by consenting not unto which we live not ill: good, that the law in our members is opposed
ON CONTINENCE. 387 eS it shall be for ever made subject unto the spirit, to be quickened by Christ. Therefore these two things, which are now opposed the one to the other within us, since we exist in both, let us pray and endeavor that they may agree. For we ought not to think the one of them an enemy, but the fault, whereby the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and this, when healed, will itself cease to exist, and either substance will be safe, and no strife between either. Let us hear the Apostle; ''I know," saith he, ''that there dwelleth not in me, that is, inmy flesh, any good.'* This certainly he saith; that the fault of the flesh, in a good thing, is not good; and, when this shall have ceased to exist, it will be flesh, but it will not be now corrupted or faulty? flesh. And yet that this pertains to our nature the same teacher shows, by saying, first, '"' I know that there dwelleth not in me,' in order to expound which, he added, '* that is, in my flesh, any good."' Therefore he saith that his flesh is himself. It is not then itself that is out enemy: and when its faults are resisted, itself is loved, because itself is cared for; 'For no one ever hated his own flesh,''3 as the Apostle himself saith. And in another place he saith, *'So then I myself with the mind serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the Law of sin." Let them hear that have ears, '*So then I myself;'' I with the mind, I with the flesh, but '' with the mind I serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."4 How "'with the flesh the law of sin?'' was it at all by consenting unto fleshly lust? Far be it! but by having there motions of desires which he would not have, and yet had. 'But, by not consenting to them, with the mind he served the Law of God, and kept his members from becoming weapons of sins.
not."" Therefore there take place in us evil lusts, when that pleases which is not lawful; but they are not perfected, when evil lusts are restrained by the mind serving the Law of God. And good takes place, when that, which wrongly pleases, takes not place through the good delight prevailing. But the perfection of good is not fulfilled, so long as by the flesh serving the law of sin, evil lust entices, and, although it be restrained, is yet moved. For there would be no need for it to be restrained, were it not moved. There will be at some time also the perfection of good, when the destruction of evil: the one will be highest, the other will be no more. And if we think that this is to be hoped for in this mortal state, we are deceived. For it shall be then, when death shall not be; and it shall be there, where shall be life eternal. For in that world," and in that kingdom, there shall be highest good, no evil: when there shall be, and where there shall be, highest love of wisdom, no labor of continence. 'Therefore the flesh is not evil, if it be void of evil, that is, of fault, whereby man was rendered faulty, not made ill, but himself making. For on either part, that is, both soul and body, being made good by the good God, himself made the evil, whereby he was made evil. From the guilt of which evil being already also set free through forgiveness,® that he may not think what he hath done to be light, he yet wars with his own fault through continence. But far be it that there be any faults in such as reign in that peace which shall be hereafter; since in this state of war there are lessened daily in such as make progress, not sins only, but the very lusts also, with which, by not consenting, we strive, and by consenting unto which we sin.
/ 23, That, therefore, the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, that there dwelleth not in our flesh good, that the law in our members is opposed to the law of the mind, is not a mingling of two natures caused of contrary principles, but a division of one against itself caused through desert of sin. We were not so in Adam, before that natute, having listened to and followed its deceiver, had despised and offended its Creator: that is, not the former life of man created, but the latter punishment of man condemned. From which condemnation when set free by Grace, through Jesus Christ, being free they contend with their punishment, having received not as yet full salvation, but already a pledge of salvation: but when not set free, they are both guilty by reason of sins, and involved in punishments. But after this life for the guilty
20. There are therefore in us evil desires, by consenting not unto which we live not ill: there are in us lusts of sins, by obeying not which we perfect not evil, but by having them do not as yet perfect good. The Apostle shows both, that neither is good here perfected, where evil is so lusted after, nor evil here perfected, whereas such lust is not obeyed. The one forsooth he shows, where he says, ** To will is present with me, but to perfect good is not;''5 the other, where he says, '' Walk in the Spirit, and perfect not the lusts of the flesh.' For neither in the former place doth he say that to do good is not with him, but ''to perfect," nor here doth he say, Have not '' lusts of the flesh," but °' perfect t Rom. vii. 18. 3 Eph. v 29. 5 Rom. vii. 18.
2Vitiata vel vitiosa, 4 Rom, vii. 25. 6 Gal. v. 16.
7 Seculo. 8 Indulgentiam.