The first thing which sin is said to do, working in a way of deceit, is to draw away, or to draw off; whence a man is said to be drawn off, or drawn away and diverted, namely, from attending unto that course of obedience and holiness, which, in opposition unto sin and the law thereof, he is bound with diligence to attend unto.
Now it is the mind that this effect of the deceit of sin is wrought upon. The mind or understanding, as we have shewed, is the guiding, conducting faculty of the soul ; it goes before in discerning, judging, and determining, to make the way of moral actions fair and smooth to the will and af- fections ; it is to the soul what Moses told his father-in-law that he might be to the people in the wilderness, as ' eyes to guide them,' and keep them from wandering in that de- solate place : it is the eye of the soul, without whose guid- ance the will and affections would perpetually wander in the wilderness of this world, according as any object, with an appearing present good, did offer or present itself unto them.
The first thing therefore that sin aims at in its deceitful working, is to draw off and divert the mind from the dis- charge of its duty.
There are two things which belong unto the duty of the mind, in that special office which it hath in and about the obedience which God requireth.
1. To keep itself and the whole soul in such a frame and posture, as may render it ready unto all duties of obe- dience, and watchful against all enticements unto the con- ception of sin.
2. In particular carefully to attend unto all parti- cular actions, that they be performed as God requireth, for matter, manner, time, and season, agreeably unto his will, as also for the obviating all particular tenders of sin in things
/8 THE NATURE AND POWER
forbidden. In these two things consists the whole duty of the mind of a believer ; and from both of them doth indwell- ing sin endeavour to divert it, and draw it off.
1. The first of these is, the duty of the mind, in reference unto the general frame and course of the whole soul; and hereof two things may be considered. (1.) That it is found- ed in a due constant consideration ; of ourselves, of sin, and its vileness : of God, of his grace, and goodness ; and both these doth sin labour to draw it off from. (2.) In attending to those duties which are suited to obviate the working of the law of sin, in an especial manner.
(1.) It endeavours to draw it off from a due consider- ation, apprehension, and sensibleness of its own vileness, and the danger wherewith it is attended. This, in the first place, we shall instance in. A due, constant consideration of sin in its nature, in all its aggravating circumstances, in its end and tendency, especially as represented in the blood and cross of Christ, ought always to abide with us. Jer. ii. 19. * Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.' Every sin is a forsaking of the Lord our God. If the heart know not, if it consider not, that it is an evil thing and a bitter, evil in it- self, bitter in its effects, fruit, and event, it will never be se- cured against it. Besides, that frame of heart which is most accepted with God in any sinner, is the humble, contrite, self-abasing frame : Isa. Ivii. 15. 'Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the hum- ble, to revive the spirit of the contrite ones.' See also Luke xviii. 13, 14. This becomes a sinner, no garment sits so de- cently about him. * Be clothed with humility,' saith the apo- stle, 1 Pet. V. 5. It is that which becomes us, and it is the only safe frame. He that walketh humbly walketh safely. This is the design of Peter's advice, 1 Epist. i. 17. ' Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.' After that he himself had miscarried by another frame of mind, he gives this advice to all believers : it is not a bondage, servile fear, disquieting and perplexing the soul, but such a fear as may keep men constantly calling upon the Father, with refer- ence unto the final judgment^ that they may be preserved
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from sin, wliereof they were in so great danger, which he advises them mito. * If ye call on the Father, who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.' This is the humble frame of soul; and how is this obtained? how is this preserved ? No otherwise but by a constant deep appre- hension of the evil, vileness, and danger of sin. So was it wrought, so was it kept up in the approved publican. 'God be merciful,' saith he, ' to me a sinner.' Sense of sin kept him humble, and humility made way for his access unto a testimony of the pardon of sin.