The Temporary Believer - The Spirit's Work Short of Regeneration

It had prevailed to sever and part their souls from the power of in
ward lusts, as well as outward gross defilements, ἀποφυγόντες τῆς ἐν
'that corruption that consists in lust or inward
concupiscence.' The prevailing knowledge of Christ had destroyed
and rent the indentures that had been between the soul and these
corruptions; for the word escaping speaks and hath reference to
freedom from the tyranny of a hard masster (or as it is, ver. 19 of
chap. 2), of being 'servants of corruption.' In these sincere believers,
the divine power had cut the very heart-strings, ligaments, and ties
between their souls and their lusts so far, that their in ward man had
really parted with, and was delivered from the strength and violence
of lusts. But of those other, chap. 2, it is barely said they had escaped, 'the grosser defilements of the world,' ver. 20,