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

Thirdly, It hides the danger that attends sin, it covers it as the hook is covered with the bait, or the net spread over with meat for the fowl to be taken. It is not indeed possible that sin should utterly deprive the soul of the knowledge of the danger of it. It cannot dispossess it of its notion or persuasion that the wages of sin is death; and that it is the judgment of God, that they that commit sin are worthy of death. But this it will do, it will so take up and possess the mind and affections with the baits and desirableness of sin, that it shall divert them from an actual and practical contemplation of the danger of it. What Satan did in and by his first temptation, that sin doth ever since. At first Eve guards her self, with calling to mind the danger of sin; if we eat, or touch it, we shall die, Gen. 3. 3. But so soon as Satan had filled her mind with the beauty and usefulness of the fruit to make on wise, how quickly did she lay aside her practical prevalent consideration of the danger of eating it, the curse due unto it; or else relieves her self with a vain hope and pretence that it ⟨p. 166⟩should not be, because the Serpent told her so. So was David beguiled in his great transgression, by the deceit of sin; his lust being pleased and satisfied, the consideration of the guilt and danger of his transgression was taken away: and therefore he is said to have despised the Lord, 2 Sam. 12. 9. in that he considered not the evil that was in his heart, and the danger that attended it in the threatening or commination of the Law. Now sin when it presseth upon the soul to this purpose, will use a thousand wiles to hide from it the terror of the Lord, the end of transgressions, and especially of that peculiar folly which it solicits the mind unto. Hopes of pardon shall be used to hide it, and future repentance shall hide it, present importunity of lust shall hide it, occasions and opportunities shall hide it, surprisals shall hide it, extenuation of sin shall hide it, balancing of duties against it shall hide it, fixing the imagination on present objects shall hide it, desperate resolutions to venture the uttermost for the enjoyment of lust in its pleasures and profits, shall hide it. A thousand wiles it hath which cannot be recounted.

Thirdly, It hides the danger that attends sin, it covers it as the hook is covered with the bait, or the net spread over with meat for the fowl to be taken. It is not indeed possible that sin should utterly deprive the soul of the knowledge of the danger of it. It cannot dispossess it of its notion or perswasion that the wages of sin is death; and that it is the judgment of God, that they that commit sin are worthy of death. But this it will do, it will so take up and possess the mind and affections with the baits and desirableness of sin, that it shall divert them from an actual and practical contemplation of the danger of it. What Satan did in and by his first temptation, that sin doth ever since. At first Eve guards her self, with calling to mind the danger of sin; if we eat, or touch it, we shall die,