A53712:151
The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin
The nature, power, deceit, and prevalency of the remainders of indwelling-sin in believers together with the ways of its working and means of prevention opened, evinced, and applied with a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto appertaining.The nature, power, deceit, and prevalency of the remainders of indwelling-sin in believers together with the wayes of its working and means of prevention opened, evinced, and applyed with a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto appertaining.
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, It carries on its war, by entangling of the Affections and drawing them into a combination against the mind. Let Grace be enthroned in the mind and judgement, yet if the Law of Sin lays hold upon, and entangles the Affections, or any of them, it hath gotten a Fort from whence it continually assaults the soul. Hence the great duty of mortification is chiefly directed to take place upon the Affections, Col. 3. 5. Mortify therefore your Members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate Affection, concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry. The members that are upon the Earth, are our Affections. For in the outward part of the body, sin is not seated: in particular, not covetousness which is there enumerated to be mortified amongst our Members that are on the Earth. Yea, after Grace hath taken possession of the soul, the Affections do become the principal seat of the remainders of sin. And therefore Paul saith, that this Law is in our Members, Rom. 7. 23. and James, that it wars in our Members, Chap. 4. 1. that is, our Affections. And there is no estimate to be taken of the work of mortification aright, but by the Affections. We may every day see Persons of very eminent Light, ⟨p. 79⟩that yet visibly have unmortified hearts and conversations. Their Affections have not been crucified with Christ. Now then when this Law of Sin can possess any Affection whatever it be, love, delight, fear, it will make from it, and by it, fearful assaults upon the soul. For instance, hath it got the love of any one entangled with the world, or the things of it, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life: How will it take advantage on every occasion, to break in upon the soul? It shall do nothing, attempt nothing, be in no place, or company, perform no duty, private or public, but sin will have one blow or other at it; it will be one way or other soliciting for it self.
Thirdly, It carryes on its war, by entangling of the Affections and drawing them into a combination against the mind. Let Grace be enthroned in the mind and judgement, yet if the Law of Sin layes hold upon, and entangles the Affections, or any of them, it hath gotten a Fort from whence it continually assaults the soul. Hence the great duty of mortification is chiefly directed to take place upon the Affections,