sitteth as it were vpon a throne ruling and hauing dominion in his heart where it commandeth and is obeyed in euery thing For experience makes it plaine that there is nothing wherein worldly men doe take more delight and pleasure then in seruing their corrupt flesh in all its lustes whether it be in couetousnesse voluptuousnesse pride ambition or in any thing else whereunto their appetites carry them But on the contrary side in the children of God how s oeuer it hath place in them yet it sitteth not as vpon a throne ruling and commanding as a King but lyeth as it were stretched out vpon a racke where thorough the working of the spirit it is euery day more and more disâ—joynted weakned and mortified Furthermore the daily practise of the true Children of God is not to take care for the flesh to obey it in the lustes thereof as carnall men doe but to beate it downe and bring it in bondage to the will of God as the Apostle did 1. Cor. 9.27 Here by the way we may consider the exceeding sottishnesse of many poore and wretched persons which serue the flesh and liue in sinne who when they once heare that all men yea the very best are sinfull and that the most holy and sanctified haue their wants and defects and are clogged with the sinfull
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