A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 7. Of suppressing inward corruption.

THe foresaid besetting sin is here set down as an inward impediment of a christi∣an in his race; & joyned with the former outward weight, by this copulative, a and: So as it dependeth upon the participle b of laying aside: Mans endeavour must be for suppressing of his inward, inbred corruption, as well as for laying aside externall weights. We must, as much as in us lyeth, lay aside this besetting sin.

This title c Sin, in the singular number, is frequently put for our naturall cor∣ruption. Five times in Rom. 6. six times in Rom. 7. three times in Rom. 8. It is al∣so called, a body of sin, a body of death, flesh, old man. Exhortations about this sin are, that we suffer it not to reign, Rom. 6. 12. that we destroy it, Rom. 6. 6. That we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, Gal. 5. 24. that we cast it off, Eph. 4. 24.

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  1. The condition of this enemy should the rather incite us to subdue and destroy it. It is an enemie within us. More danger ariseth from Traytors that are within a Nation or City, then from forrein enemies without. David was never in such danger, by reason of any, or of all the Nations without, as of those that rose against him in his own Kingdome.

  As for this inbred enemy, no enemie without, nor world, nor Devill, nor all the power of Hell, can hurt our soules, unlesse they get this Traytor within to take part with them.

• 2. This enemy is tumultuois and troublesome, never at rest: as it can easily, so it will willfully on every side set upon us. We cannot do, speak, or think any thing but it will infest us, and that at all tin•…•…es, in all places: in Company, when we are alone, at Church, and at home, in duties of piety, Charity, and Justice, in duties of our Calling, Waking, and Sleeping.

Great is their folly who let this enemie do what he please, who care not to hold him in, much lesse to cast him off.

This is the cause of the many outward abhominable enormities that men fall into, that they suffer this enemy within them, to plot and practise what he lists.

For suppressing of this besetting sin, observe these few rules.

• 1. Keep thine heart with all diligence, Prov. 4. 23. The heart is as a spring, Matth. 12. 34, 35.
• 2. Keep the doores of thy soul, by which good or evill is let into it. These are thy senses, Iob 31. 1.
• 3. Use such meanes as in Gods word are sanctified for subduing Corruption; they will be as water cast upon fire: Such are, Temperance, Sobriety, Dili∣gence in Calling, Duties of piety, Fasting, and other waies beating down thy body, 1 Cor. 9. 27.
• 4. Set the bias of thy thoughts aright. Acquaint thy self with the divine art of meditation, especially when thou ar•…•… alone, or awake in thy bed. Mens thoughts will be working, and that on evill, if they be not set on good mat∣ter. If good seed be not sown in the ground, it will send forth noysome weeds.
• 5. Get the stronger man into thy house, Matth. 12. 29. This is the Spirit, Gal. 5. 17. For this pray, Luke 11. 13. Thus thou shalt be safe.

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Original sin.
• Why origi∣nall sin to be suppressed.
• How originall sin may be suppressed.