IV. 1. However, let us give a fair hearing to the chief arguments, of those who endeavour to support it. And it is, first, from scripture they attempt to prove, that there is no sin in a believer. They argue thus. “The scripture says, every believer is _born of God_, is _clean_, is _holy_, is _sanctified_; is _pure in heart_, has a new heart, is a temple of the Holy Ghost. Now, as _that which is born of the flesh is flesh_, is altogether evil, so _that which is born of the Spirit is spirit_, is altogether good. Again; a man cannot be clean, sanctified, holy, and at the same time unclean, unsanctified, unholy. He cannot be pure and impure, or have a new and an old heart together. Neither can his soul be unholy, while it is a temple of the Holy Ghost.” I have put this objection as strong as possible, that its full weight may appear. Let us now examine it, part by part. And 1 “_That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit_, is altogether good.” I allow the text, but not the comment. For the text affirms this, and no more, That every man who is _born of the Spirit_, is a _spiritual man_. He is so. But so he may be and yet not be _altogether spiritual_. The Christians at _Corinth_ were _spiritual_ men. Else they had been no Christians at all. And yet they were not _altogether_ spiritual. They were still (in part) _carnal_. “But they were fallen from grace.” St. _Paul_ says no. They were even then _babes in_ Christ. 2. “But a man cannot be _clean_, _sanctified_, _holy_, and at the same time _unclean_, _unsanctified_, _unholy_.” Indeed he may. So the _Corinthians_ were. _Ye are washed_, says the apostle, _ye are sanctified_: namely, cleansed from _fornication_, _idolatry_, _drunkenness_, and all other outward sin, (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, 11.) And yet at the same time, in another sense of the word, they were _unsanctified_: they were not _washed_, not inwardly _cleansed_ from envy, evil-surmising, partiality. “But sure they had not a new heart, and an old heart together.” It is most sure, they had. For at that very time, their hearts were _truly_, yet not _entirely_ renewed. Their carnal mind was nailed to the cross. Yet it was not wholly destroyed. “But could they be _unholy_, while they were _temples of the Holy Ghost_?” Yes, that they were _temples of the Holy Ghost_, is certain. (_1 Cor._ vi. 19.) And it is equally certain, they were, in some degree _carnal_, that is, _unholy_.