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

Now this deceitfulness of the heart, whereby it is exceedingly advantaged in its harbouring of sin, lies chiefly in these two things.

First, That it abounds in contradictions, so that it is not to be found and dealt withal according to any constant rule, and way of procedure. There are some men that have much of this from their natural constitution, or from other causes in their conversation. They seem to be made up of contradictions; sometimes to be very wise in their affairs, ⟨p. 30⟩sometimes very foolish; very open, and very reserved; very facile, and very obstinate; very easy to be entreated, and very revengeful, all in a remarkable height. This is generally accounted a bad character, and is seldom found but when it proceeds from some notable predominant lust. But in general, in respect of moral good or evil, duty or sin, it is so with the heart of every man; flaming hot, and key cold; weak, and yet stubborn; obstinate, and facile. The frame of the heart is ready to contradict it self every moment. Now you would think you had it all for such a frame, such a way; anon it is quite otherwise: so that none know what to expect from it. The rise of this is the disorder that is brought upon all its faculties by sin. God created them all in a perfect harmony and union. The Mind and Reason were in perfect subjection and subordination to God, and his Will; the Will answered in its choice of good, the discovery made of it by the mind; the Affections constantly and evenly followed the Understanding and Will. The minds subjection to God was the spring of the orderly and harmonious motion of the soul, and all the wheels in it. That being disturbed by sin, the rest of the faculties move cross and contrary one to another; the Will chooseth not the good which the Mind discovers, the Affections delight not in that which the Will chooseth, but all jar and interfere, cross and rebel against each other. This we have got by our falling from God. Hence sometimes the Will leads, the Judgment follows. Yea, commonly the Affections that should attend upon all, get the sovereignty, ⟨p. 31⟩and draw the whole soul captive after them. And hence it is, as I said, that the heart is made up of so many contradictions in its actings. Sometimes the mind retains its sovereignty, and the affections are in subjection, and the will ready for its duty. This puts a good face upon things. Immediately the rebellion of the affections, or the obstinacy of the will take place and prevail, and the whole Scene is changed.