
second Adam,
between the
Outward
and
Inward,
the
Vitiated
and
Regenerate,
the
Old
and the
New Man.
The
Old
warring against the
New,
and endeavouring to bring him into Captivity to Sin and Death; insomuch that our own evil
Cain
would willingly slay outright the good
Abel
that is in us.
Now, between these adverse Offsprings of the earthly and heavenly
Adams,
our
Will,
or
Principle of Freedom,
or
Power of Election,
is placed.
On the one Part, we are besieged and assailed by a World of tempting and seducing Objects, that hold intimate Intercourse with our Flesh and carnal Sensibilities, and impel their Influences on our Spirit, through every Organ. While the Rulers in Darkness, enter through the said sensual Avenues, excite their diabolical Passions within us, and begin to open a Kingdom of their own in our Soul.
On the contrary Part, our heavenly Father is graciously pleased to act upon us, through the kindred Seed of that divine Nature which he had implanted in our Essence. He attracts us strongly though not forcibly; and he sheds into us a Species of mental Feelings and Affections, to which Flesh and Blood is wholly an Alien.
Here then, when the Will turns away, from divine Influence, and delivers itself up to the Impulses and Operations of the evil Agents, the whole Man becomes a Prisoner in the Regions of Darkness and Shadows of Death, and Nothing but intense Sufferings can awake him to a Sense of the Error, Insufficiency, and Folly of his Pursuits, and of the Loss and Horror of the State in which he lies.
But, when the Will turns and yields itself to the gracious Drawings and Influence of God's blessing Spirit; God opens himself unto it, and attracts it still more powerfully, till he gradually delivers it from the Slavery of Sense, of Sin, and of Self, into the perfect Freedom of a willing Service to Goodness.
Above all, when the Will is assaulted by violent, pressing, and permanent Temptations; if yet, with the Assistance of supporting Grace, it strives and struggles to maintain the Fight, and to tear itself away from the Custody of Evil, though anguishing in the Strife, and pierced, even to the dividing of the Bone from the Marrow; then is the Scripture fulfilled that says,
the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence, and the Violent take it by Force;
then is our
Jesus
in the highest Height of his Throne and Dominion; then does he deem all his Sufferings overpaid; and he will, himself, be the Champion in the Will of such a Champion, and
