Ver. 1,2. the Epi file to the Romans. finne abounds, thatis,of whom finne is abundantly known and felt, with de- fire of the remedy, which is Chrift, to- wards them grace is more abundantly (hewed and known. Laftly, there is a fault about diver[ty of time, for `Paul fpeaking of finnes done afore calling, theft cavillers did wreft his fayings to [ones afterwards: that whereas the more our finnes are afore regeneration, the more abundantly doth grace utter it fel f in doin& them away : yet hereofit followeth not, that therefore one being regenerate Ihould fin more impudently, and fecurely. T i ir. What other things do ye obferve about this objellion ? Sir.. How eafie a thing iris for them which cavill ag,ainfl the truth, and for- fake the grounds thereof, to fall into divers errours ; therefore we (hould do well when we read or hear Scriptures, to ponder them , ere by way of reafo- ning we gather any thing from them. Secondly, we may affure our felves, that the do &rive of our Church touching jullification by faith withòut works, is a found do &vine , becaufe fuch things areobje &ed by Romaniffs, againft our teaching of this truth, as was againft Pauli teaching the fame; as that it o- peneth the window to finne, and over- throws all care of good works. Third- ly, that the teachers and their do&rive, be fubje& to wicked cavillations : and therefore they have need of wifdome and patience, and their hearers of cha- rity. Ti.ta, Thus far of the objellion,now let ut bear what anfwer the Apoffle maketh Unto this objetlion . S r L. He doth not anfwer the argu- ment, but doth perform two things in his anfwer. Firft, he detefteth that confequent, that men fhonld continue in finne; God forbid: wherein bee thewech how grievoufly he taketh it, to hear the Gofpel defamed with wicked fufpitions and accufations, whole zeal herein for the truth`, deferves to be fol- lowed. Secondly, he gives reafonwhy beleevers ought not to continue in [n ; becaufe they are dead to finne, there- -------r 107 fore they ought not, they cannot live in finne: It is an argument from contra- ries, as if ye would reafon thus of Mo- fes; he is not alive, becaufehe is dead; or of a man that heareth not, becaufe he is deaf; fo the regenerate being dead to finneby mortification, which is the hell part of fan&ification, it cannot be that they Ihould live in the fervice of it, for death doth extinguith ideas all men do know. Tr rf. What it it robe dead to fin? S i L. To have the power and rage of finne abated by the Spirit of God : this work of the Spirit is called mortifi- cation. Turd. What differences between thole two ff eeches,dead in fin and dead to fin? S r L. The firfl,noteth a perfon unre- generate,that is yet under the power of fin, drowned in the lulls and defires of fin. The fecond fpeech, pointeur out a perfon delivered from the dominion of lin, and fo he Both not follow and ferve the wicked finfull luis of his cor- rupt nature, but is as a dead man to them. Look what difference is between one that is under the water, overwhel- med in a whirlpool where he hath no footing;and another which is compaffed with waters, but hath fore footing, and his head above water; fuch oddes there is between one dead in fins, being plun- ged into the lulls of the flefh over head and eares, and another that is dead to fin, being fo compaffed with infirmities of tin, as there is a power in the foul over them, from the fan( ifyirg grace of Chriil. Tire. What io it to live in fin ? S r L. It is this : In the whole courfe of ones life, and all the a Lions thereof, to be obedient to the motions of finne; as a mans life is nothing but a continual a& of finning. From all which we learn, that feting every jultified perfon is fan&ified, and dead to fin; therefore fuch as í1ill obey their wicked lulls, and licentioufly live in lin, in vain do they profefs themfelves to be beleevers , and to have their fins forgiven them; for Inch as bedead to fin, are no more to be perfwaded to love and praaife finne with
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