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

First, This may give us a little insight into the ever to be adored Providence of God, by these and the like ways in great variety obstructing the breaking forth of sin in the World. It is he who makes those dams, and shuts up those flood-gates of corrupted Nature, that it shall not break forth in a deluge of filthy Abominations to overwhelm the Creation with confusion and disorder. As it was of old, so it is at this day; Every thought and imagination of the heart of Man is evil, and that continually. That all the Earth is not in all places filled with violence, as it was of old, is merely from the mighty hand of God working effectually for the obstructing of sin. From hence alone it is, that the High-ways, Streets and Fields, are not all filled with violence, blood, rapine, uncleanness, and every villainy that the heart of Man can conceive. O the infinite beauty of divine Wisdom and Providence in the government of the World! For the Conservation of it asks daily no less power and wisdom than the first making of it did require.

First, This may give us a little insight into the ever to be adored Providence of God, by these and the like waies in great variety obstructing the breaking forth of sin in the World. It is he who makes those dams, and shuts up those flood-gates of corrupted Nature, that it shall not break forth in a deluge of filthy Abominations to overwhelm the Creation with confusion and disorder. As it was of old, so it is at this day; Every thought and imagination of the heart of Man is evil, and that continually. That all the Earth is not in all places filled with violence, as it was of old, is meerly from the mighty hand of God working effectually for the obstructing of sin. From hence alone it is, that the High-waies, Streets and Fields, are not all filled with violence, blood, rapine, uncleanness, and every villany that the heart of Man can conceive. O the infinite beauty of divine Wisdom and Providence in the government of the World! For the Conservation of it asks daily no less power and wisdom than the first making of it did require.

Secondly, If we will look to our own Concernments, they will in a special manner enforce us to adore the wisdom and efficacy of the Providence of God, in stopping the progress of conceived sin. That we are at peace in our Houses, at rest in our Beds, that we have any quiet in our Enjoyments, is from hence alone: Whose Person