A
DESCRIPTION
of
the
NATURAL
CONDITION
OF
Being
in
the
Fesh
.
Rom.
8.
ver.
8.
So
then
they
that
are
in
the
flesh
,
cannot
please
God
.
THat
hereditary
stain
and
original
corruption
which
we
all
drew
from
the
loins
of
our
first
parents
,
(
Christian
and
beloved
brethren
)
it
sticketh
fast
and
close
unto
us
:
and
so
long
as
we
carry
about
us
this
body
of
clay
,
this
burden
of
flesh
,
we
can
never
be
perfectly
rid
of
it
.
And
the
weight
and
burden
of
sin
doth
so
press
and
weigh
down
a
true
Christian
,
that
it
causeth
him
to
cry
out
almost
dispairingly
with
the
Apostle
S.
Paul
,
O
miserable
man
that
I
am
,
who
shall
deliver
me
from
this
body
of
sin
?
But
as
we
say
in
Philosophy
,
elementa
in
suo
loco
neque
gravant
neque
levant
,
the
elements
in
their
proper
place
they
are
neither
light
nor
heavy
.
So
is
it
with
sins
,
when
they
are
in
their
proper
place
,
the
hearts
of
wicked
men
,
they
weigh
nothing
there
:
and
whether
they
be
light
sins
or
heavy
,
they
are
insensible
of
the
burden
of
them
:
and
if
hypocrites
complain
of
sin
in
others
,
and
true
Christians
of
sin
in
themselves
,
they
that
are
fleshly
minded
meer
natural
men
,
as
they
know
not
what
sin
is
,
so
they
feel
not
the
burden
of
it
.
And
if
they
be
not
over
curious
to
see
sin
in
others
,
they
are
not
over
careful
to
see
or
amend
it
in
themselves
:
and
therefore
they
think
themselves
of
all
others
in
a
happy
condition
,
who
neither
trouble
them selves
with
others
sins
,
nor
yet
with
their
own
.
Whereas
in
truth
there
is
no
peace
promised
but
to
the
troubled
conscience
,
no
quiet
nor
rest
but
to
the
burdened
soul
:
those
that
are
weary
and
heavy
laden
with
the
burden
of
their
sins
.
While
therfore
these
men
are
pleasing
themselves
with
this
vain
phantasie
and
thinking
that
they
of
all
others
have
right
to
heaven
and
to
earth
too
:
The
Spirit
of
God
in
the
Scripture
meeteth
with
them
,
and
sheweth
them
that
they
may
please
themselves
,
but
they
cannot
,
they
do
not
please
God
,
while
they
remain
in
their
natural
condition
without
purging
sin
out
of
their
hearts
.
So
then
they
that
are
in
the
flesh
cannot
please
God
.
The
text
it
is
a
conclusion
drawn
from
foregoing
premises
.
The
Apostle
having
in
the
sixth
ver.
laid
down
what
a
miserable
condition
it
is
to
be
carnally
minded
,
and
what
a
happy
condition
it
is
to
be
spiritually
minded
:
to
be
carnally
minded
is
death
:
but
to
be
spiritually
minded
,
is
life
and
peace
:
In
the
seventh
ver.
he
laieth
down
the
incompetibility
between
these
two
conditions
,
and
sheweth
that
the
natural
man
is
not
,
(
and
the
impossibility
that
he
should
be
)
subject
to
the
law
of
God
,
the
carnal
minde
is
enmity
against
God
:
for
it
is
not
subject
to
the
Law
of
God
,
neither
indeed
can
be
.
And
then
from
hence
he
doth
inferre
this
necessary
Conclusion
,
So
then
they
that
are
in
the
flesh
,
cannot
please
God
.
In
which
words
the
Apostle
doth
note
three
things
unto
us
;
1.
He
doth
〈◊〉
imply
that
some
may
be
involved
in
this
natural
condition
here
described
and
set
forth
unto
us
:
they
may
be
in
the
flesh
.
2.
He
doth
grant
that
a
great
many
are
involved
in
this
condition
:
ye
see
it
is
set
forth
in
the
plural
number
,
They
that
are
in
the
flesh
;
and
3.
There
is
the
inferrence
that
the
Apostle
doth
inferre
,
or
the
conclusion
that
he
draweth
from
thence
,
They
cannot
please
God
.
First
,
then
I
will
speak
of
that
which
the
Apostle
implieth
here
,
which
is
,
that
some
may
be
involved
in
this
natural
condition
here
described
,
and
be
in
the
flesh
.
I
purpose
not
to
lay
down
all
the
acceptions
of
the
word
Flesh
in
Scripture
,
but
to
propound
onely
so
many
as
may
make
for
the
necessary
explication
of
the
meaning
of
the
holy
Ghost
in
this
place
,
where
he
saith
,
They
that
are
in
the
flesh
cannot
please
God
.
Flesh
then
it
is
taken
for
the
body
,
as
it
consisteth
of
bones
,
sinews
,
ligaments
,
bloud
,
arteries
,
all
that
material
massie
fleshly
lump
which
we
carry
about
us
:
and
for
this
body
informed
with
a
living
soul
,
and
so
it
is
taken
in
the
1
Cor.
15.
chap.
the
50.
verse
where
the
Apostle
saith
,
flesh
and
bloud
cannot
inherit
the
kingdom
of
heaven
:
and
so
it
is
taken
,
1
Pet.
3.
chap.
18.
verse
where
the
Apostle
speaketh
of
our
Saviour
,
that
he
was
put
to
death
in
the
flesh
.
