ofINDWELLING SIN. q.c", And when grace bath made its entrance; yet fin will dwell in all its coafts. Were any thing in the foul at perfeft freedom and liberty, there a fland might be made to drive it from all the refs of its holds : but it is univerfal, and wars in the whole foul. The mind bath its own. darknefs and vanity to wreflle with ; the will its own ftubbornnefs, ob- ftinacy andperverfenefs, every affeftion its own frowardnefs and avèrfati- on from God, and its fenfuality to deal withal; fo that one cannot yield relief unto one another, as they ought; they have as it were, their hands full at home. Hence it is that our knowledge is impeded-, our obdience weak, love not immixed, fear not pure, delight not freeand noble. But I snuff not infift on thefe particulars, or I could abundantly thew how diffufed this principle of enmity againft God is through the whole foul. (a.) Hereunto might be added its conftancy. It is confiant unto it- felf, it wavers not, it hath no thoughts of yielding or giving over, not- withftanding the powerful oppofttion that is made unto it both by the law and Gofpel, as afterwards Ihall be (hewed. This then is -a third evidence of the power of fin, taken from its nature and properties, wherein I have fixed but on one inftance for its illuftration, namely, that it is enmity againft God, and that uni- verfal and confiant. Should we enter upon a full defcription of it, it would require more (pace, and time than we have allotted to this whole fubjeft. What bath been delivered might give us a little ferife of it, if it be the will of God, and flit- us up unto watchfulnefs. What can be of a more fad confederation than that we Ihould carry about us con - fiantly that which is enmity againft God, and that not in this or that particular, but in all that he is, and in all wherein he hash revealed himfel£ I cannot fay it is well with themwho find it not. It is well with them indeed in whom it is weakned, and the power of it abated. But yet for them who fay it is not in them, they do hut deceive tbemfelves, and there is no trètth in them. 13'.7AW. . kA+w raitli* C H A P V. The Nature of Sin farther dfcovered as it is En- mity againi God. Its Averfation from all good, opened Means toprevent the effetls ofit prefcribed. E have confidered fomewhat of the nature of indwelling fin, not abfoltitely, but in referenceunto the difcovery of its power. But this more clearly evidenceth itfelf in its a&ings and operations. Power is an aft of life, and opera- tion is the onlydifcoverer of life.. We know not that any thing lives, but by the effefts and works of life. And great and firong operations, difcover a powerful and vigor- ous life, Such are the operations of this law of fin, which are all de- monftrations of its power. Kkkkk That
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