Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT768 .O9 1654

C.XV. The fallacious Ground ofthis Argument of M. G's, 344 ofTemptations byfinne as well as unto finne; and thefe are mens pines. as well as theirTemptations,they arentaptations as tending to farther evi11; they are fanner as being irregular and devious from the rule. Now this tempting of Luft comprifeth two things. 4:33- Firfr, The generali wive inclination ofthe Heart unto finne, though not fixed as unto anyparticular ad, or way offinne; the mottoprirn'oprirni;. of this you have that TeftimonyofGod concerning man, in the Irate ofnature Gen.6.5. Every figment ofthe thought of hisheart, is only evill every day; the figment or imagination ofthe thoughts, is thevery roote of them; their ge- neral] moulding, ora&ive preparingofthe mind, for the exertingof them; fo Chrou. 28'.9. Godunderflandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: The figment of them: T he next difpofition of the foule unto them; and 2 Cran. 29. T 9. Keepe thisfor ever in the imaginationofthe thoughts of their hearts, or keep their hearts,in a continuall framing pollute and condition, offuch good thoughts. This(I fay) is The firft way of Lufts, Temptation; it makes a mint ofthe heart, to frame readily all manner of evill deliires, and thoughts that they may as our Saviour fpeakesproceed not oftheheart Mat.i 5.19. Their a&uall fixing on any obje&, is their proceeding; antecedent whereunto, they are framed and formed in the heart; Lull a&ually difpofeth, inclines, bends the heart to things fuitable to it felfe,or the corrupt habitual! principlewhich bath its refidence in us. Secondly, The aluall tumultuating ofLog, and working with all itspower, andpolicy, in fiirringup,provoking to,and drawing out thoughtsandcontri- vances offin,with delight and complacency in inconeiveablevariety: the feve- rall degreesof its progreffe herein being afterwards defctibed. 4.3 . In the firfi of thefe there isno final] difference between Regenerate &nre- generate perfons,and that in thefe two things. Firff, In its univerfality; In Unregenerate men, everyfigment oftheir heart is only evil/and that every day; there is an univerfality ofif!ings expreftpoG- tively,& exclulively,to anya&ings ofanother kind;everyfigment o f their heart isonly evil! ;; andoftime, every day: whatever good they feeme todo, or do, whatever dutyes they performe, that in them all; which is the proper figment oftheir heart, is only evill. On this account,takeany duty they do, any worke they performe, and weigh it in the ballance and t'willbe found in refried of principles,and circumfiances,or aimes;tobe wholly evil/. That indeed there is nothing in it that is acceptable to God:& their hearts are cafling,minting, and coyning finne, all theday long. With Believers 'tisnot fo, there is alfo good treafure in their hearts, from whencethey bring out good things; there is a goodRoot in them that bearesgoodfruit;though they are,or may be overta- ken with many fins yea withgreat fins,yet luft doth not tempt the as it doth unregenerate men,with a perpetuall continuall afliveinclination unto evil!, even fome way or other in all the good they do.TheSpirit is in them,&will, andBoth in what ftate fo ever they are, difpofe their hearts to Faith, Love, Meekeneffe,and a&uates thofe Graces, at leafs in the elicite a&s ofthe will; for a good treewill bringfirthgood fruit, never anyBeliever is, or teas fo de_ fertedofGod, or did fo forfakeGod, as that every rgment,ofhisheart fbould beevil! only, and that continually; That no one ad offinne, can poflîbly ex- pell his habit ofGrace, bath been formerly (hewed; neither is he ever call into fuch a condition, but from the good principle that is in him. There is a panting after God, longing for his Salvation with moreor leffe efficacy; the fparke is warme and glowing, thoughunder afhes. ,f Secondly, In refpe&ofpower. Luft tempts in unregenerate 'men out anab- folute, uncontrouleable dominion, and that with a marally' riefifiible &cacv; All

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