The properties of this power are readiness and facility. Wherever it is, it renders the soul ready unto all duties of holy obedience, and renders all duties of holy obedience easy unto the soul.
(].) It gives readiness by removing and taking away all those encwfribrances which the mind is apt to be clogged with and hindered by from sin, the world, spiritual sloth, and unbelief This is that which we are exhorted unto in a way of duty, Heb. xii. 1 ; Luke
CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 497
xii. 35 ; 1 Pet. i. 13, iv. 1 ; Eph. vi. 14. Herein is the spirit ready, thougli the flesh be weak, Mark xiv. 38. And those encumbrances which oive an unreadiness unto obedience to God may be considered two ways: — [1.] As they are in their full power and efficacy in persons unre- generate, whence they are " unto every good work reprobate," Tit. i. 16. Hence proceed all those prevalent tergiversations against a compliance with the will of God and their own convictions which bear sway in such persons. "Yet a little slumber, a little sleep, a little folding of the hands to sleep," Prov. vi. 10. By these do men so often put off the calls of God, and perniciously procrastinate from time to time a full compliance with their convictions. And whatever particular duties such persons do perform, yet are their hearts and minds never prepared or ready for them, but the encumbrances men- tioned do influence them into spiritual disorders in all that they do. [2.] These principles of sloth and unreadiness do ofttimes partially influence the minds of believers themselves unto great indispositions vmto spiritual duties. So the spouse states her case. Cant. v. 2, 3. By reason of her circumstances in the world, she had an unreadiness for that converse and communion with Christ which she was called unto. And it is so not unfrequently with the best of men in this world. A spiritual unreadiness unto holy duties, arising from the power of sloth or the occasions of life, is no small part of their sin and trouble. Both these are removed by this spiritual power of the principle of life and holiness in believers. The total prevailing power of them, such as is in persons unregenerate, is broken by the first infusion of it into the soul, wherein it gives an habitual fitness and joreparation of heart unto all duties of obedience unto God. And by various degrees it freeth believers from the remainders of the encumbrances which they have yet to conflict with. And this it doth three ways; as, — \st. It weakeneth and taketh off the bent of the soul from earthly things, so as they shall not possess the mind as formerly, Col. iii. 2. How it doth this was declared before. And when this is done, the mind is greatly eased of its burden, and some way ready unto its duty. 2dly. It gives an insight into the beauty, the excellency, and glory of holiness, and all duties of obedience. This they see nothing of who, being unsanctified, are imder the power of their natural darkness. They can see no beauty in holiness, no form nor comeliness why it should be desired ; and it is no wonder if they are unfree to the duties of it, which they are but as it were compelled unto. But the spiritual light wherewith this principle of grace is accompanied discovers an excellency in holiness and the duties of it, and in the communion with God which we have thereby, so as greatly to incline the mind unto them and prepare it for them. Sdly. It causeth the affections to cleave and adhere unto them VOL. III. 32
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with delight. " How do I love thy law!" saith David; " my delight is in thy statutes ; they are sweeter imto me than the honey-comb." Where these three things concm', — where the mind is freed from the powerful influences of carnal lusts and love of this world ; where the beauty and excellency of holiness and the duties of obedience lie clear in the eyes of the soul; and where the affections cleave unto spiritual things as commanded, — then will be that readiness in obe- dience which we inquire after.
(2.) It gives facility or easiness in the performance of all duties of obedience. Whatever men do from a habit, they do with some kind of easiness. That is easy to them which they are accustomed unto, though hard and difficult in itself. And what is done from nature is done with facility. And the principle of grace, as we have showed, is a new nature, an infused habit with respect unto the life of God, or all duties of holy obedience. I grant there will be op- position unto them even in the mind and heart itself, from sin, and Satan, and temptations of all sorts; yea, and they may sometimes arise so high as either to defeat our purposes and intentions unto duties, or to clog us in them, to take off our chariot-wheels, and to make us drive heavily; but still it is in the nature of the principle of holiness to make the whole course of obedience and all the duties of it easy unto us, and to give us a facility in their performance : for^ —