Of INDWELLING SIN.. 435 fhould live foberly, rigbteoufly, and godly in this prefent world. This it teacheth, this we ought to learn of ir, and by it. Hence univerfal hold- nefs is called a converfation that becorneth the Gofpel, Phil. i. 2'7. It be- comes it as that which is anfwerable unto its end, aim, and defign, as that which it requires, and which it ought to be improved unto. And ac- cordingly it doth produce this effefl where the word of it is received and preferved in a faving light, Rom. xii. 2. Ephef. iv. 20, 21, 22, 23 24. But herein doth the deceit of fin interpofe itfelf. It feparates between the do&rine of grace, and the ufe and endof it. It flays upon its notions, and intercepts its influences in its proper application. From the doctrine of the affured pardonof fin, it infinuates a regardlefnefs of fin. God in Chriff makes the propofition, and fatan and fin make the conclufion. For that the deceitfulnefs of fin is apt to plead unto a regardlefnefs of it, from the grace of God whereby it is pardoned, the apoftle declares in his reproof and deteflation of filch an infinuatio:, Rom. vi. 1. What (hall we fay then ? Shall we continue infin, that grace may abound? Godfor- bid. Mens deceitful hearts, faith he, are apt to make that conclufion ; but far be it from us, that we lhould give any entertainment unto it. But yetthatfone have evidently improved that deceit unto their own eternal ruin, rode declares, ver. 4. Ungodly men, turning the grace of God in- to lafciviorafaefs. And we have had dreadful inftances of it in the days of teu-ptation wherein we have lived. indeed in opppfition unto this deceit lies much of the wifdom of faith, and power of Gofpel grace. When the mind is fully poffeffed with, and calf habitually and firmly into the mould of the notion and do&rine of Gofpel truth about the full and free forgivenefs of all fins in the blood of Chrift, then to be able to keep the heart always in a deep humbling fenfe of fin, abhorrency of it, and Pelf abafemeat for it, is a great effe& of Gofpel wifdom and grace. This is the trial and touchltone of Gofpel light. If it keep the -heart fenfible of fin, humble, lowly, and broken on that account ; if it teach us to water a free pardon with tears, to detefl forgiven fin, to watch diligently for the ruin of that, which we are yet affured, !hall never ruin us, it is divine, from above, of the fpirit of grace. If it fecretly and infenfibly make men bofe and flight in their thoughts about fin, it is adulterate, felfifh, falfe. If it will be all, anfwer all ends, it is nothing. Hence it comes to pafs, that fometimes we fee men walking in a bondage frame of fpirit all their days, low in their light, mean in their apprehen- -fions of grace, fo that it is hard to difcern whether covenant in their principles they belong unto; whether they are under the law, or under grace, yet walk with a more confcientious tendernefs of finning, than many who are advanced into higher degrees of light and knowledgethan they. Not that the faving light ofthe Gofpel, is not the only principle of faring holinefs and obedience ; but that through the deceitfulnefs of fin it is varioufly abufed to countenance the foul in manifold negle& of duties, and to draw off the mind from a due convderation of the nature, defect and danger of fin. And this is done feveral ways. r.] The foul having frequent need of relief by Gofpel grace againff a fenfe of the guilt of fin, and 'accufation of the law, comes at length to make it a common and ordinary thing, and filch as may be (lightly per- formed. Having found a good medicine for its wounds, and filch as it hath had experience of its efficacy, it comes to apply it (lightly, and ra- ther ikinneth over, than cureth its fores. A little lefs earneftneis, a little lets diligenceferves every time, until the foul it maybe begins to fecure it-
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