_If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature._ I. 1. IS there then sin in him that is in Christ? Does sin _remain_ in one that _believes in him_? Is there any sin in them that are _born of_ God, or are they wholly delivered from it? Let no one imagine this to be a question of mere curiosity: or that it is of little importance whether it be determined one way or the other. Rather it is a point of the utmost moment, to every serious Christian: the resolving of which very nearly concerns both his present and eternal happiness. 2. And yet I do not know, that ever it was controverted in the primitive church. Indeed there was no room for disputing concerning it, as all Christians were agreed. And so far as I have ever observed, the whole body of antient Christians who have left us any thing in writing, declare with one voice, that even believers in Christ, till they are _strong in the Lord and in the power of his might_, have need to _wrestle with flesh and blood_, with an evil nature, as well as _with principalities and powers_. 3. And herein our own church, (as indeed in most points) exactly copies after the primitive; declaring (in her ninth article) “Original sin is the corruption of the nature of every man whereby man is in his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth contrary to the Spirit. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh called in greek φρόνημα ♦σαρκὸς, is not subject to the law of God. And altho’ there is no condemnation for them that believe, yet this lust hath of itself the nature of sin.” 4. The same testimony is given by all other churches: not only by the _Greek_ and _Romish_ church, but by every _reformed_ church in _Europe_, of whatever denomination. Indeed some of these seem to carry the thing too far: so describing the corruption of heart in a believer, as scarce to allow that he has dominion over it, but, rather is in bondage thereto. And by this means they leave hardly any distinction, between a believer and an unbeliever. 5. To avoid this extreme, many well-meaning men, particularly those under the direction of the late count _Zinzendorf_, ran into another; affirming, that ♦“All true believers, are not only saved from the _dominion_ of sin, but from the _being_ of inward as well as outward sin, so that it no longer, _remains_ in them. And from them, about twenty years ago many of our countrymen imbibed the same opinion, that even the corruption of nature _is no more_, in those who believe in Christ. 6. It is true, that when the _Germans_ were pressed upon this head, they soon allowed, (many of them at least) that “sin did still remain _in the flesh_, but not _in the heart_ of a believer.” And after a time, when the absurdity of this was shewn, they fairly gave up the point: allowing, that sin did still _remain_, though not _reign_ in him that is born of God.