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

Indeed in opposition unto this deceit lies much of the Wisdom of faith, and power of Gospel-Grace. When the mind is fully possessed with, and cast habitually and firmly into the mould of the notion and Doctrine of Gospel-Truth about the full and free forgiveness of all sins in the blood of Christ, then to be able to keep the heart always in a deep humbling sense of sin, abhorrency of it, and self-abasement for it, is a great effect of Gospel-Wisdom and Grace. This is the ⟨p. 114⟩trial and touchstone of Gospel-Light. If it keep the heart sensible of sin, humble, lowly, and broken on that account; If it teach us to water a free pardon with tears, to detest forgiven sin, to watch diligently for the ruin of that, which we are yet assured, shall never ruin us, it is Divine, from above, of the Spirit of Grace. If it secretly and insensibly make men loose and slight in their thoughts about sin, it is adulterate, selfish, false. If it will be all, answer all ends, it is nothing.

Indeed in opposition unto this deceit lies much of the Wisdom of faith, and power of Gospel-Grace. When the mind is fully possessed with, and cast habitually and firmly into the mould of the notion and Doctrine of Gospel-Truth about the full and free forgiveness of all sins in the blood of Christ, then to be able to keep the heart alwaies in a deep humbling sense of sin, abhorrency of it, and self-abasement for it, is a great effect of Gospel-Wisdom and Grace. This is the ⟨p. 114⟩tryal and touchstone of Gospel-Light. If it keep the heart sensible of sin, humble, lowly, and broken on that account; If it teach us to water a free pardon with tears, to detest forgiven sin, to watch diligently for the ruine of that, which we are yet assured, shall never ruine us, it is Divine, from above, of the Spirit of Grace. If it secretly and insensibly make men loose and slight in their thoughts about sin, it is adulterate, selfish, false. If it will be all, answer all ends, it is nothing.

Hence it comes to pass, that sometimes we see men walking in a bondage-frame of Spirit all their days, low in their light, mean in their apprehensions of Grace, so that it is hard to discern whether Covenant in their Principles they belong unto; whether they are under the Law, or under Grace, yet walk with a more conscientious tenderness of sinning, than many who are advanced into higher degrees of light and knowledge than they. Not that the saving light of the Gospel, is not the only Principle of saving holiness and obedience; but that through the deceitfulness of sin it is variously abused to countenance the soul in manifold neglect of duties, and to draw off the mind from a due consideration of the nature, desert and danger of sin. And this is done several ways.