Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BX9315 .O8 1721

Of INDWELLING SIN. +II 182R8M MMtit;. . kkilf* u fit* 444baamomatamamammea CHAP. VI. The Work of this Enmity againft God, by way of Oppofition. Firft, It lufleth. Wherein the lulling of Sinconfaf eth. It furprizing of the Soul. Rea- dinefr to clofe withTemptations. Its fighting and warring. (I .) In rebellion againfl the lawofGrace. (2.) In affaulting the Soul. OW this enmity worketh by way of averfation bath been declared, as alto the means that the foul is to ufe for the preventingof its effefts and prevalency. 2. The fecond way whereby it exerts its felfis oppo- fition. Enmity will oppofe and contend with that were- with it is at enmity. It is fo in things natural and moral. As light and darknefs, heat and cold, fo virtue and vice oppofe each other. So is it with fin and grace, faith the apoítle, thefe are contrary one to the other, Gal. v. 17. w&ss rm A01,7, they are placed, and fit in mutual oppofition, and that continually and conttantly, as we Iháll fee. Now there are two ways whereby enemies manage an oppofition. (1.) By force. And (a.) By fraud and deceit. So when the Egyptians becaufe enemies to the children offael, and managed an enmity againft them, Exod. i. to. Pharaoh faith, Let us deal weifely, or rather cunningly and fubtilly with this people; for fo Stephen refpeét to this word, expreffeth it, Aasvii. 19. by xmrxaopiaáp so . i he ufed all manner offraudulent fophifby. And unto this deceit they added force in theirgrievous opprelions. This is the way and manner of things where there is a prevailing enmity. And both thefeare made ufe of by the law of fin in its enmity againft God, and our fouls. (1.) I Shall begin with the firlt; or its aftings as it were in a way of force, in an opendownright oppofition to God andhis law, or the good that a believing foul would do in obedience unto God and his law. And in this whole matter, we muff be careful to Bear our courfe aright, taking the fcripture for our guide, with fpiritual reafon and experience for our companions. For there are many Shelves in our courfe, which ' mutt diligently be avoided, that none who confider thefe thingsbe troubled without caufe, or comforted without a juf foundation. In this firft way, whereby this fin exerts its enmity in oppofition, namely, as it were by force or Strength, there are four things exprefiing fo many diftinft degrees in its progrefs and procedure in the purfuit of its enmity. [I.] Its general inclination, It luflfth, Gal, v. 17. [2.] Its

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=