And
in
this
sense
are
the
Apostles
words
to
be
understood
,
1
Phil.
the
24.
verse
where
he
telleth
the
Philippians
,
that
for
him
to
abide
in
the
flesh
was
more
needful
for
them
:
that
is
for
him
to
continue
in
the
body
and
live
upon
the
earth
was
better
for
them
.
Or
else
flesh
may
be
taken
for
the
remainder
of
natural
corruption
in
the
regenerate
.
So
it
is
taken
in
the
5.
of
the
Gal.
17.
ver.
the
flesh
lusteth
against
the
spirit
,
and
the
spirit
against
the
flesh
.
And
so
to
be
in
the
flesh
it
is
to
live
in
this
frail
body
incompassed
about
with
sins
and
infirmities
,
and
so
the
Apostles
words
may
be
understood
2
Cor.
10.
chap.
3.
ver.
Though
we
walk
in
the
flesh
yet
we
do
not
warre
after
the
flesh
.
Or
lastly
flesh
is
taken
for
natural
corruption
,
for
the
pravity
of
our
nature
,
for
the
proneness
and
propensity
of
the
heart
to
evil
,
and
the
indisposition
thereof
to
do
good
:
when
the
evil
desires
and
motions
of
the
flesh
reign
and
bear
sway
and
rule
in
the
heart
:
and
so
the
Apostles
words
are
to
be
understood
in
the
7.
Rom.
5.
ver.
where
he
layeth
down
,
that
when
we
were
in
the
flesh
,
the
motions
of
sins
which
were
by
the
Law
,
did
work
in
our
members
to
bring
forth
fruit
unto
death
.
Properly
in
the
Apostles
meaning
they
are
not
said
to
be
in
the
flesh
in
this
place
,
who
live
in
the
body
,
for
so
we
are
all
in
the
flesh
.
Neither
are
they
said
properly
to
be
in
the
flesh
according
to
the
Apostles
meaning
in
this
place
,
in
whom
the
reliques
of
natural
corruption
do
remain
:
For
so
likewise
we
are
all
in
the
flesh
,
and
the
reliques
of
sin
they
will
still
remain
in
us
,
so
long
as
we
live
in
the
flesh
,
until
such
time
as
we
put
off
the
flesh
,
and
this
mortal
put
on
immortality
.
But
according
to
the
true
meaning
of
the
Apostles
words
in
ver.
we
all
had
our
conversation
in
times
past
,
in
the
lusts
of
the
flesh
,
fulfilling
the
desires
of
the
flesh
and
of
the
minde
,
and
were
by
nature
the
children
of
wrath
.
This
is
the
condition
that
all
have
been
in
,
and
some
must
needs
acknowledge
themselves
to
be
still
in
.
They
have
no
knowledge
of
of
Christ
or
of
God
,
their
understanding
is
not
enlightned
with
the
saving
doctrine
of
Christ
and
his
kingdom
,
Christ
crucified
is
a
stumbling
block
unto
them
,
they
esteem
it
foolishness
when
they
hear
it
preached
,
they
mock
at
the
resurrection
of
the
dead
,
and
the
principles
of
Christian
Religion
are
so
absurd
to
their
natural
sence
and
reason
,
that
they
will
not
down
with
them
by
any
means
.
Sin●●
they
know
not
what
it
is
,
they
have
no
sight
of
it
:
or
if
they
have
,
they
have
no
sence
nor
feeling
of
the
hainousness
of
it
,
and
for
the
inward
corruption
of
the
heart
they
suffer
it
to
lye
there
without
mortifying
it
:
and
it
is
the
constraint
of
the
laws
of
the
land
that
restraineth
them
from
the
actual
commission
of
sin
,
for
otherwise
they
give
full
sway
and
swinge
to
their
crooked
and
corrupt
affections
,
free
scope
and
liberty
to
themselves
in
sin
,
and
run
their
full
career
in
wickedness
:
and
if
they
can
but
extricate
themselves
out
of
the
briers
so
that
the
laws
of
the
land
should
not
lay
hold
of
them
,
they
care
not
to
commit
all
manner
of
iniquity
and
impiety
.
Yea
though
they
hear
that
the
law
of
God
is
spiritual
,
and
requireth
the
obedience
of
the
inward
man
,
and
that
God
looketh
more
to
the
heart
then
to
the
outward
actions
,
and
that
a
little
sin
such
a
sin
as
it
is
a
question
among
a
great
many
whether
it
be
a
sin
,
is
exceeding
hainous
in
the
sight
of
God
if
mens
hearts
be
set
upon
it
,
so
that
they
will
not
part
with
it
:
Though
they
hear
out
of
the
Scripture
that
God
will
call
men
to
account
for
idle
verses
;
The
works
of
the
flesh
are
manifest
which
are
these
,
adultery
,
fornication
,
laciviousness
,
uncleanness
,
Idolatry
,
witchcraft
,
hatred
,
variance
,
emulation
,
wrath
,
strife
,
seditious
heresies
,
envyings
,
murders
,
drunkenness
,
revellings
and
such
like
:
they
are
exceedingly
in
love
with
these
,
and
spare
not
to
commit
them
so
far
forth
as
they
come
not
within
the
compass
of
mens
laws
to
be
punished
:
yea
and
many
times
they
leap
over
the
laws
of
God
and
the
land
,
wallow
in
swinish
pleasures
and
sinful
surfeting
,
follow
their
brutish
appetites
,
their
sinful
and
sensual
desires
,
give
no
law
to
their
unbridled
passions
,
to
their
loose
carriages
,
to
their
dissolute
behaviours
,
to
their
unjust
practises
:
the
restraint
neither
of
Gods
laws
nor
of
mens
can
keep
them
within
bounds
,
but
they
break
both
,
and
pursue
their
evil
courses
with
all
vehemency
and
violence
.
