A53712:417
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, May not the same conviction be farther carried on, by an enquiry into the universal course of obedience, and the performance of duties that men have been engaged in. Is there the same conscientious tenderness of sinning abiding in many ⟨p. 230⟩as was in days of old? the same exact performance of private duties? The same love to the brethren? the same readiness for the Cross? the same humility of mind and spirit? the same self-denial? The steam of mens lusts, wherewith the air is tainted, will not suffer us so to say.
Thirdly, May not the same conviction be farther carried on, by an enquiry into the universal course of obedience, and the performance of duties that men have been engaged in. Is there the same conscientious tenderness of sinning abiding in many ⟨p. 230⟩as was in dayes of old? the same exact performance of private duties? The same love to the brethren? the same readiness for the Cross? the same humility of mind and spirit? the same self-denial? The steam of mens lusts, wherewith the air is tainted, will not suffer us so to say.
We need then go no farther than this wretched Generation wherein we live, to evince the truth of the observation laid down, as the foundation of the instance insisted on, the Lord give repentance before it be too late.
Now all these declensions, all these decays that are found in some Professors, they all proceed from this root and cause, they are all the product of Indwelling sin, and all evince the exceeding power and efficacy of it. For the proof whereof I shall not need to go farther than the general rule which out of James we have already considered; namely that lust or indwelling sin, is the cause of all actual sin, and all habitual declensions in Believers. This is that which the Apostle intends in that place to teach and declare. I shall therefore handle these two things, and show, First, That this doth evince a great efficacy and power in sin. Secondly, Declare the ways and means whereby it brings forth or brings about this cursed effect; all in design of our general end, in calling upon and cautioning Believers to avoid it, to oppose it.