A53712:48
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 light in general we have into the power and efficacy of Indwelling-sin from the general nature of a Law, whereof it is partaker.
And this l•ght in general we have into the power and efficacy of Indwelling-sin from the general nature of a Law, whereof it is partaker.
We may consider nextly what kind of Law in particular it is, which will farther evidence that power of it, which we are enquiring after. It is not an outward, written, commanding, directing Law, but an inbred, working, impelling, urging Law. A Law proposed unto us, is not to be compared for efficacy to a Law inbred in us. Adam had a Law of sin proposed to him in his temptation, but because he had no Law of Sin inbred and working in him, he might have withstood it. An inbred Law must needs be effectual. Let us take an example from that Law, which is contrary to this Law of Sin. The Law of God, was at first inbred and natural unto man, it was concreated with his faculties, and was their rectitude both in being and operation in reference to his end of living unto God, and glorifying of him. Hence it had an especial power in the whole soul, to enable it unto all obedience, yea, and to make all obedience easy and pleasant. Such is the power of an inbred Law. And though this Law as to the rule and dominion of it, be now by nature cast out of the soul, yet the remaining sparks of it, because they are inbred, are very powerful and effectual, as the Apostle declares, Rom. 2. 14, 15. Afterwards God renews this Law, and writes it in Tables of Stone; but what is the efficacy of this Law; will it now ⟨p. 17⟩as it is external, and proposed unto men, enable them to perform the things that it exacts and requires? not at all. God knew it would not, unless it were turned to an internal Law again; that is until of a moral outward rule, it be turned into an inward real principle. Wherefore God makes his Law internal again, and implants it on the heart as it was at first, when he intends to give it power to produce obedience in his people,