OF INDWELLING SIN. S6
therein. Jaines, what they fight with, or by, namely, the members, or the corruption that is in our mortal bodies. 'AvraaTpaTtvecr^ai is to rebel against a superior; (TTptiTivaa^ai is to assault or war for a superiority. It takes the part of an assailant as well as of a resister. It makes attempts for rule and sovereignty, as well as opposeth the rule of grace. Now all war and fighting hath somewhat of violence in it, and there is therefore some violence in that acting of sin, which the Scripture calls fighting and v/arring : and this as- sailing efficacy of sin, as distinguished from its rebelling be- fore treated of, consists in these things that ensue.
(1.) All its positive actings, in stirring up unto sin, be- long to this head. Oftentimes, by the vanity of the mind, or the sensuality of the affections, the folly of the imagi- nations, it sets upon the soul then, when the law of grace is not actually putting it on duty, so that therein it doth not rebel, but assault. Hence the apostle cries out, Rom. vii.24. * Who shall deliver me from it?' who shall rescue me out of its hand, as the word signifies. When we pursue an enemy, and he resists us, we do not cry out. Who shall deliver us? for we are the assailants; but. Who shall rescue me ? is the cry of one who is set upon by an enemy. So it is here; a man is assaulted by his own lusts, as James speaks : by the way-side, in his employment, under a duty, sin sets upon the soul with vain imaginations, foolish desires, and would willingly employ the soul to make provision for its satisfac- tion, which the apostle cautions us against, Rom. xiii. 14. Trig aapKog ir^ovoiav /xj) iroiHcr^t dg tTriOvfiiag, do not accom- plish the providence or projection of the flesh, for its own satisfaction.
(2.) Its importunity and urgency seems to be noted in this expression of its warring. Enemies in war are rest- less, pressing, and importunate : so is the law of sin. Doth it set upon the soul? cast off its motions, it returns again ; rebuke them by the power of grace, they withdraw for awhile, and return again. Set before them the cross of Christ, they do as those that came to take him, at sight of him they went backwards, and fell unto the ground, but they arose again, and laid hands on him. Sin gives place for a season, but returns, and presseth on the soul again. Mind it of the love of God in Christ, though it be stricken, yet it gives
56 THE NATURE AND P0WP:R
not over. Present hell-fire unto it, it rusheth into the midst of those flames : reproach it with its folly and madness, it knows no shame, but presseth on still. Let the thoughts of the mind strive to fly from it, it follows as on the wings of the wind. And by this importunity it wearies and wears out the soul; and if the great remedy, Rom. viii. 13. come not timely, it prevails to a conquest. There is nothing more marvellous nor dreadful in the working of sin, than this of its importunity. The soul knows not what to make of it; it dislikes, abhors, abominates the evil it tends unto, it de- spiseth the thoughts of it, hates them as hell, and yet is by itself imposed on with them, as if it were another person, an express enemy got within him. All this the apostle disco- vers, Rom. vii. 15 — 17. 'The things that I do, I hate;' it is not of outward actions, but the inward risings of the mind that he treats. * I hate them/ saith he, ' I abominate them :' but why then will he have any thing more to do with them ? If he hate them, and abhor himself for them, let them alone, have no more to do with them, and so end the matter. Alas ! saith he, ver. 17. • It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.' I have one within me that is my ene- my, that with endless restless importunity puts these things upon me, even the things that I hate and abominate ; I can- not be rid of them, I am weary of myself, 1 cannot fly from them; * O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?' I do not say that this is the ordinary condition of believers, but thus it is often, when this law of sin riseth up to war and fighting. It is not thus with them in respect of parti- cular sins, this or that sin, outward sins, sins of life and conversation; but yet in respect of vanity of mind, inward and spiritual distempers, it is often so. Some, I know, pre- tend to great perfection, but I am resolved to believe the apostle before them all and every one.
(3.) It carries on its war by entangling of the affec- tions, and drawing them into a combination against the mind. Let grace be enthroned in the mind and judgment, yet if the law of sin lays hold upon, and entangles the aftec- tions, or any of them, it hath gotten a fort, from whence it continually assaults the soul. Hence the great dutv of mor- tification is chiefly directed to take place upon the affections, Col. iii, 5. ' Mortify therefore your members which are upon