Verf. I 4. the fixth Chapter to the ROMAN s. St ropes, Ifa. 5. 18. to addi& and give up themfelves to a trade of fin with delight and con - lent. But more clofely, the reign of fin is never broken till the Flab be made fubje& to the Spirit, that will be found by examining every day, what advantage the Spirit bath gotten agaioft the Flefh, or the F1efh againfl the Spirit, how Providences and Ordinan- ces are bleffed for that end , or for the weakening of fin i for every day the one or the other gets ground. Dough once foured with Leaven , will never lofe the talle and fmatch, but the fweetnefs of the Corn may prevail above it. Sin dwelleth in the heart, but Both it decay? Gal, g, 16. This I fay, walk in the Spirit, and ye fhall not fr /fl the lulls of the flefli. Secondly, A&ual Sin may now and then get a Vi&ory over the Faithful, but not a full quiet Reign. Sin a&ually prevaileth, when we do that which is evil againft our Conferences, or yield pro hic v none to obey fin in the lulls thereof. It gaineth our content for the time, but the general frame and bent of the heart is againli it. In fhort, when fin is perfe&ed into fome evil a &ion, or lafi hash conceived and brought forth fin, yam. t. 15. that is, fume heinous offence, for that time no quellion it hath the upper hand , and carrieth it from Grace , and the Flelh doth Phew it felt in them more than the Spirit. A man may pleafc a leffer friend before a greater in an ad or two, but every prefumptuous ad of fin puts the Scepter into his hands. Note, That the Predominancy spoken of in the former diflin&ion , and this do much prejudice a Chriftian, wafte his Confcience , hinder his Joy or Faith : and if not broken in time , or we fin often, we cannot be excufed from the habitual reign of fin. Note again, Every chi-like doth not hinder the reign of fin , it Both conftantly govern our lives, though there may be fome refrflance. SERMON XIII. R 0 M. VI. 14. For fin fhall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the Laze, but under grace. II. Now come to handle the fecondGeneral. There is a Necefiity incumbent upon them, 1. From their own pronenefs and proclivity to fall into Sin. s. Front the mifchiefs arifing from reigning Sin. 3. From the unfuitablenefs of it to their renewed State. 4. They cannot other ways maintain their hopes of Glory. 1. Becaufe of their own pronenefs and proclivity to this evil. That appeareth, 1. Becaufe there is fin (till in us, a Bofom -enemy which is born and bred with us, and therefore will foon get the advantage of Grace, if it be not well watched and refilled. As Nettles and Weeds, which are kindly to the fail , and grow of their own accord, will foon choak Flowers and better Herbs, which are planted by care and induftry,when they are negle&ed and not continually rooted out. We cannot get rid of this,5curfed Inmate, till this outward Tabernacle be diffolved , and this Houle of Clay be crumbled into duff, dike Ivy gotten into a Wall, that will not be dellroyed till the Wall be pulled down. The Ifraeliteo could not wholly expel the Canaairiter g and therefore we are the more obliged to keep them under. Our Nature is (o inclinable to this flavery, that if God fubftrafl his Grace , and we be altogether negligent , we (hall foon rue the fad effeers of it. a. It is not only in us, but it is always wdrking in us, and ftriving for the maftery. Sin is not as other things , which as they grow in age, they grow more quiet and tame : no, it is every day more a /hive and flirting, yam. 4. g. The Spirit »hat dwelleth in us, L I I I 1 Inffeth
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