There are yet other arguments for the evidencing of the power and strength of indwelling sin, hom whence it is termed a " law," which we must pass through, according to the order wherein before we laid them down.
CHAPTER IV.
Indwelling sin enmity against God — Thence its power — Admits of no peace noi* rest — Is against God himself — Acts itself in aversation from God, and pro- pensity to evil — Is universal — To all of God — In all of the soul — Constant.
Secondly. We have seen the seat and subject of this law of sin. In the next place we might take a view of its nature in general, which also will manifest its power and efficacy; but this I shall not enlarge upon, it being not my business to declare the nature of indwelling sin : it hatii also been done by others. I shall therefore only, in reference unto our special design in hand, consider one propeity of it that be- longs unto its nature, and this always, wherever it is. And this is that wliich is expressed by the apostle, Rom. viii. 7, " The carnal mind is enmity against God." That which is here called (ppCvrnMa TYii aap-Aog, " the wisdom of the flesh," is the same with " the law of" sin" which we insist on. And what says he hereof? Why, it is s^^pa E/'s ©Eoc, — " enmity against God." It is not only an enemy, — for so possibly some reconciliation . of it unto Gotl might be made, — but it is enmity itself, and so not capable of accepting any terms of peace. Enemies may be reconciled, but enmity cannot ; yea, the only way to reconcile enemies is to destroy the enmity. So the apostle in another case tells us, Rom. v. 10, " We, who wore enemies, are reconciled to God;" that is, a work compassed and brought about by the blood of Christ, — the reconciling of the greatest enemies. But when he comes to speak of enmity, there is no Avay for it, but
INDWELLING SIN ENMITY AGAINST GOD. 177
it must be aLolislied and destroyed: Eph. ii. 15, " Having abolished in his flesh tlie enmity." Tiiere is no way to deal with any enmity whatever but by its abolition or destruction.
And this also lies in it as it is enmity, that eveiy jjart and parcel of it, if we may so speak, the least degree of it that can possibly re- main in any one, whilst and where there is any thing of its nature, is enmity still. It may not be so effectual and powerful in operation as where it hath more life and vigour, but it is enmity still. As every drop of poison is poison, and will infect, and every spark of fire is fire, and will burn ; so is every thing of the law of sin, the last, the least of it, — it is enmity, it will poison, it will burn. That which is any thing in the abstract is still so whilst it hath any being at all. Our apostle, who may well be supposed to have made as great a progress in the subduing of it as any one on the earth, yet after all cries out for deliverance, as from an irreconcilable enemy, Rom. vii. 24. The meanest acting, the meanest and most imperceptible work- ing of it, is the acting and working of enmity. Mortification abates of its force, but doth not change its nature. Grace changeth the nature of man, but nothing can change the nature of sin. What- ever effect be wrought u^oon it, there is no effect wrought in it, but that it is enmity still, sin still. This then, by it, is our state and con- dition : — " God is love," 1 John iv. 8. He is so in himself, eternally excellent, and desirable above all. He is so to us, he is so in the blood of his Son and in all the inexpressible fruits of it, by which we are v/hat we are, and wherein all our future hopes and expectations are wrapped up. Against this God we carry about us an enmity all our days; an enmity that hath this from its nature, that it is incapable of cure or reconciliation. Destroyed it may be, it shall be, but cured it cannot be. If a man hath an enemy to deal withal that is too mighty for him, as David had with Saul, he may take the course that he did, — consider what it is that provoked his enemy against him, and so address himself to remove the cause and make up his peace : 1 Sam. xxvi. 19, " If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord." Come it from God or man, there is yet hope of peace. But when a man hath enmity itself to deal withal, nothing is to be expected but continual fighting, to the destruction of the one party. If it be not overcome and destroyed, it will overcome and destroy the soul.
And herein lies no small part of its power, which we are inquiring- after, — it can admit of no terms of peace, of no composition. There may be a composition where there is no reconciliation, — there may be a truce where there is no peace; but with this enemy we can obtain neither the one nor the other. It is never quiet, conquering nor