Now this deceitfulness of the heart, whereby it is ex- ceedingly advantaged in its harbouring of sin, lies chiefly in these two things:
(1.) That it abounds in contradictions, so that it is not to be found and dealt withal, according to any constant rule and way of procedure. There are some men that have much of this from their natural constitution, or from other causes in their conversation. They seem tobemadeup of contradic- tions ; sometimes to be very wise in their affairs, sometimes very foolish ; very open, and very reserved ; very facile, and very obstinate ; very easy to be entreated, and very revenge- ful, all in a remarkable height. This is generally accounted a bad character, and is seldom found but when it proceeds from some notable predominant lust. But, in general, in respect of moral good or evil, duty or sin, it is so with the heart of every man; flaming hot, and key cold; weak, and yet stubborn; obstinate, and facile. The frame of the heart is ready to contradict itself every moment. Now you would think you had it all for such a frame, such a way; anon it
OF INDWELLING SIN. 25
is quite otherwise: so that none know what to expect from it. The rise of this is the disorder that is brought upon all its faculties by sin. God created them all in a perfect har- mony and union. The mind and reason were in perfect sub- jection and subordination to God and his will ; the will answered in its choice of good, the discovery made of it by the mind ; the affections constantly and evenly followed the understanding and will. The mind's subjection to God was the spring of the orderly and harmonious motion of the soul, and all the wheels in it. That being disturbed by sin, the rest of the faculties move cross and contrary one to another ; the will chooseth not the good which the mind discovers ; the affections delight not in that which the will chooseth, but all jar and interfere, cross and rebel against each other. This we have got by our falling from God. Hence sometimes the will leads, the judgment follows. Yea, commonly the affec- tions that should attend upon all, get the sovereignty, and draw the whole soul captive after them. And hence it is, as I said, that the heart is made up of so many contradic tions in its actings. Sometimes the mind retains its sove- reignty, and the affections are in subjection, and the will ready for its duty. This puts a good face upon things. Im- mediately the rebellion of the affections, or the obstinacy of the will take place and prevail, and the whole scene is changed. This, I say, makes the heart deceitful above all things ; it agrees not at all in itself, is not constant to itself, hath no order that it is constant unto, is under no certain conduct that is stable, but if T may so say, hath a rotation in itself, where ofttimes the feet lead and guide the whole. (2.) Its deceit lies in its full promisings upon the first appearance of things. And this also proceeds from the same principle with the forme)-. Sometimes the affections are touched and wrought upon, the whole heart appears in a fair frame, all promiseth to be well. Witrjin awhile the whole frame is changed; the mind was not at all affected or turned ; the affections a little acted their parts and are gone off, and all the fair promises of the heart are departed with them. Now add this deceitfulness to the unsearchableness before-mentioned, and we shall find, that at least the diffi- culty of dealing effectually with sin in its seat and throne, will be exceedingly increased. A deceiving and a deceived heart, who can deal with it? especially considering that the
26 THE NATURE AND POWER
heart employs all its deceits unto the service of sin, contri- butes them all to its furtherance. All the disorder that is in the heart, all its false promises, and fair appearances, pro- mote the interest and advantages of sin. Hence God cau- tions the people to look to it, lest their own hearts should entice and deceive them.
Who can mention the treacheries and deceits that lie in the heart of man? It is not for nothing that the Holy Ghost so expresseth it, ' it is deceitful above all things ;' uncertain in what it doth, and false in what it promiseth. And hence moreover it is, amongst other causes, that in the pursuit of our war against sin, we have not only the old work to go over and over, but new work still while we live in this w orld ; still new stratagems and wiles to deal withal, as the manner will be where unsearchableness and deceitfulness are to be contended with.
There are many other properties of this seat and subject of the law of sin, which might be insisted on to the same end and purpose, but that would too far divert us from our par- ticular design ; and therefore I shall pass these over with some few considerations.
First, Never let us reckon that our work in contending against sin, in crucifying, mortifying, and subduing of it, is at an end. The place of its habitation is unsearchable ; and when w^e may think that we have throughly won the field, there is still some reserve remaining that we saw not, that we knew not of. Many conquerors have been ruined by their care- lessness after a victory ; and many have been spiritually wounded after great successes against this enemy. David was so; his great surprisal into sin was after a long profes- sion, manifold experiences of God, and watchful keeping himself from his iniquity. And hence in part hath it come to pass, that the profession of many hath declined in their old aoe, or riper time, which must more distinctly be spoken to afterward. They have given over the work of mortifying of sin, before their work was at an end. There is no way for us to pursue sin in its unsearchable habitation, but by being endless in our pursuit. And that command of the apostle which we have. Col. iii. 5. on this account is as necessary for them to observe, who are towards the end of their race, as those that are but at the beginning of it. ' Mortify therefore your members that are on the earth;' be always