462 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. ~ [PART II.
power of a destructive seetuti unless they are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, they cannot but think it their duty to examine how things stand with them, whether they ever effectually closed with Christ, and had the faith of God’s elect, which works by love, seeing it is with them as though they had only a work of another nature: for a saving work, in its own nature and in the diligent use of means, thrives and groweth, as the whole Scripture testifieth ; but it is this false and imperfect working that hath no root, and is ‘thus subject to withering.
(6.) Persons in such an estate are apt to deceive themselves with false hopes and notions, whereby the deceitfulness of sin doth put forth its power to harden them unto their ruin. Two ways there are whereby this pernicious effect is produced ;—the one by the preva- lency of a particular lust or sin; the other by a neglect of spiritual duties, and a vain conversation in the world, under which the soul pines away and consumes.
As unto the first of these, there are three false notions whereby the deceitfulness of sin deludes the souls of men:—
[1.] The first is, that it is that one sin alone wherein they would be indulged. Let them be spared in this one thing, and in all others they will be exact enough. This is the composition that Naaman would have made in the matters of religion, 2 Kings v. 18, and it is that which many trust unto. Hence it hath, by the event, been made to appear that some persons have lived long in the practice of some gross sin, and yet all the while used a semblance of great dili- gence in other duties of religion. This isa false notion, whereby poor sinners delude their own souls; for suppose it possible that a man should give himself up unto any lust, or be under the power of it, and yet be observant of all other duties, yet this would give him no relief as unto the eternal condition of his soul. The rule is peremp- tory unto this purpose, James ii. 10, 11. One sin willingly lived in is as able to destroy a man’s soul as a thousand. Besides, it is prac- tically false. There is no man that lives in any one known sin but he really lives in more, though that only bears the chiefest sway. With some such persons these sins appear unto others, who observe their frame and spirit, though they appear not to themselves; in some they are manifest in themselves, although they are hidden from others, 1 Tim. v 24. But let no man relieve himself with thoughts that it is but one sin, whilst that one sin od ial him in a constant neglect of God. Hence, —
[2] They deceive themselves hereby; for ee judge that al- though they cannot as yet shake off their sin, yet they will con- tinue still to love God and abound in the duties of his worship, They will not become haters of God and his ways and persecutors
CHAP. XVIL] | DECAYS IN SPIRITUAL AFFECTIONS, 463
for all the world; and therefore hope that, notwithstanding this one Zoar, this lesser sin, which their constitution and their circumstances engage them in, it may be well with them at the last. This also is a false notion, a mere instrument in the hand of sin to act its deceit by; for no man that willingly liveth in any sin can love God at all, as is evident in that rule, 1 John ii. 15. It is but a false pretence of love to God that any man hath who liveth in any known sin. Where God is not loved above all, he is not loved at all; and he is not so where men will not part with one cursed lust for his sake. Let not your light deceive you, nor your gifts, nor your duties, nor your profession; if you live in sin, you love not God.
[3.] They determine that at such or such @ season or time, after such satisfaction given unto their lusts or pleasures, they will utterly give over, so as that iniquity shall not be their ruin. But this is a false notion also, an effectual instrument of the deceitful- ness of sin. He that will not now give over, who will not imme- diately upon the discovery of the prevalency of any sin and warn- ing about it endeavour sincerely and constantly its relinquishment, say what he will and pretend what he will, never intends to give over, nor is it probable, in an ordinary way, that ever he will do so. When men’s decays are from the prevalency of particular sins, by these and the like false notions do they harden themselves unto ruin. .
For those who are pining away under hectical consumption, a general decay of the vital spirits of religion, they have also false no- tions whereby they deceive themselves; as,—
[1.] That although they have some cause to mistrust themselves, yet indeed their condition is not so bad as some may apprehend it, or as they are warned it is. And this ariseth from hence, that they have not as yet been overtaken with any enormous sin which hath filled their consciences with terror and disquietment. But this isa false notion also; for every decay is dangerous, especially such as the mind is ready to plead for and to countenance itself in,