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Yea but I feele not alone these common im∣perfections, but I feele also some one or other corruption so strong and violent in me, that it doth often even againe and againe breake forth, and that also too too palpa∣bly and grossely. I an∣swer, But dost not thou feele in thine heart a per∣petuall warring against these corruptions. Dost
thou not renew thy sor∣rowfull confessions, and resolutions of amend∣ment, as often as thou sinnest and farre oftner too? Dost thou not usually and ordinarily hold fast thy resolution not to sinne, and art over∣come alone sometimes, but commonly keepest under the sinne from pal∣pable breaking forth? Dost not thou fall seldo∣mer and with lesse con∣tent, and more reluctati∣on, and rise sooner out of the sinne: Yea is it not thy continuall pray∣er to be kept against it,
& dost not thou find that these endeavours keepe thee so, that thou offēdest not by many degrees, so much & often, as before thou didst, & as else thou shouldst doe? I answer then, that where sin hath not dominion, there it is healed, and a mans soule is truly sanctified, and himselfe in the state of grace; For it is said, Sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are un∣der grace. Now it is cer∣taine, that where any sin is thus constantly and conscionably resisted & opposed with these spiri∣tuall
weapons (namely by the consideration of Gods goodnes in Christ, & of his commandmēts, threats and promises in his Word) it is subdued, and the dominion there of is broken: Such an one doth mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the spirit, and is in killing them, though they bee not quite slaine, that ru∣leth not that is perpetu∣ally resisted, oppugned, fought against. There∣fore though some such corruption be very vio∣lent, & do both often and palpably break out, yet it
is pardoned, for he doth not love & serve sin that doth thus fight against it and resist it. O but J do not repent in truth. J an∣swer, dost thou thus con∣fesse and lament and re∣sist every sin, one as well as an other, and that be∣fore God in secret? Then surely thou repentest tru∣ly, for no man sets against all sin, and that before God, but hee doth it in uprightnesse and sinceri∣ty of soule.
Rom. 6.24.