CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 487
have a natural current, which carries them on quickly, evenly, and constantly; and although they may sometimes meet with storms, tempests, and cross winds, yet the stream, the current, which is na- tural, at length worketh its Ava}^, and holds on its course through all external occasional impediments.
(3.) It is also permanent herein, and abideth for ever. It will never cease inclining and disposing the whole soul unto acts and duties of obedience, until it come unto the end of them all in the enjoyment of God. It is " living water," and whosoever drinketh of it shall never thirst any more, that is, with a total indigence of supplies of grace, but it is "a well of water siDringing up into ever- lasting life," John iv. 14. It springs up, and that as always, without intermission, because it is living water, from which vital acts are inseparable, so permanently, without ceasing, it springs up into ever- lasting life, and faileth not until those in whom it is are safely lodged in the enjoyment of it. This is expressly promised in the covenant, "I will put my fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart from me," Jer. xxxii. 40. They shall never do so in whom is this fear, which is permanent and endless. It is true, that it is our duty, with all care and diligence, in the use of all means, to preserve, cherish, and improve both the principle itself and its actings in these holy dispositions; we are to "show all diligence unto the full assurance of hope unto the end," Heb. vi. 11; and in the use of means and the exercise of grace is it that it is infallibly kept and preserved, Isa. xl. 31 ; — and it is also true, that sometimes, in some persons, upon the fierce interposition of temptations, with the violent and deceitful working of lusts, the principle itself may seem for a season to be utterly stifled, and this property of it to be destroyed, as it seems to have been with David under his sad fall and decay ; — yet such is the nature of it that it is immortal, everlasting, and which shall never absolutely die; sucli is the relation of it unto the cove- nant-faithfulness of God and mediation of Christ, as that it shall never utterly cease or be extinguished. It abideth, disposing and in- clining the heart unto all duties of holy obedience, unto the grave ; yea, ordinarily, and where its genuine work and tendency is not in- terrupted by cursed negligence or love of the world, it thrives and grows continually unto the end. Hence, some are not only fruitful, but fat and flourishing in their old age; and as the outward man de- cayeth, so in them the inward man is daily renewed in strength and power. But as unto all other principles of obedience whatever, as it is in their own nature to decay and wither, all their actings growing insensibly weaker and less efficacious, so, for the most part, either the increase of carnal wisdom, or the love of the world, or some power- ful temptation, at one time or other, puts an utter end unto them,
488 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT [BOOK IV.
and they are of no use at all. Hence there is not a more secure gene- ration of sinners in the world than those who have been acted by the power of conviction unto a course of obedience in the performance of many duties ; and those of them who fall not openly to profaneness, or lasciviousness, or neglect of all duties of religion, do continue in their course from what they have been habituated unto, finding it com- pliant with their present circumstances and conditions in the world, as also having been preserved from such ways and practices as are inconsistent with their present course by the power of their former convictions. But the power of these principles, of conviction, educa- tion, impressions from afflictions, dangers, fears, all in one, die before men ; and, if their eyes were open, they might see the end of them.
In this manner, therefore, doth the new, divine nature that is in believers dispose and incline them, impartially, evenly, and perma- nently, unto all acts and duties of holy obedience.
One thing yet remains to be cleared, that there may be no mis- take in this matter; and this is, that in those who are thus constantly inclined and disposed unto all the acts of a heavenly, spiritual life, there are yet remaining contrary dispositions and inclinations also.
There are yet in them inclinations and dispositions to sin, pro- ceeding from the remainders of a contrary habitual principle. This the Scripture calls the "flesh," "lust," the "sin that dwelleth in us," the "body of death;" being what yet remaineth in believers of that vicious, corrupted depravation of our nature, which came upon us by the loss of the image of God, disposing the whole soul unto all that is evil. This yet continueth in them, inclining them unto evil and all that is so, according to the power and efficacy that is remain- ing unto it in various degrees. Sundry things are here observable ; as, — (1.) This is that which is singular in this life of God: There are in the same mind, will, and affections, namely, of a person regene- rate, contrary habits and inclinations, continually opposing one an- other, and acting adversely about the same objects and ends. And this is not from any jarrings or disorder between the distinct faculties of the soul itself, — as in natural men there are adverse actings be- tween their wills and affections on the one hand, bent unto sin, and the light of their minds and consciences on the other, prohibiting the committing of sin and condemning its commission, which dis- order is discernible in the light of nature, and is sufficiently can- vassed by the old philosophers, — ^but these contrary habits, inclina- tions, and actings, are in the same faculties. (2.) As this cannot be apprehended but by virtue of a previous conviction and acknow- ledgment both of the total corruption of our nature by the fall and the initial renovation of it by Jesus Christ, wherein these contrary habits and dispositions do consist ; so it cannot be denied without