[7.] There is a twofold prevalency and dominion — actual or habitual. Actual is only for a time, habitual for a constancy ; though a regenerate man be not one that lets sin reign over him habitually, yet too often doth sin reign over him actually, as to some particular acts of sin.
(1.) The habitual reign of sin may be known by the general frame and state of the heart and life, where it is constantly yielded unto, and not controlled and opposed, but beareth sway with the contentment and delight of the party sinning. Men give the bridle to sin, and let it lead them whither it will, and generally walk after the flesh, and not after the Spirit. No doubt that is peccatum regnans, cui liomo nee vult^ nee potest resistere; the sinner hath neither will nor power, because usually after many lapses into heinous sin, God giveth up men to penal or judicial hardness of heart ; they first voluntarily take on these bonds and chains upon themselves ; these are said ' to walk after their own lusts,' 2 Peter iii. 3 ; ' to continue or live in sin,' Kom. vi. 2 ; * to be dead in trespasses and sins,' Eph. ii. 1 ; ' to serve divers lusts and pleasures,' Titus iii. 3; 'to draw on iniquity with cart-ropes,' Isa. v. 18 ; to addict and give up themselves to a trade of sin with delight and consent. But, more closely, the reign of sin is never broken till the flesh be made subject to the Spirit ; that will be found by examining every day what advantage the Spirit hath gotten against the flesh, or the flesh against the Spirit, how providences and ordinances are blessed for that end, or for the weakening of sin ; for every day the one or the other gets ground. Dough once soured with leaven, will never lose the taste and smatch, but the sweetness of the corn may prevail above
266 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XIII.
it. Sin dwelleth in the heart, but doth it decay ? Gal. v. 16, ' This I say. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.' (2.) Actual sin may now and then get a victory over the faithful, but not a full quiet reign. Sin actually prevaileth when we do that which is evil against our consciences, or yield pro hie et nunc to obey sin in the lusts thereof. It gaineth our consent for the time, but the general frame and bent of the heart is against it. In short, when sin is perfected into some evil action, or ' lust hath conceived and brought forth sin,' James i. 15, that is, some heinous offence, for that time no question it hath the upper hand, and carrieth it from grace, and the flesh doth show itself in them more than the Spirit. A man may please a lesser friend before a greater in an act or two, but every presumptuous act of sin puts the sceptre into his hands. Note, that the predominancy spoken of in the former distinction and this do much prejudice a christian, waste his conscience, hinder his joy of faith ; and if not broken in time, or we sin often, we cannot be excused from the habitual reign of sin. Note again, every dislike doth not hinder the reign of sin ; it doth constantly govern our lives, though there may be some resistance.
SEEMON XIII.
For sin shall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the laiv, hut under grace. — Rom. VI. 14.
Secondly, I now come to handle the- second general. There is a necessity incumbent upon them —
1. From their own proneness and proclivity to fall into sin.
2. From the mischiefs arising from reigning sin.
3. From the unsuitableness of it to their renewed state.
4. They cannot otherwise maintain their hopes of glory.
First, Because of their own proneness and proclivity to this evil. That appeareth —
1. Because there is sin still in us, a bosom enemy which is born and bred with us, and therefore will soon get the advantage of grace, if it be not well watched and resisted, as nettles and weeds, which are kindly to the soil, and grow of their own accord, will soon choke flowers and better herbs, which are planted by care and industry, when they are neglected and not continually rooted out. We cannot get rid of this cursed inmate till this outward tabernacle be dissolved, and this house of clay be crumbled into dust, like ivy gotten into a wall, that will not be destroyed till the wall be pulled down ; the Israelites could not wholly expel the Canaanites ; and therefore we are the more obliged to keep them under. Onr nature is so inclinable to this slavery, that if God subtract his grace, and we be altogether negligent, we shall soon rue the sad effects of it.
2. It is not only in us, but it is always working in us, and striving for the mastery. Sin is not as other things, which, as they grow in age, they grow more quiet and tame. No ; it is every day more active
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 267
and stirring : James iv. 5, * The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.' It is not a sleepy, but a working stirring principle : Eom. vii. 8, * Sin wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.' If it were a dull and an inactive habit, the danger were not so great ; but it is always working, and putting forth itself, and seeking to gain an interest in our affections, and a command over all our motions and actions. Therefore, unless we do our part to keep it under, we shall soon revert to our old slavery. It is like a living fountain, that poureth out waters, though nobody cometh to drink of it; though there be nothing to irritate it but God's law and the motions of his Spirit, there is a continual fermentation of the corrupt humours in our souls.