Pauls complaint against his naturall corruption With the meanes how to bee delivered from the power of the same. Set forth in two sermons vpon the 24 verse of the 7. chapter of his epistle to the Romanes. By me William Teelinck, preacher of the word of God at Middleburgh.

Vses.

First, this serueth for to discouer vnto vs, from whence it commeth, that there are so many which notwithstanding they are miserably possessed with this body of sinne, and polluted with all man∣ner of impious transgressiōs, the damnable brood thereof; yet neuer seeke for their deliuerance, tru∣ly, it commeth onely from this, that they know not the misery wherein they are by sin: yea, from whence commeth it that many a man goeth vn∣der the curse of God because of his sinnes, and ne∣uer thinkes of his deliuerance, passing along, as it were, with an easie gale in a smooth Sea, without any perturbation at all: and many also who know∣ing

that they are sinfull, and being ignorant of the meanes whereby they may be deliuered, yet are not a whit troubled: aske them, haue you not sin∣ned against God? they will answere, yes; then aske them, whether they by their sinnes haue not de∣serued eternall death, euen as others? they confesse that also: aske them then, what meanes they know whereby to be deliuered from the body of death? they answere, that God is mercifull, and they trust that he will not cast them away, because of their sinnes, but will saue them for his mercies sake. Demand of them then whether God saueth all, and condemneth none; they must needs acknow∣ledge, that the way is broad that leadeth into de∣struction, and many there be that enter into it; and that there be goates, as well as sheepe: then come nearer vnto them, and demand of them vp∣on what ground they hope that God will be more mercifull vnto them, for to saue them from hell, and bring them to heauen, then he is to many o∣ther whom he casteth into destruction? then they are at a stand, not knowing what to say, or doe; or, it may be run vnto their workes, for to seeke their saluation there: or els answere you, that it is too high a question for them, and that they are not so deepely learned: and albeit they are con∣uinced, that they are ignorant of the meanes wherby they may be deliuered from eternall per∣dition, yet they let it sticke there, troubling them∣selues no further, but goe on carelesly, and secure∣ly, not so much as once asking, or inquiring of that man of God which hath so conuinced them,

how, and which way they may be deliuered; but let it so remaine, being negligent of their eternall good: and this their fearefull, & miserable block∣ishnesse, and dotage ariseth onely from this, that they haue no sense, nor feeling of the miserable e∣state wherein they are by sinne, but onely prate, and discourse of it, because they heare others doe so, thinking that men must say so: and because for the present, they haue their bodily health, and the things of this world at will; and feele no smart in their consciences (for they are dead in sinnes, and trespasses, and consequently without feeling) therefore are they secure, and seeke not to bee de∣liuered from their sinnes; but liue, taking their pleasure, and delight therein, for they haue nei∣ther true knowledge, nor feeling of the misery, and wretchednesse whereinto their sinnes haue brought them: how their soule is depraued, and corrupted, and what a curse hangeth ouer them: but this securitie of theirs, is like vnto that of a condemned person, who sleeping before executi∣on, is secure no longer then his sleepe dureth: for from this that worldly men are ignorant of the misery wherein they are thorough their sinnes, a∣riseth it that they are so negligent, and carelesse, not troubling not themselues with the Apostle a∣bout their deliuerance; nor yet once looking af∣ter Christ Iesus vnfainedly, and heartily: whereas had they learned tightly to know, and vnderstand the misery wherein they are by reason of their sinnes, they would with all earnestnesse, and vehe∣mencie haue sought their deliuerance from the

body of death, as the Apostle did.

Secondly, this sheweth how necessary it is that the Law should be thoroughly Preached, to the end, that men being made thereby to know the miserable, and woefull estate whereinto their sins haue brought them, might the better be driuen to seeke their deliuerance thorough Iesus Christ. For it is most certain, that neither the deliuerance is heartily sought after, nor Iesus Christ the Phy∣sitian worthily esteemed, there where the hate ful∣nesse of sinne, and the greatnesse of the misery by reason of sinne is not thoroughly knowne.

Goe tell a man, which feeleth no griefe, and thinketh himselfe to be well, and in health, that he should seeke for helpe, and goe vnto the Physi∣tian for to be cured; and he will mocke, and de∣ride you: but one that findeth his disease, and fee∣leth the paine thereof will thanke you for your counsell: so vntill such time that men haue lear∣ned thoroughly to know their misery; Iesus Christ the Physitian is not respected, nor accounted off according to his worth, and desert: and although the Ministers of Christ come vnto them praying, and beseeching them in the name of Christ, and entreating them for the loue of Christ, to carrie themselues so and so; yet these men which know not their misery regard it not at all, but set light by all the requestes, and entreaties of Christ, and suffer his Ministers to pray, and entreate as much as they will, passing away their time without any care, or thought at all: and no maruayle; for they feele no want of Christ, neither finde they any

more sweetnesse in the Lord Iesus, then in a dry Wort-stalke. But on the contrary side, those that haue learned truely to know their misery, and which giue vp their hearts, & soules vnto Christ, for to be deliuered thorough him; those esteeme and count of all things as dung, and drosse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Iesus Christ: whatsoeuer is required of these in the name of Christ, as soone as they truely know it to bee his will, they fashion themselues according vnto it, they onely being those that honour, and esteeme of Christ, according vnto his worth, and excel∣lencie, as daily experience maketh it vndeniably manifest: for this cause, we see it to be most neces∣sary, that men should learne to know their misery by the preaching of the law, to the end, that they may come vnto the Gospell for their deliuerance, in, and thorough Iesus Christ.

