A53712:165
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.
I say then, that the Apostle treats not here, of our being captivated unto this or that sin, but unto the Law of Sin. That is, we are compelled to bear its presence and burden whether we will or ⟨p. 87⟩no. Sometimes the soul thinks or hopes that it may through grace be utterly freed from this troublesome Inmate. Upon some sweet enjoyment of God, some full supply of grace, some return from wandering, some deep affliction, some through humiliation, the poor soul begins to hope that it shall now be freed from the Law of Sin. But after a while it perceives that it is quite otherwise. Sin acts again, makes good its old station, and the soul finds that whether it will or no, it must bear its yoke. This makes it sigh and cry out for deliverance.
Thirdly, This leading Captive argues a prevalency against the renitency or contrary actings of the will. This is intimated plainly in this expression; namely, that the will opposeth, and makes head as it were against the working of sin. This the Apostle declares in those expressions which he uses, ver. 15, 19, 20. And herein consists the lusting of the Spirit against the flesh, Gal. 5. 17. That is, the contending of grace to expel and subdue it. The spiritual habits of grace that are in the Will, do so resist and act against it. And the excitation of those habits by the Spirit are directed to the same purpose. This leading Captive, is contrary I say, to the inclinations and actings of the renewed will. No man is made a Captive but against his will. Captivity is misery and trouble, and no man willingly puts himself into trouble. Men choose it in its causes, and in the ways and means leading unto it, but not in it self. So the Prophet informs us, Hos. 5. 11. Ephraim was not willingly oppressed and broken in ⟨p. 88⟩Judgement; that was his misery and trouble; but he willingly walked after the Commandment of the Idolatrous Kings which brought him thereunto. Whatever consent then the soul may give unto sin, which is the means of this Captivity, it gives none to the Captivity it self; that is against the will wholly. Hence these things ensue.