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

Secondly, In this duty there is wrought upon the heart a deep full sense of the vileness of sin, with a constant renewed detestation of it, which, if any thing, undoubtedly tends to its ruin. This is one design of prayer, one end of the soul in it, namely to draw forth sin, to set it in order, to present it unto it self in its vileness, abomination and aggravating circumstances, that it may be loathed, abhorred, and cast away as a filthy thing; as Isa. 30. 22. He that pleads with God for sins remission, pleads also with his own heart for its detestation. Hos. 14. 3. Herein also sin is judged in the Name of God; for the soul in its confession subscribes unto Gods detestation of it, and the sentence of his Law against it. There is indeed a course of these duties, which convinced persons do give up themselves unto, as a mere covert to their lusts: they cannot sin quietly, unless they perform duty constantly. But that Prayer we speak of, is a thing of another nature, a thing that will allow no composition with sin, much less will serve the ends of the deceit of it, as the other formal prayer doth. It will not be bribed into a secret compliance with any of the enemies of God, or the soul, no not for a moment. And hence it is, that oftentimes in this duty, the heart is raised to the most sincere effectual sense of sin, and detestation of it, that the soul ever obtains in its whole cour•e of obedience. And this evidently tends also to the weakening and ruin of the Law of sin.

Secondly, In this duty there is wrought upon the heart a deep full sense of the vileness of sin, with a constant renewed detestation of it, which, if any thing, undoubtedly tends to its ruine. This is one design of prayer, one end of the soul in it, namely to draw forth sin, to set it in order, to present it unto it self in its vileness, abomination and aggravating circumstances, that it may be loathed, abhorred, and cast away as a filthy thing; as Isa. 30. 22. He that pleads with God for sins remission, pleads also with his own heart for its detestation. Hos. 14. 3. Herein also sin is judged in the Name of God; for the soul in its confession subscribes unto Gods detestation of it, and the sentence of his Law against it. There is indeed a course of these duties, which convinced persons do give up themselves unto, as a mere covert to their lusts: they cannot sin quietly, unless they perform duty constantly. But that Prayer we speak of, is a thing of another nature, a thing that will allow no composition with sin, much less will serve the ends of the deceit of it, as the other formal prayer doth. It will not be bribed into a secret compliance with any of the enemies of God, or the soul, no not for a moment. And hence it is, that oftentimes in this duty, the heart is raised to the most sincere effectual sense of sin, and detestation of it, that the soul ever obtains in its whole coure of obedience. And this evidently tends also to the weakning and ruine of the Law of sin.