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

First, In general it is said to Lust, Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit. This word expresseth the general nature of that opposition which the Law of Sin maketh against God, and the Rule o• his Spirit or Grace in them that believe, and therefore the least degree of that opposition is expressed hereby. When it doth any thing it lusteth. As because burning is the general acting of fire, what ever it doth else, it doth also burn. When fire doth any thing, it burns: And when the Law of Sin doth any thing, it lusts.

Hence all the actings of this Law of Sin are called the lusts of the flesh, Gal. 5. 16. Ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh, Rom. 13. 14. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. Nor are these lusts of the flesh those only whereby men act their sensuality in riot, drunkenness, uncleanness, and the like, but they comprehend all the actings of the Law of Sin whatever in all the faculties and Affections of the soul. Thus Ephes. 2. 3. We have mention of the desires, or wills, or lusts of the mind, as well as of the flesh. The mind the most spiritual part o• the soul hath its lusts, no less than the sensual appetite, which seems sometimes more properly ⟨p. 61⟩to be called the flesh. And in the products of these lusts, there are defilements of the Spirit, as well as of the flesh, 2 Cor. 7. 1. that is, of the mind and understanding, as well as of the Appetite and Affections, and the body that attends their service. And in the blamelessness of all these consists our holiness, 2 Thess. 5. 23. The God of peace, sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole Spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yea, by the flesh in this matter the whole Old man, or the Law of Sin is intended,