f INDWELLING SIN .399 [2.] Its deceit lies in its full promifings upon the firft appearance of things. And this alfo proceeds from the fainprinciple with theformer. Sometimes the affeftions are touched and wrought upon, the whole heart appears in a fair frame, all promifeth to be well, Within a while the whole frame is changed the mind was not at all affefted or turned; the affeftions a littleafted their parts and are gone off, and all the fair promifes of theheart aredeprated with them. Nowadd this deceitfulnefs tothe uaffearcla- ablenefs before mentioned, andwe fhall find, that at leaít the difiìcultyofdeal- ing effectuallywith fin in its featand throne, will be exceedinglyencreafed. A deceiving and a deceived heart, whocan deal with it? efpecially confidering thatthe heart imploys all its deceitsunto the feryice offin, contributesthem all to its fartherance. All the diforder that isin the heart, all its falfe promi- fes, and fair appearances, promote the intereft andadvantages of fin. Hence God cautions thepeople to look to it, left their own hearts fbouldentice and deceive them. Who can mention the treacheries and deceits that lie in the heart of man ? It is not for nothing that the Holy Ghoft fo expreffeth it, It is deceitful above all things; uncertain in what it loth, and falfe in what it promifeth. And hence moreoverit is, amongft other caufes, that in the purfuit of our war againft fin, we have not only the old work to go over and over, but newwork Rill while we live in this world; í}i11new ftrata- gems and whiles to deal withal, as the manner will be where unfearch- ablenefs and deceitfulnefs are to be contended with. There are many other properties of this feat and fubjeft of the law of fin, which might be Hilted on to the fame end and purpofe, but that would too far divert us from our particular deiign; and therefore I (hall pats thefe over with fome few confiderations. a.) Never let us reckon that our work in contending againft fin, in cru- cifying, mortifying and fubduing of it, is at an end. The place of itshabita- tion is unfearchable ; andwhen we may think that we have throughly won thefield, there is Rill fomereferve remaining that we faw not, that we knew not of. Many conquerors have been ruined by their carelefenefs after a viftory; and many have been fpiritually wounded after great fucceffes againft this ennmy. David was fo, his great furprizal into fin was after a long profeflion, manifold experiences of God, and watchful keeping him. felffrom his iniquity. And hence in part bath it come to pafs, that the profeffion of many loath declined in their old age, or riper time, whichmuff more diflinftly be .fpoken to afterwards. They have given over the work ofmortifying of fn, before their work was at an end. There is no way for us to purfue fin in its unfearchable habitation, but by being endlefs in our purfuit. And that command of the apoftle which we have, Col. .iii. 5. on this account is as neceffary for them to obferve, who are towards the end of their race, as thofe that are but at the beginning of it. Mortify therefore your members that are on the earth; be always doing it whilft you live in this world. It is true, great, ground is obtained, when the work is vigoroully and conftantly carried on ; fin is much weakened fo that the foul preffeth forwards towards perfeftion. But yet the work muft be endlefs, I mean wlailft we are in this world. 'If we give over we }hall quickly fee this enemy exerting itfelf with new ftrength and vigour. It may be, under fome great of ic'Iion, it may be in fome emir nettenjoyment of God, inthe fenfe of the fweetnefs of bleffedcommuni on with Chrift, we have been ready to fay, that there was an end offin, that it was dead and gone for ever. But have we not found the contrary by experience? bath it not manifefted that it was only retired into faine unfearchable
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=