cast off its Service, and are resolved to live in per∣petual Hostility with it.

Conclusion 3. As when a man lists himself under the banner of Christ, he breaks his league and corres∣pondence with Sin, and proclaims a War with it; so he hath had a mortal wound given to the habit of it by the Spirit of God. When a man voluntarily of∣fers himself to the Service of Christ, upon his pro∣clamation & call, (I say) when a man is brought effectually to answer that call; as he renounces his correspondence with sin, and enters upon a War with it▪ so, there is by the Spirit of God, a deadly blow given to the old man, our habit of sin. However in a mans natural estate he is un∣der the dominion of sin. Yet when Grace comes into a man, the Spirit of God which is stronger than that strong man armed, comes upon him, overcomes him, and takes from him his armour wherein he trusted. Every one that doth indeed actually belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, is freed from the reigning power and dominion of sin: that is accomplished in him, Rom. 6.12, 14. That sin hath not dominion over him: and sin shall not reign in his mortal body, that he should obey it in the lusts thereof. The Spirit of God hath spoiled sin of its power and dominion, and given it its Deaths wound. An unregenerate mans heart is Sins Ter∣ritory: Sin is in such a mans heart as in its Throne, before the Spirit comes, but when that comes, and by that the nature is changed and renewed; Page  16 Sin is cast out of its Throne, and condemned to die.

Conclusion 4. Though a mortal wound be given by the Spirit of God to the habit of Sin, when a man Lists himself under the banner of Christ, yet Sin is not then quite overcome and destroyed in a man: However Grace doth really subdue Sin, yet it does not wholly destroy Sin. Though it doth really purify a mans nature, yet in this life it doth not quite perfect his nature. A Christian must not expect to experience a state of perfecti∣on here in this life: No, that estate is reserved till he comes to experience a state of Glory. The best of men in this life have a double nature in them, as we may see of man in general, that he consists of Body & Soul; so we may say of every Godly Man (in a Theological sense) that he hath both Flesh and Spirit, Corruption as well as Grace. Though Sin be beat out of its strong holds, yet it hath betaken it self to its inward Castle, where it will remain and have a being in us, as long as we shall have a being here in this world. This Canaanite will dwell in the Land, nor can the Children of God drive it out of this City. God doth with us, in respect of Sin, (our inward E∣nemy) as the Psalmist prayed against his out∣ward Enemies, Psal. 59.11. Slay them not, scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our Shield. Thus doth the Lord do in respect of Sin, and Corruption in his Saints here in this Page  17 World; those enemies are brought down from that power and dignity, in which they were wont to be, but they are nor wholly slain. They are surrounded, are taken, arraigned, a Sentence of death is past upon them, and they are dead in Law, but yet they have their lives lengthened out for a season during our bodily life, nor can we till the death of the Body, expect perfectly to be freed from the body of death. The wise man proclaims a Challenge to all the world, to enter the Lists with him upon this account, Prov. 20.9. Who can say, I have made mine heart clean? And though there may be some of man-kind, that may falsely and presumptuously say that they have; yet none can truly and safely say that they have: For if we say we have no sin, we de¦ceive our selves, and the truth is not in us: 1 Joh. 1.8

Conclusion 5. Sin not being thus quite overcome and destroyed; it follows that every man, who hath listed himself under the banner of Christ, hath a diver∣sity of principles in him, between which there can be no amity and friendship, but on the other hand a con∣tinual warring. The principles, Sin and Grace, Flesh and Spirit are diametrically opposite one unto another, are the greatest contraries in the whole world, as contrary as light and darkness, as life and death, as good and evil, as Heaven and Hell. And being so opposite and contrary, they cannot be dormant, and latitant in the Soul, but Page  18 must needs be up in armes, indeavouring to van∣quish and expell each other. These two princi∣ples are (as it were) the company of two armies, Cant. 6.13. They lie intrencht and engaged one against the other. As long as a man keeps his league with sin and serves that, he feels nothing at all of this: While the strong man armed keeps the Palace, his goods are in peace. Luk. 11.21. A• long as Israel is subject to the Egyptians, and doth their drudgery, all is well, there's no stir; but when once they shake off that Servitude, and set out for Canaan, then they are pursued with all the forces and powers imaginable, to be brought back to their former bondage. Especially therefore upon a mans first chusing of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Captain of his Salvation, is this on∣sett high; and not only then, but when we have made considerable proficiency, and have obtained much victory over Sin: Yea, those that have ar∣rived to the highest Attainments are not free from this combat within, but like Rebekah, have twins, struggling in their wombs; the Flesh and the Spirit, like the twins in her womb, do war and strive one with another. The law in the mem∣bers wars against the law in the mind. Rom. 7.23. the fleshly lusts war against the Soul. 1 Pet. 2.11. and the Soul also wars against them. Gal. 5.17. The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit a∣gainst the Flesh, and these two are contrary one to the other.

Conclusion 6. This keeping under the Body of Sin, and bringing it into subjection, consists in such a warring with Sin, as to endeavour its death and de∣struction: and the subjecting all our faculties and members to the Service of God and Christ. We must endeavour the death and destruction of sin in this sense; there must be a Resistance unto blood striving against Sin, Heb. 11.4. Sin will have it pleas to be spared and saved alive, and we may be willing to deal gently with it, as David gave charge concerning Absalom: this Prisoner of War will cry for quarter when the life of it is in danger, and will speak us fair, and make seemingly great propositions. Some sins will promise us profit and worldly gain, if we will not slay them; as those ten men said to Ishmael, Jer. 41.8. Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field: Others will promise us promotions, and worldly honour, as Baalak said to Balaam, Am I not able indeed to promote thee unto Honour: Others will promise us pleasures and delights, if they may be spared and indulged: Others will plead they are little ones, and therefore will desire they may escape: yea, and others will plead they are our Relations and our Kindred; flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bones, and no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but we must stop our ears against all their most cursed charmes, & en∣deavour to do by every Sin, as Joab by Absalom, Page  20 thrust it through the heart. 2 Sam. 18.14. Both small and great must be dealt with after this manner: The great ones, the Champions, the Goliahs, that come out of the Camp of these Ene∣mies, these Philistins, must be fought with and kill'd, and the little ones must be also dasht a∣gainst the stones. This slaughter must be like that which Saul was commanded to effect against the Amalekites: 1 Sam. 15.3. all sorts both young and old must be put to the Sword, and not so much as one Agag must be spared alive. And as there is in the duty we are speaking of, an en∣deavouring the death and destruction of Sin, so an endeavouring to subject all our faculties and members, to the Service of Christ: every thought we must endeavour to bring into obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10 5. Our members, not only the parts of our Bodies, but the faculties of our Souls also, these must not be yielded as Instruments of unrighteousness unto Sin: but yielded as instruments of righteousness unto God, Rom. 6.13. we must not any longer live the rest of our time, to the lusts of men but to the will of God, as it is exprest, 1 Pet. 4.2. Our bodies, i. e. our whole man I conceive, a part is put for the whole man. Rom. 12.1. Our whole man must be presented a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God: and when we do sincerely endeavour this, viz. the death and destruction of Sin, and the improving the whole man for the Service of God; though in many things we may Page  21 fail, and sometimes by our indwelling enemy, be put to the worst, yet if this be our bent, inclination, sincere desire and endeavour, it will be accepted of God, and we shall be accounted by him, as such as do keep under the Body of Sin, and bring it into subjection. And thus of the first thing proposed to be spoken to; we pass to the second.