4.1b The NATURE and POW E R and thence it is that they are fo often found faulty. So faith the apoftle fo that we cannot do the thing that we would, Gaf. v. 17. We cannot accomplifh the defign of clofe walking according to the law of grace, be- caufe of the contrariety and rebellion ofthis law of fin. 2.] It rebels alfo in refpe& unto particular duties. It raifeth a corn- buftion in the foul againft the particular commands and defignings of the lawof grace ; you cannot do the things that you would; that is, the dutieswhich you judge incumbent on you which you approve and delight in, in the inward man, you cannot do them as you would. Take an inftance in prayer. A titan addrefeth himfelf unto that duty, he would not only perform ir, but he would perform it in that manner that the nature of the duly, and his own condition do require. He would pray in the fpirit, fervently, with fight and groans that cannot be uttered; in faith with love and delight, pouring forth his foul unto the Lord; this he aims at. Now oftentimes he Hall find a rebellion, a fighting of the law of fin in this matter. He Halt find difficulty tto get any thing done, who thought to do all things. I do not fay, that it is thus always, but it is fo when finwars and rebels, which expreifeth an efpecial ailing of its power. Woful intanglementsdo poor creatures oftentimes meet with- al upon this account. Inflead of that free inlarged communion with God that they aim at, the belt that their fouls arrive unto, is but re, go away mourning for their folly, deadnefs and indifpofition. In a word, there is no command of the lawof grace that is known, liked of, and approved by the foul, but when it comes to be obferved, this law of finone way or other makes head and rebels againft it. And this is the firft way of its fighting. {2. It doth not only rebel and refill, but it affaults the foul it fett upon the law of themind and grace, which is the fecund parts of its war- ring, I Pet. ii. I I. sysw arse Kgvrá. .dexñs theyfight, or war againft the foul. Jam. iv. I. çgerúovza: ér nvih ' WOW ti a e, they fight, or war in your members. Peter Hews what they oppofe and fight againft, namely the foul, and the law of .grace therein : fames, what they fight with, or by, namely the members, or the corruption that is in our mortal bodies. 'Asw owralkge is to rebel againfi a fuperiour ç1Qst,9dai is to moult or war for fuperiority. It takes the part of an affailant as well as of a refiler. It makes attempts fpr rule and fovereignty, as well as oppofeth the rule . of grace. Now all war and fighting bath fome what of violence in it, and there is therefore fome violence in that ailingoffin, which the fcripture calls fighting andwarring. And this affailing efficay of fin, as diflinguif aed from it rebelling before treated of, confifls in theft things that enfue. I.] All its pofitive things in fitting up unto fin belong to this head. Oftentimes by the vanity of the mind, or the fenfualityof the affe&ions, the folly of the imaginations, it fets upon the foul then, when the law of grace is not aftually putting it onduty, fo that therein it doth not rebel but affaulr. Hence the apoftle cries out, Rom. vii. 24. Who(hall de- liver mefrom it? who Hall relent me out ofits hand ? as the word ligni- fies. When we purfue an enemy, and he refills us, we do not cry out, who Hall deliver us? For we are the affailants ; but who Hallxefcue me? is the cry of one who is feeupon by an enemy. So it is here, a man is ak faulted by his own tufts, as yamet fpeaks. By the way fide, in his employment, under a duty, fin.fs upon the foul with vain imaginations, foolith delires, and would willingly employ the foul to make provision for its fatisfa&ion; which the apoftle cautions us againft, Rom. xiü.14. oanols lvoiev ud 7.14.9E bs iwdeulat do not accomplijla the providence or projeltion of theAlb, for it, -own fatirfadion. 3 2.I Itt
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