are ready to question their state; Satan and a falfe heart being active to prefent this argument to fome life, and to gild it over with fair colours that it may take the better; at least they are ready to be much difcouraged at fuch a difafter; fo the frequent confideration of this, that in that cafe God will not impute that to them, but will father the finful act righter than they; and that it must be the daily practice of believers to be fighting, and that often it falleth out that they are put to the worke, may encourage them in that cafe: All this is clear in the apoftle's repeating both the combat and the comfort upon the back of it, faying, The good that I would, I do not, &c. and, Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but fin that dwelleth in me. VERSES 21. 22. 23. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is prefent with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man. But I fee another law in my members, waring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. F Rom what the apoftle had faid laft, he draweth a corollary, and from thence bringeth in a third fit of diftemper, holding forth a fad conflict and oppofition betwixt his renewed and unrenewed part, the issue whereof is fad unto the poor believer. He was faying, verfe 19. That he did not the good which he would, and the evil which he would not, he did; from this he infereth fomething from his own experience, viz. That whenever he had a defign for the accomplishing of any good purpose, there was an enemy at hand, not far to feek indeed, but lying watching at the door, as it were; I find then, fays he, that when I would do good, evil is hard by, or prefent; and it is fo at hand as I cannot fhun it: therefore he makes mention 1 of a law, I find a law, fays he, to fhew, that this evil corruption of his had fuch power over him as if it had been a law above his head, whofe yoke he could not get fhaken off, and which he was forced to obey. Then cometh in the third and laft diftemper, holding forth a combat betwixt his renewed and his unrenewed part; where, firft, verfe 22. he feteth down the proper exercife of the renewed part, (which he ftileth the inner man, becaufe that tho' renovation reach the whole man, yet it mainly appeareth in the faculties of the foul, and fo is hid from the eyes of men,) and that is, to delight in the law, I delight in the law of God; "the moral law, the only rule of righteoufnefs, fays he, viz. in fo far as I am regenerated, I take great pleasure both to know and to obey that law. And next he fets down the oppofition which he meeteth with, verfe 23. faying, But I fee another law in my. bers, waring against the law of my mind; that is, I feel my unrenewed part (which he calleth a law, because of its forciblenefs and power, and a law in his members, to fhew, how contemptibly he speaks of it, in oppofition to the inward renovation, which is hid in the heart, whereas it mainly works and prevails in the outer trenches, to fpeak fo) making head against me, and openly waging war against the law of my mind, that is, against my renewed part, which hath a great propensity to be conformed unto the law of God. And laftly, there is the fad iffue of this duel, bringing me into captivity unto the law of fin which is in my members; that unregenerate part which hath its own faction through my foul, and in my members, takes me prifoner under the command of fin, and unto the finful inclination of my nature. This law in my members, which is diffused thro' all the faculties and parts of foul and body, and abufeth them to every finful act, as its inftruments, takes me captive unto corruption, which itself is fin, and the caufe of all the wickednefs done against God's God's law; it tieth me with the fetters and cords of finful affections, fo as I cannot do what I would, &c. OBSERVATIONS. I. Believers have never caufe to be fe cure, but always rather to be upon their guard, feeing even when they are beft exercised, and in the beft frame and difpo fition they can win to, they are, as it were, under the shot of their vigilant enemy, who is watching always at their doors. and closely attending their motions, ready to oppofe when they are at their duty; for even when they are in this good frame, that they would do good, evil is prefent. he did that he would not, and was hindered in doing that which he would, and fo infers it from what he faid before, thus; Now then I find a law, &c. V. The regenerate part of a believer, as it is excellent and defirable in itfelf, being a piece of God's image restored, which was loft at the begining; fo fhould it be of high efteem with us, and fhould be keeped and watched about with great carefulnefs: and though grace, where it is, will kyth in the outward carriage of a man, yet it is mainly within at the heart, and we ought mainly to labour to have it there: Therefore is the renewed part of a believer called the inner man, as being most precious and fo well keeped; and becaufe it is fo, therefore we fhould not be rafh to judge of mens eftates, feeing it is fo clofe, and hence called the hidden man in the heart, 1 Pet. iii. 4. Now that the renewed part is meant here by this inner man, is clear from other places, as Eph. iii. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be ftrengthened with might, by his Spirit in the inner man; where the foul is meant, not fimply, but as renewed by grace, and living the life of grace; for thus only it is capable to be ftrengthened with might; that is, to receive III. Howbeit natural men may perceive new fupplies of grace and ftrength. As a ftruggling in their carnal affections, up- alfo from 2 Cor. iv. 16. ---Though our outon fome carnal principles, and for fome ward man perish, yet the inward man is carnal ends, against the doing of fome mo-renerved day by day: where the inner man ral good they would be at; yet fo fly and fubtile are the actings of corruption againft grace and the motions thereof, that nothing but grace will be able to difcover fufficiently the fame: therefore fays Paul, I find a law, &c. II. This oppofition of corruption in the regenerated man is fuch as he will never be able to get fhuned altogether; and fo forcible and strong are the motions thereof, that they cannot be wholly refifted, but as a tyrant it domineers and acts as if it had a juft title and right to dominion, as the acts and conclufions of tyrants go for Jaws; fo here is mention made of a law, I find a law, that when I would do good, &c. as if corruption were in the renewed man by law and right, and acted all it did according to law, whereas mere force and tyranny is all its law. IV. The way how a gracious foul will win to a difcovery, and a right uptaking of the oppofition of corruption and its motions, and to fee its power and tyranny, is to be much in watching the heart about particular duties, and taking narrow inspection thereof in every thing he doth; for Paul finds this law, by confidering how fignifieth the foul indeed, but as renewed, VI. Albeit wicked hypocrites may have fome flashes of joy, which only indure for a moment, and arife upon a carnal account at hearing of the word and tidings of the gofpel, Matth. xiii. 20. yet it is only pro K k per per to the renewed man, to look upon the law as the object of his delight and pleafare, and to take delight in these things which the law preffeth, and join with the law, in affenting unto, approving of, and delighting in these things which the law enjoins; hence it is the fübject of their meditation, Pfalt i. 2. and is fweeter than honey; fee Pfalm cxix. 11. 14. 15. 16. 24. 47. 54. 97. 103. Job xxiii. 12. Therefore Paul faith here, he delighteth in the law (or with the law) of God. VII. Grace will always he loth to rob God of his due, and afcribe that to any other thing which is his proper work, tho' proud graceless fouls would be ready to facrifice to their own net, and burn in cenfe to their own drag Therefore Paul fays. he delights in the law of God; but how? after the inward man: it is the regenerated part which. God hath created which doth it.. to fhew, where mainly its counter-work ing kyths.. XI. As corruption is about to drive the poor believer, by its tyrannical force, unto finful courfes; fo, upon the other hand, the renewed part has a forcible ftrong power in the man, inclining him, and mor ing him to what is agreeable to God's mind; for as there is a law in his members, fo there is a law in his minde. XII Hence the believer in all his act ings is betwixt contrary tides, intending to fail along with the one, and croffed and driven back with the other, Iraving a law ful fuperior, whofe power: he acknowledgeth, and whofe commands he would gladly obey; and having a proud ufurping tyrant, that emits contrary orders, and by mere force and violence runs him down, and compels him to counter-act his lawful fovereign's command: I find a law in my members, waring against the law of my. mind. 1 VIII. Tho' grace and corruption be ir reconcileable enemies, and grace be still XIII Believers, even when trode under · labouring to eat away corruption; yet foot, by this tyrannical ufurper, corrup there will be corruption in the beft to tiou, will have high thoughts of their lawkeep them in exercife; for tho' he was ful fuperior, the renewed part, and grace delighting in the law of God, after the in-will be in high account with them, and ward man, yet even then he found a las in his members IX. This natural corruption in believers, though grace be heming it in, and beat ing up its quarters daily, yet it is ftrong, violent, and forcible, and bold as if it had law upon its fide, in molefting the poor believer; therefore it is here faid to be a law, I find a law. . have a great room in their affection; for whereas he called corruption, a law in his members, he calleth the renewed part, a law in his mind, as thinking it far more wor thy than the other, as the foul is far beyond the outward members of the body. XIV. In this daily battle the believer, notwithstanding of the many promifes of victory, (which will indeed have their efX. The violence and force of this lawfect in due time) is many times, not al Tefs tyrant, tho' it act forcibly thro' the whole man, fo far as unrenewed, but efpecially in the external parts where its oppofition is moft felt and marked, in oppofing what is good, fhould not move us the more to comply with it, but ftill we ought to have hateful, bafe, and low thoughts thereof, after the apostle's example here, wo calleth it a law in his members, by way of indignation, as allo ways, put to the worfe; not by reafon of the weakness of the Spirit of God by which they are guided, but through the ftrength of corruption, and their flackness in watching against fin, and negligence in making ufe of the Spirit and his affiftance; for this law in his members is bringing bin into captivity unto the law of fin, which is in his members. XV. Whatever way the believer be flaited by corruption, and how often foever, he be laid on his back, yet it is still with a conteff, and a battle, and fore againft his mind; he always abides faithful to his juft mafter, and never yields voluntarily unto corruption, nor fides with it, even when overcome: for as there is a waring ere he be overcome, fo when overcome he is ftill a captive, and a prifoner who longs for liberty and redemption; therefore fays he, It bringeth me into captivity. VERSES 24. 25. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! I thank God, through Jefus Christ our Lord.--- N IN this 24th verfe, and in the begining of the 25th verfe, there is Paul's carriage under this fad fit of diftemper, and in this time of captivity and bondage, when he is fore flaited, and driven on his back with corruption prevailing for a time, In this carriage of his, there is, 1. a fad and lamentable complaint of his cafe and condition, crying out, O miferable man! as if he had faid, What a miferable and pitiful cafe is this that I am into, never free of fighting, but wearied with continual ftirs and combats: the word fignifieth one who is daily preffed with calamitous combats, and is overwhelmed, and almoft drowned with thefe waves and ftorms, fo as he can hardly fwatter out again. 2. A hideous outcry for one to deliver him out of fuch a fad and calamitous condition; Who will deliver me from the body of this death, or this body of death! (for it may be read both ways, and to the fame purpofe,) not as if he doubted in the least measure, nor as if he defpaired of relief, nor yet as if he were altogether ignorant where to get help and relief; but hereby is expreffed the vehemence of his defire, being almoft overcome and out-wearied he gets a word up, not feeing help at hand, and cries out, Who will deliver me? who will rug me out of this dungeon? (the word fignifies a plucking out with force, as a lamb from a lion's mouth:) And from what? from this body of death, or from the body of this death; that is, from this body. of corruption which would ruin and undo me, and bring me to death, for it is deadly, and will never let me alone fo long as I am living. This natural corruption is fo vile a thing that names enough cannot be got to fet it out, therefore fometimes it is called the old man, Rom. vi. 6. Col. iii. 9. as the renewed part is called the new man, Eph. iv. 24. Col. iii. 10. fo is it called the body of fin, Rom. vi. 6. 12. fo the outer man, 2 Cor. iv. 16. as the regenerate part is called the inner man, Rom. vii. 22. 2 Cor. iv. 16. Eph. iii. 16. and the hidden man, 1 Pet. iii. 4. alfo it is called flesh, Rom. vii. 5. 18. 25. and vii. 1. 4. 6. Gal. v. 17. Col. ii. 11. 2 Cor. xii. 7. 1 Pet. iv. 6. So here it is called the body of death, pointing out both its univerfality, it reacheth the whole body, and has, as it were, members of its own; and alfo its deadly poifonable nature, it can do nothing but kill. Then, 3. After the apoftle, being plunged over head and ears, with fome difficulty gets up a word; he gets his head up above the water, and gets his eye-lids open, and fees an outgate through Jefus Chrift; he fees that Chrift has purchafed and procured full redemption unto him, and fo he was fure of a full and final victory one day; and his heart was fo glad at that he could not but exprefs his thankfulness to God for fuch a great mercy, and therefore cries out, Thanks be to God; and because he knew that nothing we can do will be accepted but in and through Chrift, there-. fore he addeth, through Jefus Christ our Lord, for it may be read bath ways: and. because this was not his cafe alone, but common to all the fons and daughters of God, he makes the confolation common to all too, faying, our Lord. Kk 2 258 An Expofition of the Epifle to the Romans. OBSERVATIONS. I. Believers being made partakers of a new nature, and being quickened by grace, are, fo to fpeak, more tender ikined than formerly, and do not ly like blocks unfenfible of the flaits they meet with at the hands of their fpiritual enemies, but do now refent, as fenfible of their flavish condition, what affronts they meet with, and can cry out with the apostle, O wretched man that I am! II. However believers may rejoice when they compare themfelves with the wicked, who wallow in the mire as in their element, and confider the grace of God bestowed upon them; yet when they confider the power of corruption within them, and their own weakness, whereby they are daily put to the worfe, they have caufe to mourn and lament their condition, and this they will have caufe to do fo long as they are on this fide of time, even to cry out with Paul, Wretched man that I am. III. Believers are fo far from taking any pleasure and delight in their captivity and bondage under corruption, (as the wicked' do, who defire no better than to ly in the puddle of fin without any trouble or moleftation,) that they are earnestly groaning, fighing, longing, and crying after a delivery: Who hall deliver me? IV. Believers, though free of any fit of defpair, or anxious dubitation about an outg yet they may be fo furprized with an unexpected flait, and driven fo blind with a fudden affault and wave of the fea of corruption coming over head and ears, that they may be put to cry out, Who fhall deliver me from the body of this death? they may be fo damifhed with the ftroke, as not to know where they are for a while, and not able to fee at the firft a helper at hand.. from under its feet, but fome body elle Chap. VII must do it for him; and it is not in the thing can prevail here but the arm of power of the arm of flesh to do it, noOmnipotency; for he must be rugged out by fome body elfe befide himself, and it will cost a pull, a rug, or a strong draught ere he be delivered: Who fhall delivet me, or rug me out, &c. fays he.. enemy unto believers, (whatever it do its motions and actings, is to ruin and undo down by the ftrength of corruption, as to even all |