And
are
such
as
the
Scripture
speaketh
of
the
unjust
Judge
;
They
neither
fear
God
nor
regard
man
,
but
oppress
the
poor
,
grind
their
faces
,
undo
the
fatherless
and
widows
,
against
all
law
and
equity
:
and
yet
they
have
no
sence
nor
feeling
of
their
sins
,
they
are
touched
with
no
remorse
for
them
.
The
terror
of
the
law
which
doometh
death
and
damnation
to
the
breach
of
the
least
of
Gods
Commandments
,
the
horror
of
their
own
guilty
consciences
,
when
they
see
their
sins
laid
before
them
in
their
own
ugly
plight
,
shape
,
and
form
:
doth
not
make
them
so
to
groan
under
the
burden
of
their
sins
,
that
they
should
see
what
a
sweet
thing
it
is
to
have
a
Saviour
,
what
a
happiness
it
is
to
be
a
Christian
.
They
are
not
so
wearied
with
the
heavy
load
and
burden
of
their
sins
that
they
should
seek
and
finde
rest
in
Christ
Jesus
:
But
they
weary
themselves
in
the
way
of
wickednes
,
and
never
say
,
what
hath
pride
profited
us
?
Or
what
good
hath
riches
with
our
vanting
brought
us
?
till
they
groan
out
this
in
hell
,
where
they
are
never
like
to
have
part
in
God
or
inheritance
in
Christ
.
These
now
are
the
wicked
,
and
such
as
these
they
are
in
the
flesh
,
and
fulfil
the
desires
of
the
flesh
and
of
the
minde
:
and
sure
some
such
men
as
these
the
Apostle
yieldeth
and
granteth
that
there
may
be
.
They
have
not
their
understanding
informed
,
nor
their
reason
rectified
.
Their
talk
is
of
bullocks
,
and
they
know
〈◊〉
how
to
give
the
kine
fodder
:
or
their
discourse
is
of
their
wares
and
their
merchandise
,
and
they
know
how
to
buy
and
sell
and
get
gain
.
But
they
are
strangers
in
Israel
,
unacquainted
with
the
mysteries
of
Christ
and
his
kingdom
:
That
Christ
came
down
from
heaven
,
and
He
is
pressed
under
them
as
a
cart
is
pressed
that
as
full
of
sheaves
.
But
do
they
so
groan
under
the
burden
of
their
sins
,
that
they
desire
to
be
rid
of
them
,
and
to
purge
them
out
of
their
hearts
?
Doth
their
faith
in
Christ
for
the
remission
of
their
sins
increase
their
hatred
of
have
crucified
the
flesh
with
the
affections
and
lusts
.
Unless
therefore
men
crucifie
the
flesh
,
and
mortifie
their
earthly
members
:
fornication
uncleanness
,
immoderate
affection
,
evil
concupiscence
,
covetousness
and
the
like
:
they
are
not
in
Christ
but
are
still
in
the
flesh
,
and
whatsoever
right
or
title
they
may
plead
to
Christ
,
they
are
carnally
,
they
are
earthly
minded
.
Let
not
sin
reign
in
your
mortal
bodies
,
that
ye
should
obey
it
in
the
lusts
thereof
.
If
then
mens
hearts
and
consciences
tell
them
,
that
they
are
not
renewed
in
the
spirit
of
their
the
thoughts
of
their
hearts
are
evil
,
and
that
continually
:
the
evil
desires
of
the
flesh
they
swarm
there
,
and
the
carnal
desires
of
the
mind
they
nourish
and
cherish
them
,
please
themselves
in
them
,
take
a
great
deal
of
delight
to
suffer
their
mindes
to
wander
after
vain
pleasures
and
sinful
delights
:
and
as
for
the
inward
corruption
of
the
heart
,
they
give
no
stay
nor
stop
to
it
.
For
the
proneness
and
propensity
of
the
heart
to
evil
,
and
the
indisposition
thereof
to
do
good
,
they
see
it
not
:
or
if
they
do
they
love
it
with
all
their
heart
:
and
desire
to
live
and
die
in
this
polluted
estate
,
this
corrupted
condition
,
over
run
with
sin
and
iniquity
.
Their
heart
is
corrupt
,
their
conscience
defiled
,
and
yet
they
are
touched
with
no
remorse
for
the
inward
pollution
of
their
souls
,
for
the
outward
defilement
of
their
bodies
,
but
make
sin
their
solace
,
and
iniquity
their
pastime
:
and
if
God
do
so
work
by
his
word
,
by
the
good
motions
of
his
Spirit
,
by
his
mercies
,
by
his
judgements
,
as
to
restrain
them
from
some
open
enormious
crimes
:
If
there
be
some
few
virtues
that
they
love
,
and
some
few
vices
that
they
hate
,
and
their
corruption
doth
not
shew
it self
in
the
commission
of
them
,
yet
when
they
hear
of
an
inward
change
of
the
whole
minde
,
of
the
whole
man
,
of
a
general
hatred
of
sin
,
and
a
general
love
of
goodness
,
that
so
God
might
accept
of
their
imperfect
obedience
for
Christs
sake
,
and
intitle
them
to
heaven
and
salvation
,
this
they
cannot
endure
.
To
fear
all
their
waies
with
the
holy
man
Iob
:
and
to
refrain
their
feet
they
that
are
in
the
flesh
.
