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

The seat and residence of grace is in the whole soul; it is in the Inner man, it is in the mind, the will, and the affections; for the whole soul is renewed by it unto the Image of God, Ephes. 4. 23, 24. And the whole man is a new Creature, 2 Cor. 5. 17. And in all these doth it exert its power and efficacy; Its Rule or Dominion is the pursuit of its effectual working in all the faculties of the soul, as they are one united principle of moral and spiritual operations. So then, the interrupting of its exercise, of its Rule and Power by the Law of Sin▪ must consist in its contrary acting in and upon the faculties and affections of the soul, whereon, and by which grace should exert its power and efficacy. And this it doth. It darkens the mind, partly through innumerable vain prejudices, and false reasonings, as we shall see when we come to consider its deceitfulness; and partly through the steaming of the Affections, heated with the noisome lusts that have laid hold on ⟨p. 95⟩them. Hence that saving light that is in the mind is clouded and stifled, that it cannot put forth its transforming power to change the soul into the likeness of Christ discovered unto it, which is its proper work, Rom. 12. 2. The habitual inclination of the will to obedience, which is the next way of the working of the Law of grace, is first weakened, then cast aside, and rendered useless by the continual solicitations of sin and temptation; so that the will first lets go its hold, and disputes whether it shall yield or no; and at last gives up it self to its Adversary; and for the Affections commonly the beginning of this evil is in them. They cross one another, and torture the soul with their impetuous violence. By this way is the Rule of the Law of Grace intercepted by the Law of Sin, even by imposing upon it in the whole seat of its Government. When this is done, it is sad work that sin will make in the soul. the Apostle warns Believers to take heed hereof, Rom. 6. 12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Look to it that it get not the Dominion, that it usurp not Rule, no not for a moment. It will labour to intrude it self into the Throne, watch against it, or a woeful state and condition lies at the door. This then accompanies this rage and madness of the Law of Sin.