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

And here lie the springs of the whole course of our obedience. An acquaintance with these several principles, and their actings, is the principal part of our wisdom. They are, upon the matter, next to the free grace of God in our Justification by the blood of Christ, the only things wherein the glory of God and our own souls are concerned. These are the springs of our holiness, and our sins, of our joys and troubles, of our refreshments and sorrows. It is then all our concernments to be throughly acquainted with these things, who intend to walk with God, or to glorify him in this world.

And here lie the springs of the whole course of our obedience. An acquaintance with these several principles, and their actings, is the principal part of our wisdom. They are, upon the matter, next to the free grace of God in our Justification by the blood of Christ, the only things wherein the glory of God and our own souls are concern'd. These are the springs of our holiness, and our sins, of our joys and troubles, of our refreshments and sorrows. It is then all our concernments to be throughly acquainted with these things, who intend to walk with God, or to glorifie him in this world.

And hence we may see what wisdom is required, in the guiding & management of our hearts & ways before God. Where the subjects of a Ruler are in feuds & oppositions one against another, unless great wisdom be used in the government of the whole, all things will quickly be ruinous in that State. There are these contrary principles in the hearts of Believers, and if they labour not to be spiritually wise, how shall they be able to steer their course aright? Many men live in the dark to themselves all their days; what ever else they know, they know not themselves. They know their outward estates, how rich they are, and the condition of their bodies as to health and sickness they are careful to examine; but as to their inward man, and their principles as to God and Eternity, they know little or nothing of themselves. Indeed few labour to grow wise in this matter, few study themselves as they ought, are acquainted with the evil of their own hearts as they ought, on which yet the whole course of their obedience, and consequently of their eternal condition doth depend. This therefore is our wisdom, and it is a needful wisdom, if we have any design to please God, or to avoid that which is a provocation to the eyes of his glory.