And
so
I
proceed
to
prove
that
which
is
plainly
expressed
and
come
in
the
second
place
to
show
that
there
are
numbers
and
multitudes
that
are
in
the
flesh
:
our
Saviour
in
the
seventh
of
S.
Matthews
Gospel
telleth
us
that
wide
is
the
gate
,
and
broad
is
the
way
that
leadeth
to
destruction
,
and
many
there
be
that
go
in
thereat
.
And
every
where
in
Scripture
we
have
the
multitude
of
wicked
men
described
and
set
forth
unto
us
.
S.
Paul
layeth
it
down
in
his
Epistle
to
the
Romans
,
as
the
Psalmist
had
before
set
it
down
,
and
the
wiseman
in
his
Proverbs
,
3
Rom.
the
12
,
13
,
14
,
15
,
16
,
17
,
18
verses
;
They
are
all
gone
out
of
the
way
,
they
are
together
become
unprofitable
,
there
is
none
that
doth
good
,
no
not
one
:
their
throat
is
an
open
sepulchre
,
With
their
tongues
they
have
used
deceit
,
the
poyson
of
aspes
is
under
their
lips
:
whose
mouth
is
full
of
cursing
and
and
bitterness
,
their
feet
are
swift
to
shed
blood
;
destruction
and
misery
are
in
their
waies
,
and
the
way
of
peace
they
have
not
known
;
there
is
no
fear
of
God
before
their
eyes
.
And
the
Psalmist
bringeth
in
God
wondring
at
the
multitude
of
wicked
men
;
Have
they
no
knowledge
that
they
are
all
such
workers
of
mischief
eating
up
my
people
as
it
were
bread
,
and
call
not
upon
God
?
Nos
numerus
sumus
,
&
fruges
consumere
nati
,
we
were
all
of
us
so
in
our
natural
condition
,
and
no
doubt
but
there
are
still
a
number
,
a
multitude
of
Epicurean
people
,
who
think
they
are
born
onely
to
eat
and
to
drink
Iob
;
Depart
from
us
we
desire
not
the
knowledge
of
thy
wayes
.
All
tables
are
full
of
vomit
and
filthiness
,
from
the
least
of
them
unto
the
greatest
of
them
,
every
one
is
given
to
covetousness
,
and
from
the
Prophet
unto
the
Priest
every
one
dealeth
falsely
.
Some
few
onely
excepted
as
S.
Iohn
hath
it
,
the
whole
world
lieth
in
wickedness
,
They
declare
their
sin
as
Sodom
they
hide
it
not
.
Others
have
it
in
their
heart
,
their
sore
rankleth
and
festereth
inwardly
,
and
their
wound
is
in
curable
:
others
,
their
loins
are
filled
with
a
loathsom
disease
and
there
is
no
whole
part
in
their
flesh
:
others
,
their
feet
are
swift
to
shed
bloud
:
others
,
their
hands
are
instruments
of
cruelty
:
others
,
their
eyes
are
blinded
that
they
see
not
;
they
have
the
eyes
of
their
understanding
darkned
so
that
they
know
not
what
sin
is
,
and
how
should
they
then
amend
it
?
Many
,
too
many
there
be
,
who
have
not
one
but
many
sins
reigning
in
them
,
who
walk
and
war
after
the
flesh
,
and
fulfil
the
desires
of
their
evil
and
corrupt
mindes
:
so
that
it
is
no
marvel
though
the
Apostle
setteth
it
forth
in
the
plural
number
,
They
that
are
in
the
flesh
.
Having
thus
described
the
Natural
Condition
of
being
in
the
flesh
,
&
having
shewed
what
it
is
to
be
in
the
flesh
and
having
made
it
plain
that
there
are
numbers
and
multitudes
of
men
who
live
and
lie
in
this
sinful
condition
,
overrun
with
iniquity
,
and
drowned
as
I
may
say
in
the
lusts
of
the
flesh
.
It
remaineth
that
I
come
to
shew
what
it
is
that
maketh
this
condition
so
miserable
and
so
deplorable
a
condition
:
It
may
seem
to
be
a
happy
condition
,
and
no
marvel
if
there
be
multitudes
that
are
in
love
with
sin
,
and
the
greatest
part
please
themselves
in
their
natural
condition
,
and
have
some
sin
or
other
which
they
propound
unto
themselves
as
their
cheifest
happiness
,
felicity
,
and
contentment
in
this
life
:
for
sin
it
is
sweet
and
the
task
of
repentance
it
is
tedious
bitter
and
irksome
:
and
the
child-bearing
pangs
of
a
woman
in
travail
are
not
so
painful
and
laborious
,
as
are
the
travailing
pains
of
those
that
are
born
again
,
in
whom
new
birth
is
wrought
.
A
troubled
conscience
and
a
minde
disquieted
with
the
burden
of
sin
,
it
is
above
all
the
troubles
and
tribulations
that
can
happen
to
a
man
in
this
life
.
Seeing
then
sin
is
so
sweet
,
and
the
task
of
repentance
so
bitter
,
tedious
and
irksome
:
not
to
strive
against
sin
,
but
to
enjoy
the
pleasures
and
profits
of
this
life
,
there
is
no
misery
at
all
in
this
condition
,
but
a
great
deal
of
happiness
:
and
if
it
were
not
for
that
which
followeth
in
this
text
of
Scripture
,
who
might
not
wish
to
remain
still
in
his
natural
condition
,
without
purging
sin
out
of
his
heart
.
So
then
that
which
maketh
this
condition
so
miserable
a
condition
it
is
this
,
that
men
while
they
are
in
love
with
this
supposed
happiness
,
they
lose
that
which
is
their
true
happiness
,
their
summum
bonum
,
and
their
chief
felicitv
:
Gods
favourable
countenance
.
