OfINDWELLING SIN. 455 vation. And therefore upon a review of his folly in neglefting thófe thoughts of God, and the love of Chrift, which through the aflìftance of the Holy Ghoft might have kept him from his fcandalous fall, he mope bitterly. And this indeed is the common way of the working of the de- ceit of fin, as unto particular evils. It lays hold on the mind fudden- ly with thoughtfulnefs about the prefent fin, poffefleth it, takes it up, fo that either it recovers not itfelf at all to the confederations men- tioned, orif any thoughts of them be fuggefted, the mind is fo prepoffeft and filled, that they take no impreffion on the foul or make no abode in ir. Thus doubtlefs was David furprifed in the entranceof his great fin. Sin and temptation did fo poffefs and fill his mind with the prefent objeft of his luft, that he utterly forgot, as it were, thofe confederations, which he had formerly made ufe of; when he fo diligently kept himfelf fromhis iniquity. Here therefore lies the great wifdom of the foul, in relating the very firft motions of fin, becaufe by parties with them the mind may be drawn off fromattending unto its prefervatives, and fo the whole rufli into evil. (3. It draws away the mind by frequency and long continuance of its folicitations, making as it were at daft a conqueft of it. And this happens not without an open negle& of the foul, in want of flirtingup itfelf to give an effe&ual rebuke in the ftrength and by the grace of Chrift unto fin, which would have prevented its prevalency. But of titis, more Gall be fpoken afterwards. And this is the firft way whereby the 'law of fin ads its deceit againft the foul. It draws off the mind from attendance unto its charge and office, both in refpeft of duty and fin. And fo far as this is done the perfon is faid to be drawn away, or drawn off. He is temp- ted, every man is tempted when lie is thus drawn away by his own luft, or the deceit of fin dwelling in him. And the whole effeft of this working of the deceitfulnefs of fin may be reduced unto theftthree heads. í.] The remiffion of an univerfally watchful frame offpirit unto every duty, and againft all, even the moft hidden and fecret adings of fin. a.] The omiffion of peculiar attending unto fuch duties as have an efpe- cial refpe& unto the weakning and ruinof the whole law of fin, and the obviating of its deceitfulnefs. 3.] Spiritual floth, as to a diligent regardunto all the efpecial concern- ments of duties and fins. When theft three things, with their branches mentioned, lefs or snore, are brought about, in, or upon the foul, or fo far as they are fo, fo far a man is drawn off by his own luft, or the de- ceit of fin. There is no need ofadding here any diredions for the prevention of this evil, they having fufriciently been laid down in our paffage through thé confideration both of the duty of the mind, and the deceit of fin. C H A P.
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