upontheEpiflleof JAM E s. VERs.z. Mediator; and as the Apoftle faith, Where we fznow nothing kr our[elves, "'e ·~re not thereby jufltjied, I Cor.4+ Or as 'cis Job 9• 3· If he w.ifl conten~ \~'ith him, h~ ct~nnot tmfwer him one ofa· thouf~nd: . For onefuch·mnocent acbon,there are a thonfand framed and poiluted. Another ~efiion may be, Whether there be not fome fins, which ~n their own nature are fo foul, that a child of I God cannot fall into them? I anfwer: 1. _There are fome grofs corruptions which are very contrary to grace, p.tchp.ct1ct i:t. x.G~p.!!, corruptions of the 'Wfirld , 2 Pet. 2. 20. fins that frink in the nofirils of nature; therefore the ApofHe faith, The lufls of the jlefo 1 ~re manifeft, Ga/.5.19. thatis, tofenfearidreafon; as adultery, drunkennefs; &c. which na~me ha-th branded with marks of fname and contempt; into thefe a child of Gqd may fall, though ra&:ely, and very feldom: We have infiances of Noahs Drunkenndfe, Lots Incefi, and DaviJs Adulrery; therefore may conclude, ,that the children of God do not only finfreely in thought, bnt fometimes fouly in a[f, how ever not ufually~not but upon fpedal temptation; they are not ad pocula faci!es, given to women, or to wine : The ufual praCl:ife isa note of Gods hatred. cAnWhore is adeep ditch, and he that u abhorred of the Lord {hall fall therein, 'Prov.2~·14. Tbefe fins therefore are nor of ufual incidence, as wrath,and world– linefs, :md pride are. 2. There are other fins which are exrreamly I contrary to nature it felf, as Sodoms B:fiiality, &c. into which a . renewed man cannot fall; partly for the great diChonour fuch a fact would reflect upon Religion; partly btcau(e 'cis ano re ofGods tradition or giving upaman or woman to fin, Rom. I. 26,2 7. Thefe I · things are fo far from being praClifed by Saints, that they are not to be named amongfr them, ephef 5 + Ifar.~y man offend not in word,the fame is aperfeEl man,] Here is the fecond Argt1ment ; bridling the tongue is a note of fome per– fection and effedual progrefs in grace. Offendnot in V.1ord; that is, fpeakerh only a know[) truth, and chat feafonably, charitably, ·without vanity, or folly, or obfcenity, or rafi1oaths, as 1Gregory · I M~ J...d.>-.t;y Ny{[en fully .expounqeth it. [!J a perjeFf man,] You may take;he ·T~ p.Jmuct, wo~ds as a fuppofition; I.f any man avoyd the evils of the tongue, Ei.Nvcu JGri1e;v I wdl made bold eo call htm a perfeil man 1 fuch another as is not 'f:1 p.heg '!J , ' . . . ' J...G)'oY dvcty• .., \ ,.,.-1 • ,, ' -' '' c, tJ l ?1'\J ' ~ , ' ~ x.cuov ~ ""'•X.eJ.~IV £tl>ai:,oY, p.n ll.ttll.«v "PP'~P.(()~, p.n )(.ctX«.':.ISY TH CWIV)IIt.Yoy,lt.~ TW tr~ol'ehnlt. Nyffenm trie1 ~7rodct~. · Z z found •
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