CHAPTER XIV.
The power of sin fortlier demonstrated by the eft'ccts it liatli had in the lives of professors — First, in actual sins — Secondly, in habitual declensions.
We ai-e now to proceed unto other evidences of that sad truth which we are in the demonstration of But the main of our work being passed through, I shall be more brief in the management of the arguments that do remain.
Tliat, then, which in the next place may be fixed upon, is the de-
POWER OF SIN IN THE LIVES OF PKOFESSORS. 279
monstration which this law of sin hath in all ages given of its power and efficacy, by the woful fruits that it hath brought forth, even in believers themselves. Now, these are of two sorts: — 1. The great actual eruptions of sin in their lives; 2. Their habitual declensions from the frames, state, and condition of obedience and communion with God, which they had obtained ; — both which, by the rule of James, before unfolded, are to be laid to the account of this law of sin, and belong unto the fourth head of its progress, and are both of them convincing evidences of its powder and efficacy.
1. Consider the fearful eruptions of actual sin that have been in the lives of believers, and we shall find our position evidenced. Should I go through at large with this consideration, I must recount all the sad and scandalous failings of the saints that are left on record in the holy Scripture; but the particulars of them are known to all, so that I shall not need to mention themthajr the many aggra,vations that in their circumstances they are attended with. Only some few things tending to the rendering of our presei neonsideration of them useful may be remarked ; as, — indw
(1.) They are most of them in the live first evu that were not of the lowest form or ordinary sort of believers, but of men that had a peculiar eminency in them on the account of their walking with God in their generation. Such were Noah, Lot, David, Hezekiah, and others. They were not men of an ordinary size, but higher than their brethren, by the shoulders and upwards, in profession, yea, in real holiness. And surely that must needs be of a mighty efficacy that could hurry such giants in the ways of God into such abominable sins as they fell into. An ordinary engine could never have turned them out of the course of their obedience. It was a poison that no athletic constitution of spiritual health, no antidote, could withstand.
(2.) And these very men fell not into their great sins at the begin- ning of their profession, when they had had but little experience of the goodness of God, of the sweetness and pleasantness of obedience, of the power and craft of sin, of its impulsions, solicitations, and sur- prisals; but after a long course of walking with God, and acquaintance with all these things, together with innumerable motives unto watch- fulness. Noah, according to the lives of men in those days of the world, had walked uprightly with God some hundreds of years before he was so surprised as he was. Gen. ix. Righteous Lot seems to have been towards the end of his days ere he defiled himself with the abominations recorded. David, in a short life, had as much experi- ence of grace and sin, and as much close, spiritual communion with God, as ever had any of the sons of men, before he was cast to the ground by this law of sin. So was it with Hezekiah in his degree, which was none of the meanest. Now, to set upon such persons, so
280 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN.
well acquainted with its power and deceit, so armed and provided against it, that had been conquerors over it for so many years, and to 2:)revail against them, it argues a power and efficacy too mighty for every thing but the Spirit of the Almiglity to withstand. Who can look to have a greater stock of inherent grace than those men had ; to have more experience of God and the excellency of his ways, the sweetness of his love and of communion with him, than they had? who hath either better furniture to oppose sin withal, or more obliga- tion so to do, than they? and yet we see how fearfully tliey were prevailed against.
(3.) As if God had permitted their falls on set purpose, that we might learn to be wary of this powerful enemy, the}^ all of them fell out when they had newly received great and stupendous onercies from the hand of God, that ought to have been strong obligations unto diligence and watcl:. ness in close obedience. Noah was but newly come forth of th it -world of waters, wherein he saw the un- godly world perishiiproor their sins, and himself preserved by tliat astonishable miraeV owlch all ages must admire. AVhilst the world's desolation was an ae and remembrancer imto him of his strange pre- servation by the immediate care and hand of God, he falls into drunkenness. Lot had newly seen that which every one that thinks on cannot but tremble. He saw, as one speaks, " hell coming out oj heaven" upon imclean sinners; the greatest evidence, except the cross of Christ, that God ever gave in his providence of the judgment to come. He saw himself and children delivered by the special care and miraculous hand of God ; and yet, whilst these strange mercies were fresh upon him, he fell into drunkenness and incest David was delivered out of all his troubles, and had the necks of his enemies given him round about, and he makes use of his peace from a world of trials and troubles to contrive murder and adultery. Imme- diately it was after Hezekiah's great and miraculous deliverance that he falls into his carnal iwide and boasting. I say, their falls in such seasons seem to be permitted on set purpose to instruct us all in the truth that we have in hand; so that no persons, in no seasons, with what furniture of grace soever, can promise themselves security from its prevalency any other Avays than by keeping close constantly to Him who hath supplies to give out that are above its reach and efficacy. Methinks this should make us look about us. Are we Letter than Noah, who had that testimony from God, that he was " a perfect man in his generations,'' and " walked with God ?" Are wo bet- ter than Lot, whose " righteous soul was vexed with the evil deeds of ungodly men," and is therefore commended by the Holy Ghost? Are we more holy, wise, and watchful than David, who obtained this tes- timony, that he was " a man after God's own heai't?" or better than