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

Secondly, It must be advantaged by some former entertainment and prevalency. Sin grows not to this height at its first assault. Had it not been suffered to make its entrance, had there not been ⟨p. 93⟩some yielding in the soul, this had not come about▪ The great wisdom and security of the soul in dealing with in-dwelling sin, is to put a violent stop unto its beginnings, its first motions and actings. Venture all on the first attempt. Die rather than yield one step unto it. If through the deceit of sin, or the negligence of the soul, or its carnal confidence, to give bounds to lusts actings at other seasons, it makes any entrance into the soul, and finds any entertainment, it gets strength and power, and insensibly ariseth to the frame under consideration. Thou hadst never had the experience of the fury of sin, if thou hadst not been content with some of its dalliances. Hadst thou not brought up this servant, this slave delicately, it would not have now presumed beyond a son. Now when the Law of sin in any particular hath got this double advantage, the furtherance of a vigorous temptation, and some prevalency formerly obtained, whereby it is let into the strengths of the soul, it often riseth up to this frame whereof we speak.

Thirdly, We may see what accompanies this rage and madness, what are the properties of it, and what effects it produceth.

First, There is in it the casting off, for a time at least, of the yoke, rule and government of the Spirit and Law of Grace. Where Grace hath the dominion, it will never utterly be expelled from its Throne, it will still keep its right and sovereignty. But its influences may for a season be intercepted, and its government be suspended by the power of sin. Can we think that the Law of grace had any actual influence of rule on the heart of David, when