Thirdly, This serueth to admonish all those which seeke to be deliuered from the bodie of death, that they willingly, and gladly suffer the reproofe and reprehension of their sinnes, and the discouery of the filthinesse, and hatefulnesse of them: but men are impatient of this, auoyding, & shunning it as the death, yet without this they cannot be deliuered from the body of death: some when they heare sinne sharply reproued, cry out, that it is the way to preach men to destruction; but truely they know not what they say: are they those that thinke to bee deliuered by their owne workes, that they cannot suffer to haue it truely declared vnto them, that the very best of them ac∣cording

to the tenor, and strictnesse of the Law, hath by their owne actions deserned no lesse then hell and damnation? But if they be wise, & right minded Christians, let them be willing to heare their owne insufficiencie, and vnworthinesse dis∣couered, and layd open vnto them, that they may the more reuerence, and esteeme of Iesus Christ, and learne, not in their owne workes, but in his worthines, and merites to seeke their deliuerance, and saluation; and to acknowledge, and follow him, not from the teeth outwardes, like hypo∣crites, but vnfainedly, and from their hearts, as the onely Physitian, and sauiour of their soules.

Therefore most commendable is the practise of those Ministers of God which are carefull, & ear∣nest to lay open before mens eyes their insuffici∣encie, vilenesse, and cursed estate by nature, en∣deuouring by that meanes to bring men highly to esteeme of Christ (whom the end of all our prea∣ching is to make knowne vnto them) for by ex∣perience we finde, and the truth it selfe maketh it cleare, that our Lord Iesus Christ is worthily e∣steemed, and honoured of none, but of such as by the feeling of their misery are brought into the estate of the Apostle when he cryed out, O misera∣ble man, who shall deliuer me from this body of death?

Fourthly, this serueth to admonish vs, when∣soeuer we finde our selues wanting in our loue, and due estimation of Christ, and feele that wee haue not such a heartie, and grounded affection vnto him, and such a hungry desire, and longing after our deliuerance from the body of death, tho∣rough

this Prince of life as we should; that then we betake our selues vnto a serious, and due con∣sideration of the manifold, and wonderfull hate∣fulnesse, and vilenesse of our sinnes; how misera∣bly the image of God is thereby depraued, and de∣faced in vs: how vnfit it maketh vs for the seruice of God: how fearefully by it the wrath of God is kindled against vs: how thereby wee haue deser∣ued eternall death, and damnation: and conse∣quently what great neede we haue of the media∣tion of Iesus Christ: and this will make vs aboue all things (vnlesse we are dead in sinne) seeke our deliuerance from this body of death, thorough Ie∣sus Christ our Lord, as the Apostle did.

Now in that the Apostle thus earnestly, and a∣boue all things in the world (as here it is manifest) wisheth, desireth, and longeth more and more to be deliuered, and freed from the power of sinne: and in as much as he elsewhere requireth vs to be his followers: from hence ariseth this instruction, that it behooueth vs aboue all things in the world, with all dilig••nce to endeuour more and more to be deliuered from the power of sinne: We see here in our Text that it is the practise of the Apostle, and his ex∣ample being good, we ought to make it our rule. This hath euermore beene the opinion, and pra∣ctise of all the seruants of God, as it is here the out-cry of the Apostle, Who shall deliuer me from this body of death? Such is Dauids wish, Psal. 119.5. O that my way were directed to keepe thy statutes: and it hath not onely beene the longing, and desire of the seruants of God: but also their daily

practise, and endeuour to attaine vnto it, as the A∣postle Paul witnesseth of himselfe, that he desired in all things to walke honestly, Heb. 13.18. Yea, that it was his daily occupation, his greatest exercise, and endeuour, to haue alwayes a cleare conscience to∣ward God, and towardes men, Act. 24.16. And Da∣uid also testifieth as much of himselfe, that he re∣frained his feete from euery euill way, that he might keepe Gods word, Psal: 119.101.

First, This must be the endeuour of euery one that will serue God, because true Religion, and vndefiled before God, euen the Father, is, to visite the widdow, and fatherlesse in their aduersitie, and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world.

Secondly, If so be we were in slauery vnder the Turkes, should wee not by all meanes labour for our libertie? If we were griped in the clawes of a Lyon; should we not desire, and striue to come forth? If we were in danger of some fearefull fire, or ouer-flowing of water, should we not make the best speed we could to escape? Now, the bondage, the tyranny, the brunt, the flood of sinne is worse then the bondage of the Turkes, the crueltie of a Lyon, or the vnmercifulnesse of fire, or water: for these fasten onely on the body, and but for a short space: but the other on the soule, and that for euer. Therefore, vnlesse wee will make it ap∣peare, that we be vnbeleeuing contemners, and mockers of the Doctrine of heauen and hell, and whatsoeuer appertaineth thereunto, accounting it as meerely verball, and vaine babbling; Let vs aboue all things in the world, labour, and ende∣uour

more and more to be deliuered, and freed from the bondage of sinne.

Notes

• Vse 1. To shevv from whence it commeth that men are in mi∣serable bon∣dage vnder sin, and yet neuer seeke for de∣liuerance
• Vse 2. Sheweth the necessitie of the sound preaching of the Law.
• Vse 3. To admonish all which would be deli∣uered from the misery of sin, that they would suffer themselues to be reproued.
• Vse 4. Toteach vs when we feele the lack of our Ioue to Christ, then duely to weigh the hatefulnesse of our sinnes.
• Doctrine 3. That it behoo∣ueth vs aboue all things in the world, to seeke to be de∣liuered from the power of sinne.
• Reason 1. Because true Religion tea∣cheth vs to keept our selues vnspot∣ted of the world. I am. 1.27.
• Reason 2. Because the bondage of sinne is the greatest bon∣dage that a Christian can vnder-goe.