436 The NATURE and POWER felf of pardon in courfe. And this tends dire&ly to draw off the mind from its conftant and univerfal watchfulnefs againft fin. He whofe light bathmade his way of accefs plain for the obtaining of pardon, if he be not very watchful, he is far more apt to become overly, formal, and care. lefs in his work, than he who by reafon of milts and darknefs, beats about to find his way aright to the throne of grace. As a man that bath often travelled a road paffeth on without regard or enquiry ; but he who is a stranger unto it, obferving all turnings, and enquiring of all paf- fengers, fecures his journey beyond the other. 2.] The deceitfulnefs of -fin takes advantage from the doctrineof grace, by many ways and means to extend the bounds of the foul's liberty be- yond what God hash afligned unto it. Some have never thought them- felves free from a legal bondage frame, until they have been brought in- to the confines offenfuality, and fome into the depths of ir. How often will fin plead, this ftrifrmfs, this exaftnefs, this folicitude is no ways needful ; relief is provided in the Gofpel againft fuch things. Would you live as though there were no need of the Gofpel ? As though pardon of fin were to no purpofe ? But concerning thefe pleas of fin from Gofpel grace, we fhall have occafion to fpeak more hereafter in particular. 3.] In times of temptation this deceitfulnefs of fin, will argue exprefly for fin from Gofpel grace ; at leaf} it will plead for thefe two things. r.) That there is not need of fuch a tenacious, fevere contending againft it, as the principle of the new creature is fixed on. If it cannot divert the foulor mind wholly from attending unto temptations to oppofe them, yet it will endeavour to draw them off, as to the manner of their attend- ance. They need not ufe that diligence which at firft the foul apprehends to he necefary. s.) It will be tendering relief as to the event of fin, that it lhall not turn to the ruin or deftrudion of the foul, becaufe it is, it will, or may be pardoned by the grace of the Gofpel And this is true, this is the great and only relief of the foul againft fin, the guilt whereof it hath contracted already ; the bleffed and only remedy for a guilty foul. But when it is pleaded and remembred by the deceitfulnefs of fin in comply. ance with temptation unto fin, then it is poyfon ; poyfon is mixed an every drop of this balfom, to the danger, if not deathof the foul. And this is the hdt way whereby the deceitfulnefsoffin draws off the mind from a due attendanceunto that fenfeof its vilenefs, whichalone is able to keep it in that humble, felf abafed frame that is acceptable with God. It snakes the mind carelefs, as though its work were needlefs, becaufe ofthe aboundingof grace ; which is as a fouldier's negleft of his Ration, trufting to a referve, provided indeed only cafe of keeping his own proper place. [u.] Sin takes advantage to work by its deceit in this mttter of draw- ing off the mind from a due fenfe of it, from the Rate and condition of men in the world. I íhall give only one inflame of its procedure in this kind. Men in their younger days have naturally their affections more quick, vigorous and altive, snore fenfibly working in them, than after- wards. They do as to their fenfible working and operation naturally decay, and many things befal men in their lives, that take off the edge and kernels of them. But as men lofe in their of effions, -if they are not befotted in fenfuality, or by the corruptions that are in the world through loft, they grow and improve in their underf}andings, refolutions, and judgments. Hence it is, that if what had place formerly in their affec- tions, do not take place in their minds and judgments, they utterly lofe them, they have no more place in their fouls. Thus Wren have no regard for,
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