Of INDWELLING SIN. 419 2.] Its importunity and urgency {ems to be noted in this expreffion of its warring. Enemies in war are reRlefs, prefling and importunate. So is the lawof fin. Doth it fee upon the foul ? Caft off its motions, it returns again; rebuke them by the power of grace, they withdraw fora while, and return again. Set before them the crofs of Chrift, theydo as thofe that came to take hion, at fight of him they went backwards, and fell unto the ground, but they arofe again and laid hands on him. Sin gives place for a feafon, but returns and preffeth on the foul again. Mind it of the love of God in Chrift, though it be ftrieken, et it givesnot over. Prefent hell fire unto it, it rufheth into the tnidft nfthofe flames : reproach it with its folly and madnefs, it knows no fhame, but preffeth on (till. Let the thoughts of the mind ftrive to flie frotnit, it followsas on the wings of the wind. And by this importunity it wearies and wears out the foul, and if the great remedy, Rom. viii. 13. cosse not timely, it prevails to a conquefl. There is nothing more marvellous nor dreadful in the working of fin, than this of its importunity. The foul knows nor what to make of it ; it diflikes, abhors, abominates the evil it tends unto, it defpifeth the thoughts of it, hates them as hell, and yet is by itfelf impofed on with them, as if it wereanother perfon, an exprefs enemy got within him. Allthis the apoflle difcovers, Rom. vii. 55, 17. The things that I do, I hate it is not of outward aftions, but the inward rifings of the mind that he treats. I hate them, faith he, I abominate them. But why then will he have any thingmore to do with them? If he hate them, and abhor himfelf for them, let them alone, have no more to do with them, and fo end the matter. Alafs, faith he, ver. ny. It is no more I that do it, but fin that dwelleth in me. I have one within me that is any enemy, that with endlefs, reRlefs, importunity puts thefe things up- on me, even the things that I hate and abominate; I cannot be rid of them, I amweary of myfelf, I cannot flie from them ; O wretched man that I am, who (hall deliver me f I do not fay that this is the the ordinary condition ofbelievers, but thus it is often, when this law of fin rifeth up to war and fighting. It is not thus with them in refpe& of particular fins, this or that fin, outward fins, fins of life or converfation; but yet in re- fpe& of vanity of mind, inward and fpiritual diflempers, it is often fo. Some I know pretend to great perfeftión, but I am refolved to believe the apoftle before them all and every one. 3.] It carries on its war, by entangling of the affe&ions, and drawing them into a combination againft the mind. Let grace beenthroned in the mindand judgement, -yet if the law of fin lays hold upon, and entangles the affeftions, or any of them, it bath gotten a foot from whetflce it con- tinually affaults the foul. Hence the great duty of mortification is chiefly dire&ed to take place upon the affèftions, Gal. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upan the earth, fornication, uncleannefs, inordi- nate affection, concupifcenceand covetoufi:efs which is idolatry. The mem- bers that are upon the earth, are our affe&ions. For in the outward part of the body, fin is not fasted : in particular, not covetoufnefs which is there enumerated to be mortified amongft our members, that are on the earth. Yea, after grace hath taken poffef lion of the foul, the affe&ions do becomethe principal feat of the remainders of fin. And therefore Paul faith, that this law is in our members, Rom. vii. 23. and fames, that it wars in our members, chap. iv. t. that is, our affeftions. And there is no eltimate to be taken of the work of mortification, aright, but by the affeftions. We may every day fee perfons of very eminent light, that yet vifably have unmortified hearts and converfations. Their affeftions have
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