Of INDWELLING SIN. 455 thoufand wiles to hide from it the terrour of the Lord, the end of tranf- greffions, and efpecially of that peculiar folly which it follicits the mind un- to. Hopes of pardon (hall be ufed to hide it, and future repentance Ihall hide it, and prefent Importunity of loft (hall hide it, occafionsand importu- nities shall hide it, furprizals Ihall hide it, extenuation of fan shall hide it, ballancing ofduties againft it (hall hide it, fixing the imagination on prefent objects shall hide it, defperate refolutions to venture the uttermoft for the enjoyment of Tuft in its pleafures and profits, 'Mall hide it A thoufand wiles it hath whichcannot be recounted. (4.) Having prevailed thus far, gilding over the pleafures of fin, hiding its end and demerit, it proceeds to raife perverfe reafonings in the mind, to fix it upon the fin propofed, that it may be conceived and brought forth, the affectionsbeing already prevailed upon ; of which we shall fpeak under thenext head of its progrefs. Here we may flay a little, as formerly, to give fome fewdirections for the obviating of this woful work of the deceitfulnefs of fin. Would we not beenticed or entangled, would we not be difpofed to the conception of fin, would we be turned out of the road and way which goes down todeath; let us take heed of ouraffections, whichare of fo great concernment inthe whole courfe ofour obedience, that theyare commonly in the fcripturecal- ledby the name of the heart, as the principalthing which God requires in our walking before him. And this is not (lightly tobe attended unto. Prom iv. 24.faith thewife man, Keep thy heart with all diligence, or as inthe ori- ginal above or before all keepings ; before every watch, keep thy heart. You have many keepings that you watch unto ; you watch to keepyour lives, to keep your elates, to keep your reputations, to keep up yourfami- lies ; but, faith he, above all thefe keepings, prefer that, attend to that of the heart, of your affeftions, that they be not entangledwith fin ; there is no fafety without it. Save all other things and lofe the heart, and all is loft, loft unto all eternity. You will fay then, what shall we do, or how hall we obferve this duty? [t.] Keepyour affe&ions as to their objeft, and that t.) In general This advice the apolle gives in this very cafe, Coioj:iii. his advice in the beginning of that chapter is to direct us unto the mortifi. cation of fin, which he exprelly engageth in, ver. g. Mortify therefore your members which arepn the earth. Prevent the working and deceit of fin whichwars in your members. To prepare us, to enable us hereunto, he gives us that great diredion, vet, a. Set your affectionson things above, not on things of the earth. Fix youraffections upon heavenly things, this will enable you to mortify fin : fill them with the thing that are above, let them beexereifed with them, and fo enjoy the chiefeftplace in theme They are above, bleffed and fuitable objects, meet for, and anfwering unto our affec- tions. God himfelf, in his beauty and glory ; the Lord Jefas aril, who isaltogether lovely, the chiefeft of ten thoufand ; grace and glory, the my- leries revealed in thegofpel, the bleffednefs promifed thereby. Were our of edions filled, taken up, and poffeffed with thefe things, as it is our duty that they Ihould be, it is our happinefs when they are ; what accefs could fin, with its paintedpleafures, with forged poifons, with its envenomedbaits, have unto our fouls ? How fhould we loath all its propofals, and fay unto them, Get ye hence as an abominable thing ? For what are the vain tranfi- tory pleafures of fin, in comparifonof the exceeding recompence of reward which is propofed unto us?Which Argument the apolleprelfes, a Cor. iv. r8. 2.) As to the object of your affeftions in an ofpecial manner ; let it be the erofs of anat., which bath an exceeding efficacy towards the difap- pointment
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