C.XV. The fallaciousGround of this Argument of M. G's, 328 Secondly, That finne reigneth in fuch perfons, Manyhave been the inqui- ries ofLearned men about reigning of finne. As What finites may be laid to reigne, and what not? Whether fnnes ofignorance may raigne, as well as finites againf} knowledge? What little finnesmay be Paid to reigne, as well as great? Whether frequent relapfes into any finne , prove that finne to be reigning?. Whether finne may reigne in a Regenerate perfon .'- Or whether a Saint may fall into reigning finne, whereabout Diviner of great note and namehave differed; all upon a falfe bottome and fuppofall ; The Scripture gives noground for any fuch inquiries or difputes , or carer of Cónfcience , as fome men have railed hereupon: And indeed I would this were the only in- fiance, ofmenscreatingCafes ofConfcience, and anfwering them , when in- deed, and in truth, there are no fuch things ; fo infnaring the ConCciencesof Men, and intangling more by their Cafes, than they deliver by their ReJiduti- ons; The truth is, there is no mention ofany reigningfinne, or the Reigning of anyfinne in the whole Book of God , taking finne for this or that particular finne; But ofthe Reigne ofthis Indwelling originali Loft, or fountaine of al! finne there is frequent mention. Whileft that holds itspower and univerf - lity in the foule, and is not reftrained, norftraitned by theIndwelling fpirit of grace, witha new vital! principleof no leffe extent, and ofmore power than it, be the Aduall finnes fen' or more, l¿nomne or .unknomne, little or great, all is one; finne reignes,and fuch aperfon, isunder thepower and dominion of finne: fo that inplain termes, tohavefinne 'reigne, is to beunconverted : and to have time not to reigne is tobe converted, tohave receiveda new principle ofLife from above; This is evident from the 5. and6. Chapter of the Epift. to the Romans, thefeate ofthis Do&rine of reigning finne; Theoppofition infifled on by theApoftle isbetween the Reigne of Sinne and Grace; and in purfuit thereofhemanifefts how true Believers are tanflated from the one to the other. To havefinne reigne is tobe in a frate offinne; to have Grace reigne, is to be in a frate ofGrace. So Chapter 5. 21. As finne reigned unto death fo Grace reignes through Righteauf:effe unto eternal/ Life by JefusChrift oar Lord; The finne he fpeakesof is that whereof he treatesin all that Chapter; thefinne ofNature, the Luft wherof we fpeake, this by nature reigneth unto Death, but whenGrace comes by Jefits Chrifr, the foule is de- livered from the power thereof, fo in the whole 6. Chap. It is our change of Plate and Condition that the Apoftle infifrs on in our delivery from the reigne offinne; and he tellsus, this is that that deftroyes it, our being under Grace v:54. Sinne'hall not have dominion overyou becaufe you are not under theLaw, but ruder Grace; Plainely then there are two Lords and Rulers, and thefe are Original] or Indwellingfinne andGrace or the Spirit ofit; The flrft Lord the Apoftle difcovers with his entrance upon his Rule and Dominion, chap. 5. and this all men bynature areunder; The fecond he defcribesChap.6.which fets out the Rule & reigne ofGrace in Believers by Jefus Chriff. And then Thirdly the place that both thereLords have in this life in a Believer,Cap.7. This then is theonly reigningfin& inwhomfoever it is in its power & coin- pas as it is in all unregenerate men, in them, & in them only doth fin reigne, & every-fin they commit is withfall content, (aswas manifefted before) in exa&willing Obedienceto the foveraigneLordthat reignes in them. 4- 9, Fourthly, obfervethat the Grace, newCreature, Principle or Spiritual! Life that is Given to, beftowed on, and wrought in all, and only Believers, be it in the loteefl and mofI remiffe degree that can be imagined, is yet no idle univerfally fpread over the whole foule, than the contrary habit and princi- ple ofLuft and finne, whereofwe have fpoken; In the Underftanding it is Light in theLord, in theWill Life, in the Affeltions Love, Delight, &c. thole being
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