Of INDWELLING SIN. 401. CHAP. IV. Indwelling Sin Enmity againfGod. Thence its Power Admits ofno Peace nor Refi. Is againl Godhim felf..1d s itfelf in averfation from G.od; and propenfity to Evil. Is Univerfal.. To all ofGod. In all ofthefoul. Confiant. E have feen the feat and fubjeR of this law of fin. In the next place we might take a view of its nature in gene- ral, which alfo will manifeft its power andefficacy. But this I fhall not enlarge upon; it being not my bufinefs to declare the nature of indwelling fin, it bath alfo been done by others. I lhall therefore only in referenceunto our fpecial deign in hand, confider one property of it, hat belongs unto its nature: and this always where ever it is. And his is that which is expreffed by the apoftle, Rom. viii. 7. The carnal rnind isenmity againft God; that which is here called, ylv,scs Tireangelo, the wifdom ofthe fief? is the fame with the law offin, which we infift on. And what fays he hereof? Why it is l tOpx z elt air Beer, enmity again.11 God. I. It is not only an enemy, for fo poiliibly force reconciliation of it unto God might be made, but it is enmity itfelf, and fo not capable of accepting any terms of peace. Enemies may be reconciled, but en- mity cannot. Yea, the only way to reconcile enemies, is to deftroy the enmity. So the apoftlein another cafe tells us, Rom. v. io. We who were ene- mies, are reconciled unto God ; that is awork compaffed and brought about by the blood ofChrift ; the reconciling of the greateft enemies. But when lie comes to fpeakof enmity, there is no way for it, but it mull be abolished and Epbef. ii. 15. Having abolifled in his fief? the enmity : there is no way to deal with any enmity whatever, but by its abolition or deftrucion. ' And thisalfo lies in it as it is enmity, that every part and parcel of it, if We may fo fpeak, the leaft degree ofit that can pofibly remain in anyone, whilft and where there is anything of its nature, is enmity Bill. It may not be fo effectual and powerful in operation, as where it bath more life and vigour, but it is enmity Bill. As every drop of poyfon is poyfon, and will infect, and every fpark offire is flee, and will burn ; fo is verything of the law of fin, the laB, the leaftof it, it is enmity, it will noy fon, it will burn. That which is any thing in the abfrafl, is Bill fo, whilft it bath any being at all. Our apoille, who may well be fuppofed to have mad,. as great a progrefs in the fubduing of it, as any one on the: earth, :et after all cries out for deliverance, as from an irreconcileable enemy, Rom. vii. 24. 'Tile. meaneft ailing, the meaneft and molt imperceptible working of it, is the Iiiii ad in;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=