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If then my inordinate affections carry me to do the thing, which I would not do, and I find a reluctance in myself against it; this very strife, that is in me, shews, that I am sufficiently convinced, that the Law which forbids this that I do, is good. VII. 17. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Now, then, it is no more I, who am a spiritual and renewed person, that do this evil; but it is that corrupt nature, which dwelleth in me: for I do it not with the whole sway of my will, but my prevalent corruption is guilty of it.

VII. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

For I know that in me, that is, in my nature as it is in itself and of itself, there dwelleth no goodness at all: for I can, so long and so far as I follow the motion of God's Spirit, indeed will that which is good; but, as I am carried away with the frailty of my flesh, how to perform that good which I will, I find no power at all.

VII. 20. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Now, if I be drawn so with the force of my remaining corruption, that I do unwillingly commit that sin which I would not, it is no more I, the regenerate man, that do it; but that wicked nature of mine, which dwelleth in me.

VII. 21. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, eril is present with me.

I find then a kind of forcible power of secret corruption lurking within me, which so draws me awry, that, when I would do good, I am, in the mean while, declined to evil.

VII. 22. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward

man:

For I delight in the law of God, as I am a regenerate man: VII. 23. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

But I see and feel another secret power of corruption, striving and fighting against the powerful inclination of my regenerate part; and so prevailing oftentimes with me, as that I am overcarried by that sway of sin, which is in my corrupted nature. VII. 24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

O that I, wretched man that I am, might once be delivered from this mass of inward corruption which dwells in this mortal and sinful flesh of mine!

VII. 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

But, in the mean time, howsoever I am much cumbered and vexed with these inbred and stubborn corruptions of mine: yet, have I no cause to be too much dejected herewith; but rather to rest patiently and contentedly upon the mercy of God; and to be heartily thankful unto him, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for this grace that he hath wrought in me, to struggle against these my wicked corruptions, and in some good measure to master and overcome them. So then, in that I am renewed, I give my obedience to the powerful motions of God's Spirit; but, in that I am unregenerate and carnal, I am carried to the obedience of those sinful motions, which my vicious nature is ready to suggest unto me.

VIII. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Such is the case, not of myself only, but of all those that are as I am, regenerate persons: there is therefore now no condemnation, howsoever there may be much trouble and vexation, to them which are in Christ Jesus, being engrafted into him, and made one with him; who, howsoever they may be transported into some sinful actions, by the strength of a temptation or by their own frailty, yet, in respect of the trade and course of their life, walk, not after the guidance and motion of their corrupt nature, but of the Holy Spirit.

VIII. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For the efficacy and power of that Good Spirit, which giveth life to all faithful ones, applying unto my soul the blood and all-sufficient merits of Christ my Saviour, hath set me free from the tyranny of sin and of death, so as neither of them shall be able to prevail against me.

VIII. 3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For that perfect Righteousness and Justification, which I was not able, by reason of the weakness of my flesh, to attain unto, by fulfilling the Law, God hath graciously wrought out for me; who sent his own Son, to take upon him that nature of ours, which our sin had miserably corrupted, and to make a full satisfaction for sin; and, withal, to take away that guilt and power of sin, whereby it bound me over to condemnation : That the perfect righteousness of the Law might be imputed to us, as fulfilled by us, in that it was by Christ fulfilled for us; which live, not according to the motions of our sinful nature, but according to the motions and directions of his Spirit.

VIII. 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For they, that are merely natural and carnal men, do mind and affect earthly and carnal matters; but they, that are regenerate and spiritual, mind and affect holy, spiritual, heavenly things.

VIII. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

And the end of them both is according to their disposition and affection: for the carnal mind of man can have no other end than death; thither it leads, and there it leaves him: but, for a man to be spiritually minded, is the certain way to life and eternal peace.

VIII. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Neither can the carnal man look for any better issue: for his affections and desires are no better than mere enmity against God, utterly rebelling against the Law of God; as those, which neither are subject unto it, neither indeed, while they so continue, can be.

