A53712:167
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.
First, That the power of sin is great, which is that which we are in the demonstration of; and this appears in its prevalency unto Captivity; against the actings and contendings of the will for liberty from it. Had it no opposition made unto it, or were its Adversary, weak, negligent, slothful, it were no great evidence of its power, that it made Captives. But its prevailing against diligence, activity, watchfulness, the constant renitency of the will, this evinceth its efficacy.
Secondly, This leading Captive intimates manifold particular successes. Had it not success in particular it could not be said at all to lead captive. Rebel it might, assail it might, but it cannot be said to lead Captive without some successes. And there are several degrees of the success of the Law of Sin in the soul. Sometimes it carries the Person unto outward actual sin which is its utmost aim. Sometimes it obtaineth the consent of the will, but is cast out by grace, and proceeds no farther. Sometimes it wearies and entangles the soul, that it turns aside as it were, and leaves contending which is a success also. One or more, or all of these must be, where Captivity takes place. Such a kind of course doth the Apostle ascribe unto covetousness, 1 Tim. 6. 9.
Secondly, This leading Captive intimates manifold particular successes. Had it not success in particular it could not be said at all to lead captive. Rebell it might, assail it might, but it cannot be said to lead Captive without some successes. And there are several degrees of the success of the Law of Sin in the soul. Sometimes it carries the Person unto outward actual sin which is its utmost aim. Sometimes it obtaineth the consent of the will, but is cast out by grace, and proceeds no farther. Sometimes it wearies and entangles the soul, that it turns aside as it were, and leaves contending which is a success also. One or more, or all of these must be, where Captivity takes place. Such a kind of course doth the Apostle ascribe unto cove•ousness, 1 Tim. 6. 9