Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT768 .O9 1654

Believersdo not perfeét Sinne. C. XV. over its power, as to its aauall predominant exercife, and fenuibly diffenteth 363 not from the finne whereunto it is tempted. That this may fometimes be- fall a Regenerate Perfon, I have granted before , andwhat is the difference herein betwixt them, and Unregenerate perfons, maybe colle&édfrom what hath been already delivered. Ofthe next fiepof finne, which is, its bringingforth, or the a&call accom- ¢ 56. plifbment ofthe firing?) conceived as above expreffed , there is thefame Rea- fon. ThTH, it bringeth out of its wombe,the Childof time; which it had con- ceivedit is the atlieall perpetrationoffinne formerly confented unto, that is ex- prefled under thisMetaphor. I have little to addeupon this head,to what was formerly fpoken. For, I. As theyare not the f nnes ofdaily infirmities that are here intended, in the place of the Apoftleunder conuderation, but fuch as lye in an immediate tendencyunto Death, asto their eminent guilt; as alfo being the fruitofthe hearts conceptionof finne , by fomenting and warming thoughts offinne, with delight, untill confent unto it be prevalent in the foule, fo falls ofthis nature in the Saints, are extraordinary, andalway attended with their lofé of peace , the weakenengoftheir Faith, wounding oftheir foules, and obnoxiouil neffe, without Repentance unto death. God indeed, hash provided better things for them, but for themfelves, they have done their endeavour, to de- ftroy their own foules. 2. That God never fuffereth his Saints to fall thus, but it is for the ac-. complifhment of fomevery glorious endofhis, intheir affii&ions, trialls, pa- tience, humiliation, which hewill bring about. Thefe endsofGod are many and various: I (hall not enter intoaparticulardifcourfe concerning them. 3. That an impenitent continuance in, and under the guilt of 'fuch a finne, is a fore figueofan heart, that neither hath , nor ever had any true faith. In others, there is a truth ofthat of Aufain, who affirmed, that he dared fay, that it might be good for fome, to have fallen into fome eminentparticular finne, for their humiliation and caution all theirdales. q.. That this frequent conception of finne, and bringing of it forth, in per* fops who have been heightned by convi&ion to a great regularityof walking and converfation, is the means, whereby they doegoe forth unto that which is mentioned in the laft place; which is finifhing of finne ; that is, fo to be brought under the power of it, as to compleate the whole worke offinne. Nowmen bring itforth by the temptations, and upon the furprifalls fore- mentioned; but they that come to finifh it, or doethe workeofit, in them it will bring forth death. This I take to be the intendment ofthat expreffion, A(.itl, t,fa2iT£ T£a &Ñs,finneperfeaed, Theword 'Aroro v, is no where ufed in the NewTeftament Taro, &ao-aE V,' are; there is T mteopT£wHV, which is , not todoe any onea& which the Law requireth , but to walke ftudioufy, and conftantly, according to the rule thereof: and foT£T£7,, as the Apoftle ufeth it Philip: I.6. where we tranflate it , as here 'Agin£ £iv, To perfeel the good worke, is towalke in thewayofGrace, and theGofpell , unto the end. So to perfellfinite, is tofulfill the ivorke offinne, and towalke in the way offinne, to be under the dominion and reigneoffinne fo far, as to be carried out in a elude offinning; and this is that alone, which we exempt Believers from; which thatthey are exempted from, untoall that hath formerlybeen fpoken, Ithall adde theconfideration ofone placeof Scripture, being turned afide frommy thoughtsofhandling this at large,as the fecond.part ofthe Doetrine of theSaints Perfeverance, the formerbeing grown under my hands, beyond expeftatione A a a 2 Now

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