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

First, It works by sloth and negligence. It prevails in the Soul to a neglect of stirring up continual thoughts of, or about the things that so powerfully influence it unto strict and fruitful obedience. If care be not taken, if diligence and watchfulness be not used, and all means observed that are appointed of God, to keep a quick and living sense of them upon the Soul, they will dry up and decay, and consequently that Obedience that should spring from them will do so also. Isaac digged Wells, but the Philistines stopped them, and his Flocks had no benefit by them. Let the heart never so little di•use it self to gracious soul-affecting thoughts of the Love of God, the Cross of ⟨p. 244⟩Christ, the greatness and excellency of Gospel mercy, the beauties of holiness, they will quickly be as as much estranged to a man, as he can be to them. He that shuts his eyes for a season in the Sun, when he opens them again can see nothing at all. And so much as a man loseth of faith towards these things, so much will they lose of power towards him. They can do little or nothing upon him, because of his unbelief, which formerly were so exceedingly effectual towards him. So was it with the Spouse in the Canticles, chap. 5. 2. Christ calls unto her, ver. 1. with a marvellous loving and gracious invitation unto communion with himself. She who had formerly been ravished at the first hearing of that joyful sound, being now under the power of sloth and carnal ease, returns a sorry excusing answer to his Call, which ended in her own signal loss and sorrow. Indwelling-sin, I say, prevailing by spiritual sloth upon the souls of men unto an inadvertency of the motions of Gods Spirit in their former apprehensions of divine Love, and a negligence of stirring up continual thoughts of faith about it, a decay grows insensibly upon the whole soul. Thus God oft complains that his people had forgotten him, that is, grew unmindful of his Love and Grace, which was the beginning of their Apostasy.

First, It works by sloth and negligence. It prevails in the Soul to a neglect of stirring up continual thoughts of, or about the things that so powerfully influence it unto strict and fruitful obedience. If care be not taken, if diligence and watchfulness be not used, and all means observed that are appointed of God, to keep a quick and living sense of them upon the Soul, they will dry up and decay, and consequently that Obedience that should spring from them will do so also. Isaac digged Wells, but the Philistins stopt them, and his Flocks had no benefit by them. Let the heart never so little diuse it self to gracious soul-affecting thoughts of the Love of God, the Cross of