PART 3-Reproof To Such As Are Not True Wrestlers

  

  Second.  It reproves those who seem to wrestle against sin, but not according to the word of com­mand that Christ gives.  There is a law in wrestling which must be observed.  If a man also strive for mas­teries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully, II Tim. 2:5.  He alludes to the Roman games, to which there were judges appointed to see that no foul play were offered contrary to the law of wrestling; the prize being denied to such though they did foil their adver­sary; which the apostle improves to make the Chris­tian careful in his war, as being under a stricter law and discipline, that requires not only valour to fight, but obedience to fight by order and according to the word of command.  Now few do this that go for great wrestlers.

1. Some while they wrestle against one sin, em­brace another,and in this case it is not [that] the per­son wrestles against sin, but one sin wrestles against another, and it is no wonder to see thieves fall out when they come to divide the spoil.  Lusts are di­verse, Titus 3:3, and it is hard to please many masters, especially when their commands are so contrary. When pride bids lay on in bravery, lavish out in entertainment, covetousness bids lay up; when malice bids revenge, carnal policy saith, Conceal thy wrath, though not forgive.  When lust sends to his whores, hypocrisy pulls him back for shame of the world.  Now is he God's champion that resist one sin at the command of another, it may be a worse?

2. Some wrestle, but they are pressed into the field, not volunteers.Their slavish fears scare them at present from their lust, so that the combat is rather betwixt their conscience and will, than them and your lust.  Give me such a sin, saith will.  No, saith con­science, it will scald; and throws it away.  A man may love the wine, though he is loath to have his lips burned.  Hypocrites themselves are afraid to burn.  In such combats the will at last prevails, either by bribing the understanding to present the lust it desires in a more pleasing dress, that conscience may not be scared with such hideous apparitions of wrath; or by pacifying conscience with some promise of repentance for the future; or by forbearing some sin for the pre­sent, which it can best spare, thereby to gain the reputation of something like a reformation.  Or if all this will not do, then, prompted by the fury of its lust, the will proclaims open war against conscience, sinning in the face of it, like some wild horse, [which] impatient of the spur which pricks him and bridle that curbs him, gets the bit between his teeth, and runs with full speed, till at last he easeth himself of his rider; and then where he sees fattest pasture, no hedge or ditch can withhold him, till in the end you find him starving in some pound for his trespass. Thus, many sin at such rate, that conscience can no longer hold the reins nor sit the saddle, but is thrown down and laid for dead; and then the wretches range where their lusts can have the fullest meal, till at last they pay for their stolen pleasures most dearly, when conscience comes to itself, pursues them, and takes them more surely by the throat than ever, never to let them go till it brings them before God's tribunal.
3. Others wrestle with sin, but they do not hate it,and therefore they are favourable to it, and seek not the life of sin as their deadly enemy.  These wres­tle in jest, and not in earnest; the wounds they give sin one day, are healed by the next.  Let men resolve never so strongly against sin, yet will it creep again into their favour, till the love of sin be quenched in the heart; and this fire will never die of itself, the love of Christ must quench the love of sin, as Jerome [saith] excellently [one love extinguishes another.] This heavenly fire will indeed put out the flame of hell; which he illustrates by Ahasuerus’ carriage to Vashti his queen, who in the first chapter makes a de­cree in all haste that she comes no more before him; but when his passion is a little down, Est. 2:1, he be­gins to relent towards her; which his council perceiv­ing, presently seek out for a beautiful virgin, on whom the king might place his love, and take into his royal bed; which done, we hear no more of Vashti.  Then and not till then will the soul's decree stand against sin, when the soul hath taken Christ into his bosom.