0 S I N in B E L I E Y E R S. , our bodies, Phil. iii. 21. now it beingour duty to mortify, to be killing of fin whillt it is in us, we muff be at work. He that is appointed to kill an enemy, it he leave linking before the other ceafes living, dochbut half his work, Gal; vi. p. Heb. xii. 1. s Co,'. vii. 1. . b. Sin cloth not only lull abide in us, but is ßi1! a&ing, (till labouring to bring forth the deeds of the flefh ; when fin lets as alone, we may let he alone : but as fin is never lefs quiet, than when it kerns to be molt quiet ; and its waters are for the molt part deep, when they are ßi11 ; fo ought our contrivances againft it to be vigo- rousat all times, and in all conditions, even where there is leali fupicion. Sin Both notonly abide in us, but the law of the member, i1 £fill rebelling againfl the law of the mind, Rom. vii. na. and thefpirit that dwells in as lufteth to envy, yam. iv. ç. It is always in continual work, theßefh lufiethagainli the fpirit, Gal g. 17. lug is Bill tempt- ing and conceiving fin, jam. 1. 14. in every moral a&ion, it 'is always either incli- ning to evil, or hindring from that Which is good, or disframing. the fpirit from com- munion with God, It inclines to evil ; The evil that I would .ant, that I do, faith the apoßle, Romavii. 19. whence is that ? why been fe in me, that is, in my field, dwelleth no good thing t and it hinders from good, thegood that I would do, that I do not, v. 19. upon the fame account, either I do it not ; or not as I füouid- ; all my holy things being dépiledby this fin. The fleeh lutdeth again£, thefpirit, that ye cannot do the thingttlat ye would, Gal. v. t7. and it unframes our fpirit; and thence is called the fin that fó eafily befits at, Heb. xii. r. on which account are thofe grievous complaints that the apoftle makes of it, Rom. vii. So that fin is always a&ing, always conceiving, always feducing and tempting. Who can fay that he had ever any thing to do with God, or for God, that indwelling had not an hand in the corrupting of what de did ? And this trade will it drive more or lofs all our days : if then fin will be always aging, if we be not always mortifying, we are loft creatures. He that ftands:ftill, and (of- fers his Enemies to double blows upon him without reliftance; will undoubtedly be conquered in the iffue. If fin be fubtil, watchful, ßrong, andalways at work in the bußnefsof killing our fouls; and we be flothful, negligenr, £oolifh, in proceeding to the ruin thereof, can we cxpe& a comfortable event? There is not a day but fin foils, or is foiled ; prevails or is prevailed on : and itwill be fo whilft we live in this world. 3. Sin will not only be flriving, a&ing, troubling, difquieting, but if let alone, if not continually mortified, it will bring forth great, curled, fcandalous foul deftroyo ing fins. The apoßle tells us what the worksand fruits of it are, Gal. v..19; so, z r. The works of the tell are manifefi, which are adultery,fornication, ugele nneft, lafcivioufnefr, idolatry,witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, iorath,flrife,feditions,herfeo,envyinge,murders, drunkennefi, revilingr, andfuch like. You knowwhat it did in David, andfundry others. Sin aims always at the utmoft : every time it rifes up to tempt or entice, mightit have its own courfe, it would go out to the uttaoß fm in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery, if it could; every covetous define. would be oppteflìon ; every thought of unbelief would be athetfm, night it grow to its head. Men may come to that, that fin niay not be heard £peaking a fcandalous woid in their hearts ; that is, provoking to any great fin with fcandal in its mouth ; butyet every rife of lvß, might it have its courfe, would come to the height of vil- lany ` it is like the grave, that is never fatisfied. Now nothing can prevent this, but mortification ; that withers the root and ßrikes at the headof fin every hour; that whatever it aims at, it is croffed in. There is not the belt faint in the world,but if he íhould give over this duty, would fall into as many curled fins as ever any did of hiskind. 4.. This is one main reafon why the fpirit and the new nature is given unto us, that we may have a principle within, whereby to oppofe fin and loft. The fief? l f- ribagainflthefpirir: well! and what then? why the fpirit alfo lrJleth gain££ the.Flef?, Gal. v. 17. There is a propenfity in the fpirit, or fpiritual new creature, tobe a&ing againf the flefh, as well as in the flefh to be sling againft the fpirit, fo s Pet. i.4, p.. It is our participation of the divine nature, that gives us an efcape from the pollutions that are in the world through lull : and-Ram. vii. 23. there is a law of the mind, as well asa law of the members. Now this is, Firft, the moil unjuß, and unreafonable thing in the world; when two combatants, are engaged, to bind one, and keep him up from doing his utmoft, and to leave the other at liberty to wound him at his plesfure. AndSecondly, the foolifheft thing in the world, to bind him, who fights for our eter- nal condition, and to let him alone, who leeks and violently attempts our everlaßing G toils?
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