A53712:443
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.
And this is one way whereby Indwelling-sin produceth this pernicious effect, of drawing men ⟨p. 249⟩off from the power, purity, and fruitfulness attending their first conversion, and engagements unto God, bringing them into habitual declension, at least as unto degrees of their holiness and grace. There is not any thing we ought to be more watchful against, if we intend effectually to deal with this powerful and subtle enemy. It is no small part of the wisdom of faith, to observe whether Gospel truths continue to have the same savour unto, and efficacy upon the soul, as formerly they have had; and whether an endeavour be maintained to improve them continually as at the first. A commandment that is always practised, is always new, as John speaks of that of Love. And he that really improves Gospel truths, though he hears them a thousand times, they will be always new and fresh unto him, because they put him on newness of practice. When to another that grows common under them, they are burdensome and common unto him; and he even loathes the Manna that he is so accustomed unto.
And this is one way whereby Indwelling-sin produceth this pernicious effect, of drawing men ⟨p. 249⟩off from the power, purity, and fruitfulness attending their first conversion, and engagements unto God, bringing them into habitual declension, at least as unto degrees of their holiness and grace. There is not any thing we ought to be more watchful against, if we intend effectually to deal with this powerful and subtile enemy. It is no small part of the wisdom of faith, to observe whether Gospel truths continue to have the same savour unto, and efficacy upon the soul, as formerly they have had; and whether an indeavour be maintained to improve them continually as at the first. A commandment that is alwaies practised, is alwaies new, as John speaks of that of Love. And he that really improves Gospel truths, though he hears them a thousand times, they will be alwaies new and fresh unto him, because they put him on newness of practice. When to another that grows common under them, they are burthensome and common unto him; and he even loaths the Manna that he is so accustomed unto.