Nothing
can
content
the
soul
but
God
,
nothing
can
satisfie
the
heart
but
the
Trinity
,
and
while
men
remain
in
this
condition
without
purging
sin
out
of
their
hearts
,
they
are
deprived
of
this
felicity
they
are
debarred
of
this
happiness
.
So
then
this
condition
of
being
out
of
the
state
of
grace
,
maketh
men
miserable
,
because
those
that
are
out
of
the
state
of
grace
and
not
truly
regenerate
cannot
please
God
.
And
so
I
pass
to
the
third
thing
the
They
cannot
please
God
.
The
Apostles
meaning
when
he
saith
,
those
that
are
in
the
flesh
cannot
please
God
.
Is
not
,
that
it
is
all
one
whether
they
do
good
or
whether
they
do
evil
,
their
vices
and
their
virtues
finde
the
like
acceptance
at
Gods
hands
,
their
gloriousest
virtues
are
but
glittering
sins
,
their
best
actions
are
abominable
,
they
are
in
the
flesh
out
of
Christ
,
and
whatsoever
they
do
they
cannot
please
God
.
These
are
the
exceptions
that
the
Sectaries
of
these
times
make
,
not
onely
against
the
actions
of
those
who
are
meer
natural
men
,
unreconciled
,
unconverted
,
but
against
the
actions
of
those
that
are
spiritual
,
and
more
truly
engraffed
into
Christ
then
themselves
.
And
these
Sectaries
they
do
dilate
and
spread
themselves
every
where
,
and
where
there
are
fewest
of
them
there
are
two
many
of
them
.
Yet
for
my
part
I
am
and
ever
shall
be
so
charitable
as
to
believe
that
there
are
among
them
,
some
ignorantly
seduced
Christians
,
who
desire
above
all
things
to
fear
God
and
to
serve
him
,
and
for
the
elects
sake
that
are
among
them
,
shall
speak
unto
them
all
as
unto
Saints
,
and
unto
brethren
,
and
all
that
I
shall
at
this
time
say
is
but
this
;
If
these
men
cannot
be
perswaded
to
have
a
little
more
charity
,
it
were
to
be
wished
that
they
would
be
perswaded
to
have
a
little
more
humility
:
if
saith
Iob
,
I
wash
myself
with
snow
water
,
and
make
my
hands
never
so
clean
:
yet
shalt
thou
plunge
me
in
the
ditch
,
and
mine
own
clothes
shall
abhor
me
.
And
the
holy
Father
S.
Augustin
sheweth
how
imperfect
the
actions
of
the
best
are
,
that
none
can
be
found
innocent
if
God
should
deal
with
them
according
to
the
rigour
of
his
justice
.
Vae
laudabili
vitae
hominum
si
remota
miserecordia
discutias
eam
.
Wo
unto
the
most
praise-worthy
life
of
men
,
if
God
shall
examine
it
without
mercy
.
And
so
Arnobius
,
Vae
nobis
si
quod
debeamus
exegerit
vel
quod
debet
rediderit
.
Wo
unto
us
all
if
God
should
exact
of
us
what
we
owe
or
are
indebted
unto
him
:
or
return
unto
us
according
to
our
deserts
.
I
beseech
you
beloved
brethren
whosoever
you
are
,
can
you
do
any
thing
to
please
God
?
have
you
any
righteousness
that
is
not
stained
?
survay
your
own
best
actions
,
&
abhor
your selves
in
dust
&
ashes
,
your
most
lovely
virtues
,
your
goodliest
actions
,
they
receive
such
a
tincture
from
the
corrupt
channel
from
whence
they
proceed
,
that
you
must
needs
see
nothing
but
a
menstruous
cloth
,
have
you
any
thing
to
glory
of
before
God
?
take
heed
least
he
enter
into
judgement
with
you
,
you
will
find
that
all
flesh
hath
corrupted
it self
before
God
,
and
that
you
have
nothing
but
what
others
have
imperfect
goodness
.
But
yet
goodness
it
is
Gods
gift
and
the
effect
of
our
Saviours
sufferings
,
and
though
it
be
imperfect
in
all
,
in
regard
we
are
not
subjects
capable
of
perfect
goodness
,
yet
God
as
he
wroketh
it
in
all
,
so
he
loveth
it
,
and
is
pleased
with
it
in
all
that
he
worketh
it
.
And
whether
he
worketh
it
by
restraining
grace
in
those
that
are
in
their
natural
condition
,
or
by
saving
grace
in
those
that
are
in
their
spiritual
condition
,
he
is
pleased
with
it
,
accepteth
it
,
will
reward
it
for
Christs
sake
.
Some
good
works
that
are
wrought
by
restraining
grace
,
they
are
as
lovely
in
the
sight
of
men
,
and
as
pleasing
in
the
sight
of
God
,
as
are
those
that
are
wrought
by
saving
grace
.
And
God
as
he
worketh
,
so
he
is
pleased
with
,
and
accepteth
of
goodness
in
every
body
.
It
was
Gods
speech
to
Cain
,
if
thou
doest
well
shalt
thou
not
be
accepted
?
He
accepteth
of
every
body
when
they
do
well
,
he
will
reward
his
own
works
and
will
be
no
mans
debter
for
goodness
.
He
hath
rewarded
you
,
he
will
reward
you
,
he
doth
reward
you
,
for
works
of
piety
,
for
deeds
of
charity
,
for
any
thing
that
is
good
.
