B 2
IV THE PREFACE.
believers after their regeneration and conversion to God, as the Scripture abundantly testifies, so it hath been fully taught and confirmed ; as also how the guilt of it is pardoned unto them, and by what means the power of it is weakened in them. All these things, I say, have been largely treated on, to the great benefit and edifi- cation of the church. In what we have now in design, we therefore take them all for granted, and endeavour only farther to carry on the discovery of it in its actings and oppositions to the law and grace of God in believ- ers. Neither do I intend the discussing of any thing that hath been controverted about it. What the Scrip- ture plainly revealeth and teacheth concerning it, what believers evidently find by experience in themselves, what they may learn from the examples and acknow- ledgments of others, shall be represented in a way suit- ed unto the capacity of the meanest and weakest who is concerned therein. And many things seem to render the handling of it at this season not unnecessary. The effects and fruits of it, which we see in the apostacies and backslidings of many, the scandalous sins and mis- carriages of some, and the course and lives of the most, seem to call for a due consideration of it. Besides, of how great concernment a full and clear acquaintance with the power of this indwelling sin (the matter de- signed to be opened) is unto believers, to stir them up to watchfulness and diligence, to faith and prayer, to call them to repentance, humility, and self-abasement, will appear in our progress. These in general were the ends aimed at in the ensuing discourse, which being at first composed and delivered for the use and benefit of a few, is now by the providence of God made public. And if the reader receive any advantage by these weak endeavours, let him know that it is his duty, as to give glory unto God, so to help them by his prayers, who in many temptations and afflictions are willing to labour in the vineyard of the Lord, unto which work they are called .
NATURE, POWER, DECEIT, AND PREVALENCY
OF THE REMAINDERS OF
INDWELLIiNG SIN
IN BELIEVERS.
CHAP. I.
Indwelling sin in believers treated of by the apostle, Rom, vii. 21.
TTie place explained. :
It is of indwelling sin, and that in the remainders of it in persons after their conversion to God, with its power, effi- cacy, and effects, that we intend to treat. This also is the great design of the apostle, to manifest and evince in chap, vii. of the Epistle to the Romans. Many, indeed, are the con- tests about the principal scope of the apostle in that chap- ter, and in what state the person is, under the law, or under grace, whose condition he expresseth therein. I shall not at present enter into that dispute, but take that for granted, "which may be undeniably proved and evinced ; namely, that it is the condition of a regenerate person, with respect unto the remaining power of indwelling sin, which is there pro- posed and exemplified, by and in the person of the apostle himself. In that discourse therefore of his, shall the foun- dation be laid of what we have to offer upon this subject. Not that I shall proceed in an exposition of his revelation of this truth, as it lies in its own contexture, but only make use of what is delivered by him, as occasion shall offer it- self. And here first occurreth that which he affirms, ver. 21. * I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is pre- sent with me.'
There are four things observable in these words : First, The appellation he gives unto indwelling sin, whereby he expresseth its power and efficacy; it is ' a law.'
b THli NATURE AND PO^V'EIt
For that which he terms ' a law,' in this verse, he calls in the foregoing, * sin that dwelleth in him.'
Secondly, The w^ay whereby he came to the discovery of this law, not absolutely, and in its own nature, but in him- self, he found it ; ' I find a law.'
Thirdly, The fidme of his soul and inward man with this law of sin, and under its discovery ; he 'would do good.'
Fourthly, The state and activity of this law, when the soul is in that frame, when it would do good, it * is present with him.' For what ends and purposes we shall shew afterward.
The first thing observable is the compellation here used by the apostle. He calls indwelling sin *a law.' It is a law.
A law is taken either properly, for a directive rule, or improperly, for an operative effective principle, whicV seems to have the force of a law. In its first sense, it is a moral rule which directs and commands, and sundry ways moves and regulates the mind and the will, as to the things which it requires or forbids. This is evidently the general nature and work of a law. Some things it commands, some things it forbids, with rewards and penalties, which move and im- pel men to do the one, and avoid the other. Hence in a se- condary sense, an inward principle, that moves and inclines constantly unto any actions, is called a law. The principle that is in the nature of every thing, moving and carrying it towards its own end and rest, is called the law of nature. In this respect every inward principle that inclineth and iirgeth unto operations or actings suitable to itself, is a law. So, Rom. viii. 2. the powerful and effectual working of the Spirit and grace of Christ in the hearts of believers, is called ' the law of the Spirit of life.' And for this reason doth the apostle here call indwelling sin a law. It is a powerful and effectual indwelling principle, inclining and pressing unto actions agreeable and suitable unto its own nature. This, and no other, is the intention of tlie apostle in this expres- sion; for although that term, ' a law,' may sometimes intend a state and condition, and if here so used, the meaning of the words should be, I find that this is my condition, this is the state of things with me, that ' when I would do good evil is present with me,' which makes no great alteration in the |)rincipal intendment of the place; yet properly it can