A53712:261
The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin
The nature, power, deceit, and prevalency of the remainders of indwelling-sin in believers together with the ways of its working and means of prevention opened, evinced, and applied with a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto appertaining.The nature, power, deceit, and prevalency of the remainders of indwelling-sin in believers together with the wayes of its working and means of prevention opened, evinced, and applyed with a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto appertaining.
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, It deals with the mind to draw it off from its attendance unto this duty by a tender of a compensation to be made in and by other duties. As Saul thought to compensate his disobedience by Sacrifice. May not the same duty performed in public, or in the Family suffice? And if the soul be so foolish as not to answer, those things ought to be done, and this not to be left undone, it may be ensnared and deceived. For besides a command unto it, namely that we should personally watch unto prayer, there is as hath been declared sundry advantages in this duty so performed against the deceit and efficacy of sin, which in the more public attendance unto it, it hath not. These sin strives to deprive the soul of by this commutation which by its corrupt reasonings it tenders unto it.
Thirdly, It deals with the mind to draw it off from its attendance unto this duty by a tender of a compensation to be made in and by other duties. As Saul thought to compensate his disobedience by Sacrifice. May not the same duty performed in publick, or in the Family suffice? And if the soul be so foolish as not to answer, those things ought to be done, and this not to be left undone, it may be ensnared and deceived. For besides a command unto it, namely that we should personally watch unto prayer, there is as hath been declared sundry advantages in this duty so performed against the deceit and efficacy of sin, which in the more publick attendance unto it, it hath not. These sin strives to deprive the soul of by this commutation which by its corrupt reasonings it tenders unto it.
Fourthly, I may add here that which hath place in all the workings of sin by deceit, namely, its feeding the soul with promises and purposes of a more diligent attendance unto this duty when occasions will permit. By this means it brings the soul to say unto its convictions of duty, as Felix ⟨p. 134⟩did to Paul, Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. And by this means oftentimes the present season and time, which alone is ours, is lost irrecoverably.