So
then
this
is
not
the
meaning
of
the
words
(
howsoever
some
please
to
descant
and
paraphrase
upon
them
)
that
those
that
are
in
the
flesh
,
their
best
actions
are
abominable
,
their
goodness
imperfect
and
they
cannot
please
God
:
for
so
are
the
actions
of
the
best
Saints
living
and
some
actions
that
are
wrought
by
restraining
grace
are
as
perfect
as
those
that
are
wrought
by
saving
grace
,
though
both
of
them
are
imperfect
:
and
God
is
pleased
to
accept
of
imperfect
goodness
for
Christs
sake
and
reward
it
.
Onely
herein
is
the
difference
:
those
good
deeds
that
proceed
from
restraining
grace
,
they
have
the
promise
onely
of
a
temporary
reward
,
but
those
good
deeds
that
proceed
from
saving
grace
they
entitle
men
to
heaven
and
salvation
.
So
then
the
meaning
of
the
Apostles
words
,
(
as
it
may
appear
plainly
to
those
that
are
not
minded
wilfully
to
pervert
the
Scritures
)
is
this
:
They
that
are
unreconciled
,
unconverted
,
unrenewed
in
the
spirit
of
their
mindes
,
they
cannot
so
please
God
,
that
he
should
accept
of
their
imperfect
obedience
and
entitle
them
to
heaven
,
and
deliver
them
from
hell
.
This
then
is
the
miserable
condition
of
all
those
who
have
not
felt
the
inward
Covenant
,
the
circumcision
of
the
heart
,
in
whom
restraining
grace
hath
wrought
onely
a
hatred
of
some
few
sins
,
and
a
love
of
some
few
vertues
,
and
the
saving
grace
of
Gods
Spirit
hath
not
inlightened
the
understanding
with
the
knowledge
of
all
sins
which
by
the
search
of
reason
can
be
found
to
be
sins
:
nor
reformed
the
will
that
there
should
be
a
hatred
of
all
sins
nor
rectified
the
affections
,
that
so
this
hatred
of
sin
should
increase
more
and
more
.
But
they
do
good
by
fits
and
by
starts
,
as
they
are
taught
by
custome
and
example
of
others
,
as
they
are
induced
unto
it
by
Gods
mercies
and
his
judgements
,
or
as
it
pleaseth
him
sometimes
to
work
extraordinarily
in
their
hearts
by
his
word
and
the
good
motions
of
his
Spirit
.
Such
as
these
they
are
in
the
flesh
and
cannot
please
God
:
that
is
they
are
out
of
Gods
favour
,
the
wrath
of
God
abideth
upon
them
;
they
have
no
hopes
of
heaven
nor
of
happiness
after
this
life
.
And
what
more
miserable
condition
can
there
be
then
this
?
It
is
a
life
no
life
,
when
Gods
frowning
and
ireful
countenance
is
toward
men
:
When
men
have
no
assurance
of
heaven
,
no
hopes
in
their
death
:
their
consciences
tell
them
that
they
have
lived
so
,
that
they
shall
never
see
God
nor
enjoy
the
company
nor
presence
of
the
blessed
Angels
:
but
shall
have
their
portion
in
the
lake
that
burneth
with
fire
and
brimstone
with
the
devil
and
his
angels
.
Sure
the
wrath
of
God
for
sin
it
causeth
men
to
pine
and
languish
away
in
despair
.
When
thou
with
rebukes
doest
chasten
a
man
for
sin
,
thou
causest
his
beauty
to
consume
away
like
a
moth
fretting
a
garment
:
and
who
can
and
say
to
the
mountains
fall
on
us
,
and
to
the
hils
cover
us
.
God
is
pleased
with
mens
good
works
,
and
there
is
none
of
them
forgotten
before
him
.
When
men
repent
of
there
sins
he
seeth
their
repentance
,
and
he
can
,
he
will
lighten
his
hand
of
them
.
God
is
pleased
with
goodness
in
every
body
,
and
there
is
no
mans
repentance
that
shall
be
in
vain
and
to
no
purpose
.
But
unless
mens
repentance
be
true
and
unfeined
,
unless
their
sorrow
for
sin
increase
every
day
more
and
more
,
and
there
be
a
setled
purpose
to
weed
all
sins
out
of
their
hearts
,
they
have
no
hopes
to
enjoy
heaven
to
escape
hell
.
I
beseech
you
therefore
Christian
men
and
women
whosoever
ye
be
that
read
this
:
as
you
look
to
stand
in
the
day
of
our
Lord
Jesus
,
when
he
shall
come
in
flames
of
fire
to
render
vengeance
to
them
that
know
him
not
,
and
to
them
that
obey
not
the
Gospel
of
Christ
:
seek
unto
God
and
desire
of
him
that
he
would
sanctifie
you
throughout
,
and
season
your
hearts
with
grace
,
that
so
your
souls
and
bodies
may
be
safe
in
the
day
of
our
Lord
Jesus
.
Never
rest
till
you
finde
in
your
hearts
a
general
hatred
of
sin
,
and
a
general
love
of
goodness
and
a
constant
progress
in
this
general
hatred
of
sin
and
love
of
goodness
,
which
may
intitle
you
to
heaven
,
and
deliver
you
from
hell
.
If
God
should
hear
you
at
every
call
,
and
when
you
are
overborn
with
grief
,
upon
your
repentance
for
two
or
three
sins
to
which
your
hearts
are
exceedingly
prone
(
which
you
suspect
to
be
the
cause
of
your
misery
)
deliver
you
from
evil
that
it
should
not
vex
you
.
