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

Fourthly, The state and activity of this Law, when the soul is in that frame, when it would do good, it is present with him. For what ends and purposes we shall show afterwards.

Fourthly, The state and activity of this Law, when the soul is in that frame, when it would do good, it is present with him. For what ends and purposes we shall shew afterwards.

The first thing observable is the Compellation here used by the Apostle, he calls Indwelling-Sin a Law. It is a Law.

A Law is taken either properly, for a directive Rule; or improperly, for an operative effective Principle, which seems to have the force of a Law. In its first sense, it is a Moral Rule which directs and commands, and sundry ways moves and regulates the mind, and the will, as to the things which it requires, or forbids. This is evidently the general nature and work of a Law. Some ⟨p. 3⟩things it commands, some things it forbids, with Rewards and Penalties, which move and impel men to do the one, and avoid the other. Hence in a secondary sense, an inward principle, that moves and inclines constantly unto any Actions, is called a Law. The principle that is in the nature of every thing, moving and carrying it towards its own end and rest, is called the Law of Nature. In this respect every inward principle that inclineth and urgeth unto operations or actings suitable to it self, is a Law. So Rom. 8. 2. The powerful and effectual working of the Spirit and grace of Christ in the hearts of Believers, is called the Law of the Spirit of life. And for this reason doth the Apostle here call Indwelling-sin a Law. It is a powerful and effectual indwelling-principle, inclining and pressing unto actions agreeable and suitable unto its own nature. This and no other is the intention of the Apostle in this expression. For although that term, a Law, may sometimes intend a state and condition, and if here so used, the meaning of the words should be, I find that this is my condition, this is the state of things with me, that when I would do good evil is present with me, which makes no great alteration in the principal intendment of the place; yet properly it can denote nothing here, but the chief subject treated of. For although the name of a Law be variously used by the Apostle in this Chapter; yet when it relates unto sin, it is nowhere applied by him to the condition of the person, but only to express either the nature, or the power of sin it self: so ver. 23. I see another