362 FORGIVENESS OF sm. ofdespondency: "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the lusts thereof." "But we find," say some, " corruptions working in our hearts, carrying us captive to the law of sin ; they disquiet with their power as well as with their guilt. Had we been made partakers of the law of the spirit of life, we had, ere this, been more set free from the law of sin and death. Had sin been pardoned fully, it would have been sub- dued more effectually." There are three considerations which make the act - ings of indwelling sin so perplexing to the soul. 1. Because they are unexpected. The soul looks not for them after the first great conquest made of sin, and universal engagement of the heart unto God. When it first says, "I have sworn, and have steadfastly pur- posed to keep thy righteous judgment," commonly there is peace, at least for a season, from the vigorous actings of sin. There are many reasons why it should be so: old things are then passed away, all things are become new; and the soul, under the power of that universal change, is utterly turned away from those things that should foment or cherish any lust or temp- tation. Now, when some of these advantages arc past, and sin begins to stir and act again, the soul is sur- prised, and thinks the work it hath passed through was not .true and effectual, but temporary only. Yea, he thinks perhaps that sin hath more strength.than it had before, because he was more sensible to it than he was before. As one that bath a dead limb, whilst it is mor- tified endures deep cuttings and lancings, and feels them not; but when sense is brought info it again, he feels the least cut, and may think the instruments sharp-
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