C. XV. The fallaciousgroundof this Argument ofVIG"s. 338 Anf. Firft, we donot only afïert a contrary bent and inclination in the Willsof Believers at other times, but alto that in and under theprevalency of indwelling finne , there is in them an /that loth it not and anot-willing it from aPrinciple, though by reafon ofthe prefent prevalency of the other, its a&ings and ftirrings are not fo fenfibly perceived. So that though they pre- vaile not, to the totali prevention of the will, from exerting theA&of finne, yet theyprevaile to the impairing, weakening, and making rem its confent thereunto: Secondly, The refidue of Paragraph is intolerably sophiflicall, con- founding the Renitencieofthe inward man, theprinciple of' grace that is in the wills ofBelievers, with the Convi&ions ofthe judgements andconfciencesof unregenerate perlons, and their ftriving againft finite on that account. The judgements and confciences ofwicked men, tell them what they ought to do, andwhat they ought not todoe without refpe& to the principle in their wills that is predominant. But the Apoftle mentions the adings of the will it felfe, from its owne regenerate principle. We wholly deny that any unregenerate man hath any vitali principle in his will not confenting tofinne, what ever the di&ates ofhis judgement andconfcience may be ; or how effe&uall foever to prevaile unto an abl inence from finne. To difcover the differences that are between the conteft, that isbetween the wills in unregenerate men , wholly fet upon finne, on the one hand, and their judgements and Confciences en- Iightned to an apprehenfion and approving ofbetter things on the other,and theconteftthat is between the Flefi, andSpirit lofting to contrary things , in the fame will, as it is in regenerate men, is a common place; that I (hall not goe forth unto. We grant then, that inunregenerate men,there maybe, there is, and was inTome degree, perhaps inHerod, in Pilate,a convi&ion ofconfcience and judgement, that the things they doe are evil!; but fay withal!, that all this being forraigne to their wills, it hinders not but that they finne with the fulluncontrouled confent oftheirwills, which areat perfe&Liberty, or rather in pet-fed bondage unto finite. That the spirit fhouldlull againft the flefh, and thefefh againft thefpirit, both in the fame will, (as it appears they doe. Gal. . 5.5g. 20.21.22.23. for thefruits that they both bring forth, are adsof the will) in any unregenerateman, we deny; and this is that, and not the former, which abates, and takes offfrom the wills confent to finne. 4.25. He concludes the whole; And to thepaffageof the Apoflle, mentioned Row. 7. Ianfwer farther, that when hefaith, the evil whichI would'not, that doe I, he cloth not fpea&e ofwhat he tilwaies andinall cafes did, much leffe ofwhat waspof- fibleforhim to doe, but ofwhat he did ordinarily andfrequently, or ofwhat was very incident unto him, through the infirmity oftheflefh, viz. through ineonflde-, rateneffe andanticipation by temptations to doefuch things, whichwhen he was in a watchful!andconfderatepoflure, and fromunder the malignant influence oft' temptation, he wasaltogether averfe unto: now what a man doth ordinarily, is one thing, andwhat he Bothfometimes, and in 'brae particular cafes efpecially what it ispoJble for him to doe is another: that true believers whilefrfuch, ordi- narilyfinne not upon worfe termes, then theft mentioned by the Apofile concerning hisfinning, Iearlygrant; but it nowaies followeth from hence, that therefore they neverfinne upon other termes, much leffe that it is impofJble that theyfboulet finne uponothers; and thuswefee all things throughly and impartially argued, and debatedto andfro, that even true Believers themfelves as well as others, may do thofe worksoftheflefh, which excludefrom the KingdomeofGod and that cure- fpell thereof, they arefubjeli to this exclufion as well as other men. Thefummeofthis part ofthe Reply is, that what Paul fpeaks is true, ofthe ordinarycourt ofRelievers, but not of extraordinary furprifals 9 this feems f fay
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