(INDWELLING SIN: 4.53 xi. 9. It is charged as the great evil of Solomon, that he had finned againft fpecial mercies, efpecial intimations of love; he finned after God had appeared to him twice. God required that he ihould have born in mind that efpecial favour, and have made it an argument againft fin. But he neglected it, and is burdened with this fore rebuke. And indeed all efpecial mercies, all efpecial tokens atad pledges of love, areutterly loft and mifpent upon us, if they are not improved unto this end. This then isanother thing, that it is the duty of the mind greatly to attend unto, and to oppofe effectually unto every attempt that is made on the foul by the lawof fin. (4.) The confederations that arife from the blood and mediation of Chrift, are of the fame importance. So the apoftle declares, 2 Cora V. 14, 15. For the love of Chrifi conflraineth us, becaufe we thusjudge, that if one diedfor all, then were all dead ; and that he died for all, that they which live fhould not henceforth live unß themfelves, but unto himwhich died for them, and rofe again, There as a confirming efficaey in this confideration, it is great, forcible, effectual, if duly attended unto. But I mutt not here in particular infift upon. thefe things. Nor, (5.) Shall I fpeak of the inhabitation of the fpirit, the greateft privi- lege that we are made partakers of in this world. The due confideration how he is grieved by fin, how his dwelling place is defiled thereby, how his comforts are forfeited, loft, defpifed by te, might alfo be infifted on: But the inftances palled through are fuf&dent unto our purpofe. Now herein lies the duty of the mind, in reference unto particular fins and temptations. It is diligently and carefully to attend unto thefe things, to dwell conftantly upon the confideration of them, to have them in a continual readinefs to oppofe unto all the luftings, aftings, warrings, at- tempts, and rage of fin. In reference hereunto dothfin in an efpecial manner put forth and aft its deceit. It labours by all means todraw off themind from its dueattendance unto thefe things ; to deprivethe foul of this great prefervative and antidote againft its poifon. It endeavours to caufe the foul to fatisfy itfelfwith gene- ral undigefted notions about fin, that it may have nothing in particular to betake it felfunto in its own defence, againft its attempts and temptations. And the ways whereby it doth this may be alto briefly confidered. (a. It is from the deceit of fin that the mind is fpiritually flothful, where- by it becomes negligent unto this ,duty. The principal difchargeof its truft in this matter is expreffed by watching, which is the great caution that the Lord Jefus gave unto lais difciples, in reference unto all their dangers from fin and fatan, Mark xiv. 37. Ifay unto all Watch. That is, ufe your utmoft diligence and circumfpeftion, that you be not furprifed and entangled with temptations. It is called alto confideration ; Confider your ways; confider your latter end ; the want whereof God complains of in lais people, Deut. xxxii. 29. Now that which is contrary to thefe indifpenfible conditions of our prefervation, is fpiritual florhfulnefs, as the apoftle declares, Heb. vi. a a, 12. And we defire that every one ofyou do Jbew thefame diligence to the full affurance of hope unto the end, that you be notflothful. If we Thew not diligence, we are flothful, and in dangerof coming Ihort to inherit the promifes; fee 2 Pet. i. 5, 9. And befzdes this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, &c. For if thefe things be in you and abound, that they make you that you fliall neither he barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus. But he that lacketh thefe things is blind, and cannot fee afar off, and bath forgotten that he was purged from his old fins; wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence Y YYYY to
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