The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin

First, In these will this aversation and loathing oftentimes discover it self in the affections. A secret striving will be in them about close and cordial dealing with God. Unless the hand of God in his Spirit be high and strong upon the soul, even when convictions, sense of duty, dear and real esteem of God, and communion with him, have carried the soul into its closet, yet if there be not the vigour and power of a spiritual life constantly at work, there will be a secret loathness in them unto duty; yea, sometimes there will be a violent inclination to the contrary; so that the soul had rather do any thing, embrace any diversion, though it would it self thereby, than vigorously apply it self unto that which in the inward man it breaths after. It is weary before it begins, and says, when will the work be over? Here God and the soul are immediately concerned, and it is a great conquest to do what we would, though we come exceedingly short of what we should do. Secondly, It discovers it self in the mind also: when we address our selves to God in Christ, we ⟨p. 50⟩are, as Job speaks, to fill our mouths with arguments, Job 23. 4. that we may be able to plead with him, as he calls upon us to do, Isa. 43. 26. Put me in remembrance, let us plead together. Whence the Church is called upon to take unto it self words or arguments in going to God, Hos. 14. 2. The sum is, that the Mind should be furnished with the considerations that are prevailing with God, and be in readiness to plead them, and to manage them in the most spiritual manner to the best advantage. Now is there no difficulty to get the mind into such a frame, as to lay out it self to the utmost in this work? to be clear, steady, and constant in its duty? To draw out, and make use of its stores and furniture of promises and experiences? It starts, wanders, flags all from this secret aversation unto communion with God, which proceeds from the Law of Indwelling-sin. Some complain that they can make no work of Meditation, they cannot bend their minds unto it. I confess there may be a great cause of this, in their want of a right understanding of the duty it self, and of the ways of managing the soul in it, which therefore I shall a little speak to afterwards. But yet this secret enmity hath its hand in the loss they are at also, and that both in their minds and in their affections.