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

By these and the like means it becomes to the soul like a moth in a garment, to eat up and devour the strongest threads of it, so ⟨p. 258⟩that though the whole hang loose together, it is easily torn in pieces. Though the soul with whom it is thus, do for a season keep up a fair profession, yet his strength is secretly devoured; and every temptation tears and rents his Conscience at pleasure. It becomes with such Men as it is with some who have for a many years been of a sound strong athletic constitution. Some secret hectic distemper seizeth on them: For a season they take no notice of it; or if they do, they think they shall do well enough with it, and easily shake it off when they have a little leisure to attend unto it: But for the present they think as Sampson with his locks cut, they will do as at other times. Sometimes it may be they complain that they are not well, they know not what aileth them, and it may be rise violently in an opposition to their distemper; but after a while struggling in vain, the vigour of their spirits and strength failing them, they are forced to yield to the power of a consumption. And now all they can do is little enough to keep them alive. It is so with Men brought into spiritual decays by any secret perplexing corruption. It may be they have had a vigorous principle of obedience and holiness: Indwelling Sin watching its opportunities, by some temptation or other, hath kindled and inflamed some particular lust in them. For a while it may be they take little notice of it. Sometimes they complain, but think they will do as in former times, until being insensibly weakened in their spiritual strength, they hav• work enough to do in keeping alive what remains and is ready to dye, Hos. 5. 13. ⟨p. 259⟩I shall not add any thing here as to the prevention and obviating this advantage of Indwelling-sin, having elsewhere treated of it peculiarly and apart.

By these and the like means it becomes to the soul like a moth in a garment, to eat up and devour the strongest threeds of it, so ⟨p. 258⟩that though the whole hang loose together, it is easily torn in pieces. Though the soul with whom it is thus, do for a season keep up a fair profession, yet his strength is secretly devoured; and every temptation tears and rents his Conscience at pleasure. It becomes with such Men as it is with some who have for a many years been of a sound strong athletick constitution. Some secret hectical distemper seizeth on them: For a season they take no notice of it; or if they do, they think they shall do well enough with it, and easily shake it off when they have a little leasure to attend unto it: But for the present they think as Sampson with his locks cut, they will do as at other times. Sometimes it may be they complain that they are not well, they know not what aileth them, and it may be rise violently in an opposition to their distemper; but after a while strugling in vain, the vigour of their spirits and strength failing them, they are forced to yield to the power of a consumption. And now all they can do is little enough to keep them alive. It is so with Men brought into spiritual decays by any secret perplexing corruption. It may be they have had a vigorous principle of obedience and holiness: Indwelling Sin watching its opportunities, by some temptation or other, hath kindled and inflamed some particular lust in them. For a while it may be they take little notice of it. Somtimes they complain, but think they will do as in former times, untill being insensibly weakned in their spiritual strength, they hav work enough to do in keeping alive what remains and is ready to dye,