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

Secondly, Indwelling-sin doth this, by taking men off from their watch against the returns of Satan. When our Lord Christ comes first to take possession of any soul for himself, he binds that strong man and spoils his goods; he deprives them of all his power, dominion and interest. Satan being thus disposest and frustrated in his hopes and expectations, leaves the soul, as finding it newly mortified to his baits. So he left our Saviour upon his first fruitless attempts. But it is said, He left him only for a season, Luk. 4. 13. He intended to return again, as he should see his advantage. So is it ⟨p. 250⟩with Believers also. Being cast out from his interest in them, he leaves them for a season, at least comparatively he doth so. Freed from his assaults and perplexing temptations, they proceed vigorously in the course of their obedience, and so flourish in the ways of God. But this holds not; Satan returns again, and if the soul stands not continually upon his guard against him, he will quickly get such advantages, as shall put a notable interruption upon his fruitfulness and obedience. Hence some, after they have spent some time, it may be some years in cheerful exemplary walking with God, have upon Satan's return, consumed all their latter days in wrestling with perplexing temptations, wherewith he hath entangled them. Others have plainly fallen under the power of his assaults. It is like a man, who having for a while lived usefully amongst his neighbours, done good, and communicated according to his ability, distributing to the poor, and helping all round about him, at length falling into the hands of vexatious, wrangling oppressive men, he is forced to spend his whole time and revenue in defending himself against them at Law, and so becomes useless in the place where he lives. So is it with many a Believer; after he hath walked in a fruitful course of obedience to the glory of God, and edification of the Church of Christ, being afresh set upon by the return of Satan in one way or other, he hath enough to do all the remainder of his life to keep himself a•ive; in the mean time a to many graces, woefully decaying and going backward. Now this also, though Satan hath an hand in it, is from ⟨p. 251⟩Indwelling-sin: I mean, the success is so which Satan doth obtain in his undertaking. This encourageth him, maketh way for his return, and gives entrance to his temptations.