Of INDWELLING SIN. 409 nothing have we more reafon to be dimmed of, than the Shameful mifcár- rieges of our hearts in point of duty, which are from the principle be- fore mentioned. [2.] Labour to prevent the very beginningsof the workingsof this avci- fation; let grace be beforehand with it in every duty. We are dire&ed, Pat. iv. y. to watch unto prayer; and as it is unto prayer, fo unto every duty ; that is, to confider and take care that we be not hindred from with= in, not fromwithout, as to a due performance of it. Watch againft temp- tations to oppofe them, watch againft the avetfation that is in fin to pre- vent it As we are not to give place to Satan, no more are we to fin. If it be not prevented in its firft attempts, it will prevail. My meaning is, whatever good, as the apoftle fpeaks, we have to do, and findevil prefent with us, as we thall find it prefent prevent its. partying with the foul, its infi- nuating ofpoifon into the mind and affeétions, by a vigorous, holy, violent flirting up of the grace, or graces that are to be ailed and fet at work pea culiarly in that duty. Let Jacob come firft into the world or if preven- ted by the violence of Efau, let him lay hold on his heel to overthrow him, and to obtain the birth right. Upon the very firft motion of Peter to our Saviour, crying, mailer fpare thy felf, he immediately replyes, Get thee behindme, fatan. So ought we tofáÿ, Get thee gone thou law of fin, thou prefent evil, and it may be of the fame ufe unto us: Get grace then up betimes unto duty, and be early in the rebukes of fin. [3.] Though it do its worft, yet he fure it never prevail to a conqueft. Be fure you be not wearied out by its pertinacy, nor driven from your boldby its importunity ; do not faint by its oppofition. Take the apoftle's advice, Heb. vi. It. We defire that every one ofyou, doPhew thefame dili- gence to the full affurante of hope unto the end, that ye be not ßothful. Still hold out in the fame diligence. There are many ways whereby men are driven from a conftant holy performance of duties, all of them dangerous, if not pernicious to the foul. Some are diverted by bufinefs, force by company, force by the power of temptations, force difcouraged by their own darknefs ; but none fo dangerous as this, when the foul gives over in part, or in whole, as wearied by theaverfation of fin "unto it, or to communion with God in it. This argues the foul's giving up of it Pelf unto the power of fin, which unlefs the Lord break, the fnare of fatan therein, will affuredly prove ruinous. Our Saviour's infiruelion is, that we ought always to pray and not to faint, Luke xvüi. s. Oppoliition will arife, none fo bitter and keen as that from our own hearts ; ifwe faint we perifh. Take head leaft you be 'wearied, faith the apoltle, and faint inyour minds, Heb. xii 3. Such a fainting as is attended with a wean- nets and that with a giving place to the averfation working in our hearts, is to be avoided, if the would not perifb. The caution is the fame with that of the fame apoftle, Roma xii. 12. Rejoyeing in hope, patient in tribu- latiöm, continuing inftant inprayer. And in general with that ofchap. vi. i s. Let not fin thereforereign inyour mortal body, thatyeShould obeyit in the loft thereof. To ceafe from duty, in part, or in whole, upon the averfation of fin unto its fpirituality, is to give fin the rule, and to obey it in the loft thereof., Yield not then unto it, but hold out the condii! wait on God and ye fball prevail, .lfa.xl. 3i. Theythat wait upon the Lord(hall renew their ftrength, they Pallmount up, with wingsas eagles, theyfliallrun and not be weary, and theyShall walk and not faint. But that which is now fo difficult, will increafe indifficulty ifwe give way unto it. But ifwe abide inour ftation, we Shall prevail, the mouthofthe Lord hath fpoken it. L 1 1 1 1 [4.] Carry.
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