3. Thirdly, there is a conflict of a higher nature, as between some sins and the light of reason helped by a natural conscience. The heathen could reason from the dignity of the soul, to count it a base thing to prostitute themselves to beastly lusts, so as it were degrading and unmanning ,them- selves. Major sum et ad majoranatus qxiam ut corporis mei sim mancipium. (Seneca, Ep. 65). Natural men, desirous to maintain a great opinion of them- selves, and to awe the inferior sort by gravity of deportment in carriage, -nill abstain from that which otherwise their hearts carry them unto, lest yielding should render them despised, by laying themselves too much open ; as be- cause passion discovers a fool as he is, and makes a wise man thought meaner than he is ; therefore a prudent man will conceal his passion. Reason refined and raised by education, example, and custom, doth break in some degree the force of natm-al corruption, and brings into the soul, as it were, another nature, and yet no true change ; as we see in such as have been inured to good com'scs, they feel conscience checking them upon the fii'st discontinuance and altex'ation of their former good ways, but this is tisuall}'' from a former impression of their breedmg, as the boat moves some little time upon the water by virtue of the former stroke ; yet at length we see corruption prevailing over education, as in Jehoash, who was awed by the
* ' A,'inO.
t 'A natural .... lovo. In A reads, ' a natural man may oppose an obstinate resolution to commit some sin not from love.' Corrected in B as above. — G.
THE soul's conflict. 153
reverent respect he bare to his uncle Jehoiada, he was good ' all his uncle's days,' 2 Kings xii. 2. And in Nero, in whom the goodness of his educa- tion prevailed over the fierceness of his natm-e, for the first five years [a).
4. Fourthly, but in the church, where there shineth a light above nature, as there is a discovery of more sins, and some strength, with the light to perform more duty ; so there is a farther conflict than in a man that hath no better than natm-e in him. By a discovery of the excellent things of the gospel, there may be some kind of joy stirred up, and some degree of obedience : whence there may be some degree of resistance against the sins of the gospel, as obstinate unbelief, desperation, profaneness, &Ci A man in the church may do more than another out of the church, by reason of the enlargement of his knowledge ; whereupon such cannot sin at so easy a rate as others that know less, and, therefore, meet with less opposition from conscience.
5. Fifthly, There is yet a further degree of conflict betwixt the sanctified powers of the soul and the flesh, not only as it is seated in the baser parts, but even in the best faculties of the soul, and as it mingles itself with every gracious performance : as in David, there is not only a conflict be- tween sin and conscience, enlightened by a common work of the Spii-it ; but between the commanding powers of the soul sanctified, and itself un- sanctified, between reasons of the flesh and reasons of the Spuit, between faith and distrust, between the true light of knowledge and false light. For it is no question but the flesh would play its part in David, and muster up all the strength of reason it had. And usually flesh, as it is more ancient than the spirit, we being first natm-al, then spu-itual, so it will put itself first forward in devising shifts, as Esau comes out of the womb first before Jacob, Gen. xxv. 25 ; yet hereby the spirit is stirred up to a present examination and resistance, and in resisting, as we see here, at length the godly gets the victory. As in the conflict between the higher parts of the soul with the lower, it clearly appears that the soul doth not rise out of the temper of the body, but is a more noble substance, commanding the body by reasons fetched from its own worth ; so in this spiritual conflict, it appears there is something better than the soul itself, that hath superiority over it.
Chapter VII. — Difference lettreen r/ood men and others in conflicts with sin.
Quest. But how doth it appear that this combat in David was a spiritual combat /
Ans. 1. First, A natural conscience is troubled for sins against the light of nature only, but David for inward and secret corruptions, as discourage- ment and disquietness arising from faint-trusting in God.
David's conflict was not only with the sensual, lower part of his soul, which is carried to ease and quiet and love of present things, but he was troubled with a mutiny in his understanding between faith and distrust ; and therefore he was forced to rouse up his soul so oft to trust in God ; which shews that carnal reason did solicit him to discontent, and had many colourable reasons for it.
2. Secondly, A man endued with common grace is rather a j^icitient than an agent in conflicts; the light troubles him against his will, as discovering and reproving him, and hindering his sinful contentments ; his heart is more biassed another way if the light woidd let him ; but a godly man labom's to help the light, and to work his heai't to an opposition against