76z WICKED MEN coMPARED To CAPTIVES. Book IV. ( 2.) How they were brought into this Bondage-State. (3.) The Nature of this fpiritual Bondage. 1. They are in Bondage to Sin: He that committeth Sin, is the Servant of Sin, John viii. 35· Sin rules and reifbnS in wicked Men; they are overcome by their bafe and filthy Lufts, and of whom a Man is overcome, of the fame is he brought into Bondage, 2 Pet. ii. '9· 2. They are in Bondage to Satan, taken captive by him at his Will; 2 Tim. ii. 26. He rules in the Hearts of the Children of Difobedience, Eph. ii. 2. 3· They are in Bondage to the Law: For being not able to perform the Obligation ·or Requirements thereof, they are brought under the Power and Bondage of that kil– ling Letter, Gal. iv. 25. 4· They are in Bondage to Death; Death tyrannizeth over them, and through fear of it they are faid to be continually in Bondage, Heb. ii. '5· 5. They are in Bondage to the vVrath of God, they are under the Power of God's dreadful Wrath, John iii. 36. CAP T I V E. PI\RALLEL. I. soME that are in a State of Bondage were once Freemen. I. .AD/1111, *and lo all Mankmd, cnnridered as bemg in his L otno, while he frood in that State of lnnocency, udo:t hL cat of the forbidden ·Fruit, was a free Man, he was not in Bondage to any of thele Enen ;ies. 11. Some are in a State of Bond11. So all wit ktd M n are in Bondage, as they ·age, by being the Offs,Jring of are the Offsprfng of old //dam, Pfal. !i. 5· All fuch Parents as are Slaves; tor if Mankind being born in Sm; Satan. Death, and the Parents are born Slaves, their Wrath hath Power over them, until delivered by Children that are born in CaptiJefus Chrifr. And hence they are laid to be by vity, are Captives likewife. Nature Children of Wrath, Eph ii. 3· III.Somearebrought into BondIII. Wicked Men are alfo aCtually taken cap- ·age by the Power and Force of al) tive, and brought into Bondage by Sin and "latan; Enemy, they being furprized, and as being furprized by the Power of thefe Enemies, by reafon of Weaknefs not able to they are overcome, and fo brought into Clptiviry; with1land them, are taken captive; Satan being ftronger than they, he prevails againft as many of this and other Nations them. dnd that they may recover themfelws out of have been by the Turks. the Snare of the De·vil, who are taken captive by him at his Will, z Tim. ii. z6. IV. Some by Allurements are ·enticed by an Adverfary, and that way overcome, and brought into Bondage. Pirates oft-times put out falfe Colours, and pretend them– felves to be Friends, that fo they may the better trapan and take poor unwary Perfons. IV. So wicked Men are by the Allurements and Enticemems of Sin and Satan overcome, and brought into Bondage, Prov. vii. 2 I. Thefe fpi– ritual Enemies by Policy deceive and trapan the Souls of Men. Satan, like a curfed Pirate, puts out falfe Colours, pretends himfelf a Friend; he prefents the Pleafures and Profits of the World to them, and thereby overcomes them, and carries them away captive, I Cor. xi. I 4· V. Some Perfons, when they V. //dam, when Satan overcame him by his are taken captive by an Enemy, are Treachery and fubtile Wiles, was frript nakedt: fl:ript naked; their own Robes be- He loft all his precious Robes, viz. his fpotlefs ing taken away, they have inftead and perfect Righteoufnefs, and ever ftnce his na– of them nothing but filthy Rags, tural Offspring, while they remain unconvened, to hide their Nakednefs withal. have nothing but their own Righteoufnefs to cover . , them, which is by the Holy Ghofr compared to filthy Rags, !fa. lxiv. 6. Some conceive by filthy Rags, the Spirit of God alludes to thofe Rags that Surgeons take off of corrupt and filthy Sores, which we know are very Ioathfome, this {hews that the State of Sinners is very deplorable. VI. Some Perfons who are taken VI. Sinners, whilil: they remain in a State of captive, are put into a Prifon, nay, Nature, Caprives of Sin and Satan, are in a Pri– into a Dungeon, and remain under fon, in a deep Prifon or Dungeon of Darknefs, the Power of a cruel Keeper. called the Power of Darkmfs, Col. i. '3· This Prifon is frrong, there is no Man can break through, • How 'f,fattkind 'Wtrt hrought i1110 B~ndage. t 'l'hefadatulmifirable Conditiou of Sa/all's Capti·vu. and
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