VIII. 8. So then they that are in the flesh, cannot please God.

So then, those, that are mere unregenerate men, cannot possibly please God.

VIII. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

But ye are not unregenerate and carnal men, but renewed and spiritual; if so be that ye have the Spirit of God dwelling in you, howsoever ye have withal the remainders of your corrupt nature still abiding in you. But, if any man have not the Spirit of God, whereby he is renewed inwardly, what profession soever he makes, yet he is none of his.

VIII. 10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

And if Christ be in you by his Spirit, certainly, this corrupt nature of yours is as good as dead in you, in respect of any hurt that sin can do unto you, by it; but the Spirit of God is powerful in you, to work in you the life of grace here, and to bring you to the life of glory hereafter, because of that perfect righteousness which is in it; whereby sin is mortified, and grace wrought.

VIII. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth

in you.

But, if the Spirit of that Almighty God, which raised up

Jesus from the dead, dwell in you, ye may well be assured, that the same omnipotent power of his, which raised Christ from the dead, shall also easily be able to raise your mortal bodies from the death of sin and put a new life into them, by the efficacy of the same Spirit.

VIII. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Therefore, brethren, since we are raised up from this death of sin and quickened to grace, we should have no more to do with our corruptions, as to live and walk in them; but ought rather to frame ourselves after the guidance and motions of that Holy Spirit.

VIII. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

For if ye live after the flesh, doing those things which your corrupt nature moves you unto, ye shall die eternally; but if ye mortify your evil and corrupt affections, by the power of the Spirit, ye shall live for ever.

VIII. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For as many as are guided by the Spirit of God to lead their lives in all holy obedience to the will of God, they have good reason to be assured they are the sons of God.

VIII. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.

As for you, ye have received good evidence of your spiritual and happy condition: for ye have felt in yourselves, not that effect of the Spirit of God, which by the Law works fear and terror in the soul; but that gracious effect of it, which comfortably assures you of your adoption, whereby we are emboldened to speak to God, under the title of a loving Father. VIII. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

So as this Spirit of God joins together in testimony with our soul or spirit, to assure us, that we are the children of God: our own spirit finding in our hearts such peace of conscience, faith, hope, and other graces, that may testify this truth unto us; and the Spirit of God confirming the said testimony unto our souls, by the powerful operation thereof in us:

VIII. 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.

And if we be children, then heirs; for all God's children are heirs of a glorious kingdom, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if we do patiently endure to suffer with him here, that we may be also glorified with him hereafter.

VIII. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

And well may we resolve to endure whatsoever afflictions we can meet with here; for we do undoubtedly know, that all the sufferings of this present life are nothing, in comparison of that exceeding glory, which is laid up for us, and shall be revealed

unto us.

VIII. 19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Neither are we are alone in these sufferings, or this patient hope; for all creatures suffer with us, and do, with an earnest expectation, as it were, wait and long for that day, wherein there shall be a full accomplishment of the glory of the sons of God, that then they may be delivered from the bondage of corruption.

VIII. 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. For the creation was made subject to a frail and impaired condition, not of its own natural inclination, since all things do naturally affect continuance and perfection; but by the power and just will of God, who, for man's sin, ordained this subjection; yet not without expectation of being once freed therefrom.

VIII. 21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Because the creature itself also shall once be fully delivered from this liableness to corruption; and shall partake of that freedom from it, which the children of God shall once enjoy, together with their full blessedness.

VIII. 22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

For we know that the whole frame of the creation doth, as it were, suffer under our sin; and groan and labour, as if it were in a sensible pain, together with us, until this happy restoring of all things.

VIII. 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

And not only these senseless and brute creatures, but even we also, which have more excellent gifts, even the graces of God's Spirit, as the handsell or firstfruits of a full measure hereafter; even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the consummation of those blessed privileges of our adoption; which is the perfect restoration of our bodies, and glory of our souls.

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