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

First, Though the course of sin may be repelled for a season by the dispensation of the Law, yet the Spring and Fountain of it, is not dried up thereby, Though it withdraws and hides it self for a season, it is as I have elsewhere showed, but to shift out of a storm, and then to return again. As a Traveller, in his way meeting with a violent storm of thunder and rain, immediately turns out of his way, to some House or Tree for his shelter; but yet this causeth him not to give over his Journey; so soon as the storm is over, he returns to his way and progress again. So is it with Men in bondage unto sin: They are in a course of pursuing their lusts; the Law meets with them in a storm of thunder and lightning ⟨p. 291⟩from Heaven, terrifies and hinders them in their way; this turns them for a season out of their course, they will run to prayer or amendment of life, for some shelter from the storm of wrath which is feared coming upon their Consciences. But is their course stopped, are their Principles altered? not at all; so soon as the storm is over, that they begin to wear out that sense and the terror that was upon them, they return to their former course, in the service of sin again. This was the state with Pharaoh once and again.

First, Though the course of sin may be repelled for a season by the dispensation of the Law, yet the Spring and Fountain of it, is not dryed up thereby, Though it withdraws and hides it self for a season, it is as I have elsewhere shewed, but to shift out of a storm, and then to return again. As a Travailer, in his way meeting with a violent storm of thunder and rain, immediately turns out of his way, to some House or Tree for his shelter; but yet this causeth him not to give over his Journey; so soon as the storm is over, he returns to his way and progress again. So is it with Men in bondage unto sin: They are in a course of pursuing their lusts; the Law meets with them in a storm of thunder and lightning ⟨p. 291⟩from Heaven, terrifies and hinders them in their way; this turns them for a season out of their course, they will run to prayer or amendment of life, for some shelter from the storm of wrath which is feared coming upon their Consciences. But is their course stopped, are their Principles altered? not at all; so soon as the storm is over, that they begin to wear out that sense and the terrour that was upon them, they return to their former course, in the service of sin again. This was the state with Pharaoh once and again.