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

3. The Apostle manifests the power of the entanglements of sin in and upon Apostates, in that it turns them off from the way of righteousness after they have known it, 2 Pet. 2. 21. It will be found at the last day an evil thing and a bitter, that Men live all their days in the service of sin, self, and the World, refusing to make any trial of the ways of God whereunto they are invited; though they have no experience of their excellency, beauty, pleasantness, safety, yet having evidence brought unto them from God himself, that they are so, the refusal of them will, I say, be bitterness in the latter end. But their condition is yet far worse, who as the Apostle speaks, ⟨p. 281⟩having known the way of righteousness, are by the power of Indwelling Sin turned aside from the holy Commandment. To leave God for the Devil, after a Man hath made some trial of him and his service; Heaven for Hell; after a Man hath had some cheering, refreshing thoughts of it, the fellowship of the Saints, for an Alehouse or a brothel-house; after a man hath been admitted unto their Communion, and tasted of the pleasantness of it, to leave walking in pure, clear, straight paths, to wallow in mire, draughts and filth, this will be for a lamentation; Yet this doth sin prevail upon Apostates unto; and that against all their Light, Conviction, Experiences, Professions, Engagements, or whatever may be strong upon them to keep them to the known ways of Righteousness.

3. The Apostle manifests the power of the entanglements of sin in and upon Apostates, in that it turns them off from the way of righteousness after they have known it, 2 Pet. 2. 21. It will be found at the last day an evil thing and a bitter, that Men live all their days in the service of sin, self, and the World, refusing to make any trial of the ways of God whereunto they are invited; though they have no experience of their excellency, beauty, pleasantness, safety, yet having evidence brought unto them from God himself, that they are so, the refusal of them will, I say, be bitterness in the latter end. But their condition is yet far worse, who as the Apostle speaks, ⟨p. 281⟩having known the way of righteousness, are by the power of Indwelling Sin turned aside from the holy Commandment. To leave God for the Devil, after a Man hath made some trial of him and his service; Heaven for Hell; after a Man hath had some chearing, refreshing thoughts of it, the fellowship of the Saints, for an Alehouse or a brothel-house; after a man hath been admitted unto their Communion, and tasted of the pleasantness of it, to leave walking in pure, clear, streight paths, to wallow in mire, draughts and filth, this will be for a lamentation; Yet this doth sin prevail upon Apostates unto; and that against all their Light, Conviction, Experiences, Professions, Engagements, or whatever may be strong upon them to keep them to the known ways of Righteousness.