OfINDWELLING SIN. 439 .nvr` 2okko±i:.,4:..«y:,t?}00út06*.1siia.-$ï**w`6**'."..9 J <3:¢11+t ïäFi xn i `l`rres ..tvS l.>`abili'1`sri * teogarxao+:c:.<o.<..M a:<aws,c0000doet CHAP. IX. The Deceit of Sin in drawing off the Mind froma due Attendance unto the efpecial Duties ofObedience, in- fianced in Meditation and Prayer. OW fin by its deceit endeavoursto draw off the mind from attending unto that holy frame in walking with God, wherein the foul oughtto be preferved, hath been decla- red. Proceed we now to thewhow it doth the fame work in reference unto thofe efpecial duties, by which the defigns, workings and prevalencyof it may in an efpecial manner be obviated and prevented. Sin indeed maintains an enmity againft all duties of obedience, or rather with God in them. When I would do good, faith the apoftle, evil is prefent with me. Whenever I would do good, or what good foever I would do, that is fpiritually good in reference unto God, it is prefent with me, to hinder me from it, to oppofe me in it. And on the other fide, all duties of obedience do lie direâly againft the airings of the law of fin. For as the Seth in all its airings lufteth againft the fpirit, fo the fpirit in all its aftings lufteth againft the Seth. And therefore every duty performed in the ftrength and grace of the fpirit, is contrary to the law of fin. Rom. viii. r3. Ifye by the fpirit do mortify the deeds of the fiefb. Aftings of the fpirit of grace in duties Both this work. Thefe two are contrary. But yet there are fome duties, which in their own nature, and by God's appointment, have a peculiar influence into the weakeningand fubduing of the whole law of fin, in its very principles, and cheifeft ftrengths. And thefe the mind ofa believer ought principally in his whole courfe to attend unto. And thefe doni fin in its deceit endeavour principally to draw off the mind from. As in difeafes of the body, fome remedies, they fay, have a fpe- cifick quality againft diftempers; fo in this difeafe of the foul, there are fome duties that have an efpecial virtue againft this finful diftemper. I £hall not infift on many of them, but inftance only in two, which feces to me to beof this nature ; namely that by God's defignation they have a fpecial tendency towards the ruin of the law of fin. And thenwe (hall Phew the ways, methods and means which the law of fin ufeth to divert the mind from a due attendance unto theth. Now thefe duties are, Sell, prayer, efpecially private prayer ; and fecondly, meditation. I. put them together, hecaufe they much agree in their general nature, and end, differing only in the manner oftheir performance. For by meditation lin- tend meditating upon what refpeft and fuitablenefs there is between the wordand ourown hearts, to this end, that they maybe brought to a more exact conformity. It isour pondering on the truth as it is in Jefas, to find out the image
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