OfINDWEL LIN G SIN. 429 "? ROY'x ÌAWin CHAP. VIII. Indwelling Sin proved powerful from its Deceit. Proved to be Decitful. The General Nature of Deceit. James i. s . opened. How the Mind is drawn off from its Duty by the Deceitfulnefs of Sin. The principal Duties of the Mind in our Obedience. The 1Vays and Means whereby it is -turned from it. H E fecondpart of the evidence of the power of fin from its manner of operation, is taken from its deceitfulnefs. It adds in its working, deceit unto power. The effica- cy of that muff needs be great, and is carefully to be watched againft, by all fuch as value their fouls, where power and deceit are combined, efpecially ad- vantaged and alliifted by all the ways and means before inffted on. Before we come to chew wherein the nature of this deceitfulnefsof fin loth conflit, and how it prevaileth thereby, fome teflimonies lhall be brief- ly given in unto the thing itfelf, and fome light into the general na- ture of it. That fin, indwelling fin, is deceitful, we have the exprefs teffimony of the Holy Ghoft, as Heb. iii. 13. Take heed thatye be not hardened by the deceitfulnefs of fin. Deceitful it is, take heed of it, watch againft it, or it will produce its utmod effekt in hardening of the heart againft God. It is on the account of fin that the heart is faid to be deceitful a- bove alt things, Jer. xvii. 9. Take a man in other Brings, and as yob fpeaks, though he would be wife and crafty, be is like the wild offer colt, Job xi. r2. a poor, vain, empty, nothing. But confider his heart on the account of this law of fin, it is crafty and deceitful above all things, They are wife to do evil, faith the prophet, but to do good they know not, Jer. iv. 22. To the fame purpofe fpeaks the apòdle, Ephef. iv. 2. The old Man is corrupt according to deceitful lulls. Every tuft, which is a branch of this lawof fin, is deceitful ; and where there is poyfon in every dream, the fountain mud needs becorrupt. No particular luit, bath any deceitin it, but what is communicated unto it from this fountain ofall afloat lull, this law of fin. Anda Theff. ii. so. the coming ofthe man offin, is fold to be in and with the deceivablenefs ofunrighteoufisefr. Unrighteoufnefsis a thing generally decryed and evil fpoken of amongd men, fo that it is not eafy to conceive how any man fhould prevail with himfelf of gaining a reputation thereby. But there is a deceivablenefs in it, whereby the minds of men are turned afide from a due confideration of it; as we shall mani- felt afterwards. And thus the account which the apodle gives concern- ing thofe who are under the power of fin is, that they are deceived, Q q q q Titus
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