A53712:345
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.
Secondly, The deceived mind imposeth on the will to obtain its consent unto sin, by proposing unto it, the advantages that may accrue and arise thereby, which is one Medium whereby its ⟨p. 180⟩self also is drawn away. It renders that which is absolutely evil, a present appearing good. So was it with Eve, Gen. 3. laying aside all considerations of the Law, Covenant, and threats of God, she all at once reflects upon the advantages, pleasures and benefits which she should obtain by her sin, and reckons them up to solicit the consent of her will. It is, saith she, good for food, pleasant to the Eyes, and to be desired to make one wise. What should she do then but eat it; her will consented and she did so accordingly. Pleas for Obedience are laid out of the way, and only the pleasures of sin are taken under consideration. So saith Ahab, 1 King. 21. Naboth's Vineyard is near my house, and I may make it a Garden of Herbs, therefore I must have it. These considerations a deceived mind imposed on his Will; until it made him obstinate in the pursuit of his covetousness through perjury and murder, to the utter ruin of himself and his Family. Thus is the guilt and tendency of sin hid under the covert of advantages and pleasures, and so is conceived or resolved on in the soul.
Secondly, The deceived mind imposeth on the will to obtain its consent unto sin, by proposing unto it, the advantages that may accrew and arise thereby, which is one Medium whereby its ⟨p. 180⟩self also is drawn away. It renders that which is absolutely evil, a present appearing good. So was it with Eve, Gen. 3. laying aside all considerations of the Law, Covenant, and threats of God, she all at once reflects upon the advantages, pleasures and benefits which she should obtain by her sin, and reckons them up to solicit the consent of her will. It is, saith she, good for food, pleasant to the Eyes, and to be desired to make one wise. What should she do then but eat it; her will consented and she did so accordingly. Pleas for Obedience are laid out of the way, and only the pleasures of sin are taken under consideration. So saith Ahab,