A treatise of the dominion of sin and grace wherein sin's reign is discovered,…

4. FROM the love of Sin, which the Heart would shelter and secure from the Efficacy of the Word; or from what other cause soever it be, it proceeds from a dangerous hardness of Heart, from the Power of Sin.

WHERE this is the state of the Minds of Men, where this hardness is thus prevalent in them, I do not, no Man can give them assurance that Sin hath not the Dominion in them. But because all these things are capable of various degrees, it may not be concluded absolutely from any or all of them in any degree, that so it is. But this we may safely conclude, (1.) That it is impossible for any Man in whom this ⟨p. 89⟩evil Frame is found in any degree, and not sincerely endeavoured against, to keep any true solid Peace with God, or in his own Soul; What seems to be so in him is but a ruinous Security. (2.) That this is the high road unto final Obduration and Impenitency; and therefore, (3.) it is the present Duty of those who have any care of their Souls, to shake themselves out of this Dust, and not to give themselves any rest, until they are entered into the Paths of Recovery. The Calls of God for a Return unto such Backsliders in Heart are multiplied, the Reasons for it and Motives unto it are innumerable; this ought never to depart from their minds, that without it they shall eternally Perish, and know not how soon they may be overtaken with that Destruction.

THUS far have we proceeded in the enquiry, Whether Sin hath the Dominion in us or no? There are on the other side many Evidences of the Rule of Grace, sufficient to discard the Pleas and Pretences of Sin unto the Throne: But the consideration of them is not my present Design; I have only examined the Pleas of Sin, which render the Enquiry difficult and the Case dubious. And they arise ⟨p. 90⟩