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

First, They will promise and bind themselves by Vows from those sins, which they have been most liable unto, and so have been most perplexed withal. The Psalmist shows this to be one great Engine whereby false and hypocritical Persons do endeavour to extricate and deliver themselves out of trouble and perplexity; They make Promises to God; which he calls, fluttering him with the lips, Psal. 78. 36. So is it in this case; being freshly galled with the guilt of any sin, that by the power of their temptations, they, it may be, have frequently been overtaken in, they vow and promise, that at least for some ⟨p. 294⟩such space of time as they will limit, they will not commit that sin again, and this course of proceeding is prescribed unto them by some who pretend to direct their Consciences in this Duty. Conscience of this, now makes them watch over themselves as to the outward act of the sin that they are galled with; and so it hath one of these two effects; for either they do abstain from it for the time they have prefixed; or they do not: If they do not, as seldom they do, especially if it be a sin that hath a peculiar root in their nature and constitution, and is improved by custom into an habit, if any suitable temptation be presented unto them; their sin is increased, and therewith their terror, and they are woefully discouraged in making any opposition to sin; and therefore for the most part after one or two vain attempts, or more it may be, knowing no other way to mortify sin, but this of vowing against it, and keeping of that Vow in their own strength, they give over all contests, and become wholly the servants of sin, being bounded only by outward considerations, without any serious endeavours for a recovery. Or Secondly, suppose that they have success in their Resolutions, and do abstain from actual sins their appointed season; commonly one of these two things ensue; either they think that they have well discharged their Duty, and so may a little now, at least for a season, indulge to their corruptions, and lusts, and so are entangled again in the same snares of sin as formerly; or else they reckon that their vow and promise hath preserved them, and so sacrifice to their own net and drag, setting up a Righteousness of their own against the grace of God;

First, They will promise and bind themselves by Vows from those sins, which they have been most liable unto, and so have been most perplexed withall. The Psalmist shews this to be one great Engine whereby false and hypocritical Persons do endeavour to extricate and deliver themselves out of trouble and perplexity; They make Promises to God; which he calls, flutering him with the lips,