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

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 ⟨p. 94⟩upon the provocation received from Nabal, he was so hurried with the desire of self-revenge, that he cried, gird on your swords, to his companions, and resolved not to leave alive one man of his whole household, 1 Sam. 25 34. Or that Asa was in any better frame, when he smote the Prophet, and put him in Prison, that spake unto him in the name of the Lord. Sin in this case is like an untamed Horse, which having first cast off his Rider, runs away with fierceness and rage. It first casts off a present sense of the yoke of Christ, and the Law of his Grace, and then hurries the soul at its pleasure. Let us a little consider how this is done.

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 expell'd 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 ⟨p. 94⟩upon the provocation received from Nabal, he was so hurried with the desire of self-revenge, that he cryed, gird on your swords, to his companions, and resolved not to leave alive one man of his whole houshold,