If
upon
your
performance
of
two
or
three
good
works
,
and
your
charity
and
humility
in
the
performance
of
them
,
he
should
load
you
with
his
earthly
favours
and
his
temporal
blessings
,
(
as
he
will
be
no
mans
debter
for
goodness
so
he
will
reward
his
own
gifts
in
every
body
)
yet
if
he
be
not
so
pleased
with
your
good
works
,
as
to
accept
of
them
and
reward
them
with
heaven
and
happiness
hereafter
,
what
have
you
gained
?
how
are
you
advantaged
?
What
will
it
profit
a
man
to
win
the
whole
world
,
and
to
lose
his
own
soul
?
or
what
shall
a
man
give
in
exchange
for
his
soul
?
If
God
should
give
you
all
that
the
world
can
afford
,
heap
upon
you
his
earthly
favours
,
and
his
temporal
blessings
;
if
your
conscience
upon
your
death-bed
should
tell
you
that
you
are
unreconciled
,
unconverted
,
that
you
have
received
the
reward
of
your
good
deeds
here
,
and
God
should
answer
you
when
you
cry
for
mercy
as
Abraham
did
Dives
and
say
son
,
The
conclusion
.
Having
run
over
this
Text
of
Scripture
and
having
at
large
described
the
Natural
condition
of
being
in
the
flesh
;
I
shall
shut
up
all
with
a
charitable
conclusion
to
all
you
whosoever
you
are
that
shall
read
what
is
here
written
.
The
natural
condition
of
being
in
the
flesh
,
it
hath
been
described
unto
you
,
and
it
hath
been
likewise
made
plain
unto
you
that
some
there
be
that
are
in
the
flesh
,
yea
a
great
many
,
multitudes
there
are
that
live
and
lie
in
this
sinful
condition
,
and
few
there
be
(
God
knoweth
)
who
have
their
consciences
purged
from
dead
works
to
serve
the
living
Examine
your selves
,
prove
your
own
selves
,
know
ye
not
your
own
selves
how
that
Iesus
Christ
is
in
you
expcept
ye
bee
reprobates
?
ye
may
know
concerning
your selves
whether
ye
be
reconciled
unto
God
,
and
he
be
become
a
gracious
father
unto
you
in
Christ
Jesus
:
is
your
hatred
of
sin
general
?
your
love
of
goodness
universal
?
do
you
increase
and
grow
every
day
more
and
more
in
grace
and
goodness
?
in
your
hatred
and
opposition
of
sin
?
Have
you
a
care
of
the
inward
man
as
well
as
of
the
outward
?
and
do
you
look
more
to
the
heart
then
to
the
outward
actions
,
is
not
there
some
secret
darling
bosome
and
beloved
sin
upon
which
your
heart
is
set
,
which
you
defend
and
maintain
,
against
all
that
Gods
Ministers
can
say
against
it
,
and
will
not
be
convinced
in
conscience
of
it
,
or
acknowledge
it
to
be
a
sin
?
do
you
not
call
your
pride
decency
?
your
lust
love
?
your
drunkenness
goodfellowship
?
your
malice
zeal
?
your
covetousness
thrift
?
Or
is
there
not
some
secret
sin
like
Herod
his
incest
,
which
you
defend
to
be
lawful
?
ye
may
know
concerning
your selves
,
in
what
terms
you
stand
with
God
,
whether
you
be
in
Christ
or
whether
you
be
in
the
flesh
:
unless
ye
be
ignorant
persons
and
know
not
what
the
desires
of
the
flesh
mean
.
But
yet
though
it
be
an
easie
matter
to
know
this
concerning
your selves
,
yet
it
is
the
hardest
matter
of
a
thousand
to
know
this
concerning
others
,
whether
they
be
in
the
faith
or
no.
Restraining
grace
it
may
work
as
perfect
a
hatred
of
some
sins
,
and
as
perfect
a
love
of
some
graces
and
virtues
as
saving
grace
.
They
who
outwardly
appear
very
wicked
men
,
they
may
hate
some
vices
with
as
perfect
a
hatred
as
it
is
possible
for
men
to
do
,
who
carry
about
them
a
body
of
flesh
:
and
love
some
virtues
with
as
perfect
a
love
,
as
it
is
possible
for
men
to
do
who
live
since
the
fall
of
Adam
,
yea
restraining
grace
may
work
such
a
reformation
of
the
outward
man
and
of
the
inward
man
too
that
there
may
not
be
many
sins
in
the
heart
unpurged
out
.
We
read
of
Herod
how
he
reformed
himself
in
many
things
at
Iohns
preaching
,
and
he
had
not
many
sins
with
which
he
was
greatly
in
love
beside
his
incest
.
And
Iehu
beside
his
state
policy
he
had
not
many
sins
upon
which
his
heart
was
set
.
And
whether
it
be
constraint
of
laws
restraint
of
shame
,
custome
and
example
of
others
that
teacheth
men
to
do
well
,
whether
God
work
by
his
mercies
or
by
his
judgements
,
by
his
word
or
by
the
good
motions
of
his
Spirit
,
by
fits
and
by
starts
extraordinarily
.
Or
whether
there
be
a
constant
and
a
continued
work
of
the
spirit
:
whether
there
be
a
general
hatred
of
sin
,
whether
mens
obedience
to
Gods
laws
and
commandments
be
total
or
partial
:
Whether
there
be
many
sins
reigning
in
men
or
one
darling
sin
upon
which
their
heart
is
set
unpurged
out
:
These
are
secrets
known
onely
to
God
who
searcheth
the
heart
and
trieth
the
reins
.
