First, In its unexpected surprisals of the soul into foolish sinful figments and imaginations which it looked not for, nor was any occasion administered unto them. It is with Indwelling-Sin, as it is with the contrary principle of sanctifying Grace. This gives the soul, if I may so say, many a blessed surprisal. It oftentimes ingenerates and brings forth an holy spiritual frame in the heart and mind, when we have had no previous rational considerations to work them thereunto. And this manifests it to be an habitual principle prevailing in the mind: So Cant. 6. 12. Or ever I was aware my soul made me as the Chariots of Aminadab; that is, free, willing and ready for communion with Christ. [Greek or Hebrew] I knew not; it was done by the power of the Spirit of Grace, so that I took no notice of it, as it were, until it was done. The frequent actings of Grace in this manner, exciting acts of faith, love and complacency in God, are Evidences of much strength and prevalency of• in the soul. And thus also is it with Indwelling-Sin; ere the soul is aware, without any provocation or temptation, when it knows not, it is cast into a vain and •oolish frame. S•n produceth its ⟨p. 64⟩figments secretly in the heart, and prevents the minds consideration of what it is about. I mean hereby those Actus primo primi, first acts of the soul, which are thus far involuntary, as that they have not the actual consent of the Will unto them; but are voluntary as far as sin hath its residence in the Will. And these surprisals, if the soul be not awake to take speedy care for the prevention of their tendency, do oftentimes set all as it were on fire, and engage the mind and affections into actual sin. For as by Grace we are oftentimes ere we are aware made as the Chariots of a willing people, and are far engaged in heavenly-mindedness and communion with Christ, making speed in it as in a Chariot; so by sin are we oftentimes, ere we are aware, carried into distempered affections, foolish imaginations, and pleasing delightfulness in things that are not good nor profitable. Hence is that caution of the Apostle, Gal. 6. 1. [Greek or Hebrew], If a man be surprised at unawares with a fault or in a transgression.
First, In its unexpected surprizals of the soul into foolish sinful figments and imaginations which it looked not for, nor was any occasion administred unto them. It is with Indwelling-Sin, as it is with the contrary principle of sanctifying Grace. This gives the soul, if I may so say, many a blessed surprizal. It oftentimes ingenerates and brings forth an holy spiritual frame in the heart and mind, when we have had no previous rational considerations to work them thereunto. And this manifests it to be an habitual principle prevailing in the mind: So Cant. 6. 12. Or ever I was aware my soul made me as the Chariots of Aminadab; that is, free, willing and ready for communion with Christ. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 I knew not; it was done by the power of the Spirit of Grace, so that I took no notice of it, as it were, until it was done. The frequent actings of Grace in this manner, exciting acts of faith, love and complacency in God, are Evidences of much strength and prevalency of• in the soul. And thus also is it with Indwelling-Sin; ere the soul is aware, without any provocation or temptation, when it knows not, it is cast into a vain and •oolish frame. S•n produceth its ⟨p. 64⟩figments secretly in the heart, and prevents the minds consideration of what it is about. I mean hereby those Actus primo primi, first acts of the soul, which are thus far involuntary, as that they have not the actual consent of the Will unto them; but are voluntary as far as sin hath its residence in the Will. And these surprizals, if the soul be not awake to take speedy care for the prevention of their tendency, do oftentimes set all as it were on fire, and engage the mind and affections into actual sin. For as by Grace we are oftentimes ere we are aware made as the Chariots of a willing people, and are far engaged in heavenly-mindedness and communion with Christ, making speed in it as in a Chariot; so by sin are we oftentimes, ere we are aware, carried into distempered affections, foolish imaginations, and pleasing delightfulness in things that are not good nor profitable. Hence is that caution of the Apostle, Gal. 6. 1. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, If a man be surprized at unawares with a fault or in a transgression.
