ontracting filth in his conversation, Job xiii. 10. So that if
the Lord should mark iniquity, no man should stand, Psalm cxxx. 3, and
cxliii. 2. There will still be in the best something, more or less, of
that battle, that Paul speaketh of, Rom. vii. 15-23. So that they will
still have occasion to cry out with him, verse 24, "O wretched man that
I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!" And the flesh
will still lust against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, so
that they shall not be able to do what they would, Gal. v. 17. The place
of perfection is above, where all tears are wiped away, and the weary
wrestler is at rest.

8. Let them not mistake and think, that every stirring of corruption in
the soul, argueth its dominion and prevailing power. Corruption may stir
and make a great deal ado, where it cannot get leave to reign; and be as
a violent and cruel invader, seeking the throne, putting the whole
kingdom in a combustion, who is resisted with force of arms.

Corruption may be more quiet and still, when indeed it hath the throne
of the soul; as a conqueror may be more quiet and still, when he hath
overcome and is in peaceable possession of the kingdom, than when he was
but fighting for it. When the strong man keeps the house, and is master,
then all is quiet and at rest, till a stronger come and thrust him out,
and dispossess him.

9. Sanctification doth not always consist in a man's freedom from some
corruptions. For there may be some corruptions that one hath no natural
inclination to, but, on the contrary, a great aversion for; as some
world's wretches may have no inclination to prodigality and ranting, or
such like vices, which are contrary to their humour, or to their
constant education; and Satan may never tempt some man to such evils,
knowing he will get more advantage by plying his temper and genius, and
so carrying him away to the other contrary evil; and so, though this man
know not so much, as what it is once to be tempted to those vices, yet
that will not say, that he is a sanctified man; far less will it say,
that he hath more grace than another man, whose predominant that evil
is, and against which he is daily fighting and wrestling. Whence it
appeareth that wrestling and protesting against even an overcoming
corruption, may evidence more of grace, than freedom from some evils, to
which some are not so much tempted, and to which they are naturally less
inclined.

10. Nor s