This
men
must
see
(
unless
they
will
shut
their
eyes
against
a
known
truth
)
that
there
is
in
all
men
living
a
hatred
of
some
vices
,
and
a
love
of
some
virtues
,
and
though
it
be
restraining
grace
that
worketh
in
the
most
,
yet
for
ought
we
know
or
ought
to
judge
,
it
is
saving
grace
that
worketh
in
all
.
And
that
there
should
be
in
a
Christian
Common-wealth
this
distinction
of
the
godly
and
the
wicked
,
for
my
part
I
see
no
reason
for
it
:
Charity
thinketh
no
evil
,
but
is
easily
perswaded
to
believe
that
all
the
congregation
of
the
Lord
is
holy
.
This
is
a
certain
truth
we
cannot
certainly
know
,
and
ought
not
peremtorily
to
judge
of
any
men
or
company
of
men
,
that
they
are
in
the
whole
tenour
of
their
lives
wicked
men
or
profane
persons
;
or
that
they
are
in
the
whole
tenour
of
their
lives
hypocrits
or
false
christians
.
But
if
men
may
probably
conjecture
of
a
great
many
that
they
are
sinners
or
hypocrits
,
know
them
by
their
fruits
because
it
outwardly
appeareth
to
the
world
that
many
sins
reign
in
them
.
What
use
should
they
make
of
their
knowledge
?
Let
them
abstain
from
their
company
and
not
partake
with
them
in
their
sins
,
If
necessity
or
some
occasion
of
business
force
them
into
their
company
,
let
them
soberly
admonish
them
of
their
faults
that
they
may
amend
,
let
them
reprove
and
rebuke
them
sharply
if
they
doe
not
amend
:
let
them
informe
against
them
that
they
may
be
reformed
if
their
sins
be
capital
or
scandalous
,
punishable
by
the
laws
of
the
land
:
let
them
mourn
in
secret
because
they
do
pray
in
private
that
they
may
not
continually
dishonour
God
by
their
unlawful
deeds
their
open
profanes
and
their
secret
hypocrisie
these
things
are
good
and
acceptable
in
the
sight
of
God
,
If
beside
these
you
can
think
of
any
lawful
means
to
reduce
men
from
their
sins
,
their
open
profaness
and
their
secret
hypocrisie
on
God
his
name
use
it
.
But
as
for
all
slandring
and
traducing
men
for
sin
,
all
casting
out
their
names
and
evil
all
rash
censuring
of
their
present
condition
;
all
uncharitable
and
unchristian
judging
of
their
future
as
final
condition
,
let
not
these
things
be
once
named
among
you
as
becometh
saints
.
For
my
part
I
know
no
man
so
flagitiously
sinful
that
I
dare
determine
of
him
that
he
is
in
the
state
of
condemnation
,
though
I
see
him
in
the
acts
of
impiety
,
for
I
know
there
is
a
salve
for
this
sore
,
his
repentant
tears
.
And
if
I
say
that
such
a
one
is
a
saint
in
the
state
of
grace
,
and
hath
right
to
the
kingdome
of
heaven
when
he
doth
well
I
say
no
more
then
charity
bindeth
me
to
speak
,
when
I
see
a
man
that
is
suspected
to
have
sinned
the
sin
against
the
holy
Ghost
.
I
may
peradventure
think
that
there
is
small
hopes
of
remission
for
such
a
one
,
because
he
cannot
repent
;
yet
I
shall
be
sparing
to
terme
such
an
one
a
reprobate
when
I
fee
him
sin
and
shall
be
bold
to
say
he
is
a
saint
when
he
doth
well
.
Be
charitable
,
and
judge
of
no
mans
final
condition
:
ye
cannot
certainly
know
and
therefore
ought
not
to
say
of
any
men
lining
though
they
be
never
so
hainously
sinful
that
they
are
in
the
state
of
condemnation
.
And
yet
still
there
are
a
number
,
a
multitude
,
the
whole
world
lieth
in
wickedness
,
walloweth
and
tumbleth
in
this
sinful
condition
,
in
this
polluted
estate
,
their
conscience
is
defiled
their
heart
is
corrupt
,
set
upon
sin
,
they
have
no
sence
nor
feeling
of
their
sins
,
they
are
touched
with
no
remorse
for
them
they
will
not
weed
them
out
of
their
hearts
,
and
though
others
may
not
,
and
we
dare
not
judge
them
any
otherwise
then
as
God
judgeth
them
:
yet
unless
they
will
judge
and
condemne
them selves
and
endeavour
to
purge
,
sin
out
of
their
hearts
we
must
leave
them
where
we
found
them
in
the
flesh
,
insuch
a
condition
wherein
they
cannot
please
God
,
nor
have
right
to
the
kingdome
of
heaven
but
are
liable
to
God
his
curse
and
eternal
damnation
:
for
so
they
see
the
scripture
speaketh
so
then
they
that
are
in
the
flesh
cannot
please
God
.
But
I
shall
rather
that
God
would
grant
them
according
to
the
riches
if
his
glory
to
be
strengthned
with
might
by
his
spirit
according
to
the
inner
man
,
that
Christ
may
dwell
in
their
hearts
by
faith
,
that
they
being
rooted
and
grounded
in
love
may
be
able
to
comprehend
with
all
saints
what
is
the
breadth
.
And
length
,
and
depth
and
height
:
and
know
the
love
of
Christ
which
passeth
knowledg
that
they
may
be
filled
with
the
fulness
of
God
,
and
have
right
to
an
inheritance
incorruptible
,
immortal
,
undefiled
,
not
fading
away
,
reserved
in
the
heavens
for
them
.
Amen
.
FINIS
.