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culiar folly Avhich it solicits the mind unto. Hopes of par- don shall be used to hide it, and future repentance shall hide it, and present importunity of lust shall hide it, occa- sions and opportunities shall hide it, surprisals shall hide it, extenuation of sin shall hide it, balancing of duties against it shall hide it, fixing the imagination on present objects shall hide it, desperate resolutions to venture the uttermost for the enjoyment of lust in its pleasures and profits shall hide it. A thousand wiles it hath, which cannot be re- counted.
(4.) Having prevailed thus far, gilding over the plea- sures of sin, hiding its end and demerit, it proceeds to raise perverse reasonings in the mind, to fix it upon the sin proposed, that it may be conceived and brought forth, the affections being already prevailed upon, of which we shall speak under the next head of its progress.
Here we may stay a little, as formerly, to give some few directions for the obviatino; of this woful work of the deceit- fulness of sin. Would we not be enticed or entangled, would we not be disposed to the conception of sin, would we be turned out of the road and way which goes down to death? Let us take heed of our affections, which are of so great concernment in the whole course of our obedience, that they are commonly in the Scripture called by the name of the heart, as the principal thing which God requires in our walk- ing before him. And this is not slightly to be attended unto. Prov. iv. 23. saith the wise man, ' Keep thy heart with diligence,' or, as in the original, ' above' or * before all keepings;' Before every watch, keep thy heart. You have many keepings that you watch unto ; you watch to keep your lives, to keep your estates, to keep your reputations, to keep up your families ; but, saith he, above all these keepings, prefer that, attend to that of the heart, of your affections, that they be not entangled with sin ; there is no safety with- out it. Save all other things and lose the heart, and all is lost, lost unto all eternity. You will say then, What shall we do, or how shall we observe this duty ?
[1.] Keep your affections as to their object.
1st. In general. This advice the apostle gives in this very case. Col. iii. His advice in the beginning of that chapter is to direct us unto the mortification of sin, which he expressly
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engageth in, ver. 5. ' Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth.' Prevent the working and deceit of sin which wars in your members. To prepare us, to enable us hereunto, he gives us that great direction, ver. 2. ' Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth.' Fix your affec- tions upon heavenly things; this will enable you to mortify sin ; fill them with the things that are above, let them be exercised with them, and so enjoy the chiefest place in them. They are above, blessed and suitable objects, meet for, and answering unto, our affections, God himself, in his beauty and glory ; the Lord Jesus Christ, who is 'altogether lovely, the chiefest often thousand;' grace and glory; the myste- ries revealed in the gospel ; the blessedness promised thereby. Were our affections filled, taken up, and possessed with these things, as it is our duty that they should be, it is our hap- piness when they are, what access could sin with its painted pleasures, with its sugared poisons, with its envenomed baits, have unto our souls ? how should we loath all its proposals, and say unto them, Get ye hence as an abominable tiling? For what are the vain transitory pleasures of sin, in compa- rison of the exceeding recompense of reward which is pro- posed unto us ? Which argument the apostle presses, 2 Cor. iv. 18.
2dly. As to the object of your affections in an especial manner ; let it be the cross of Christ, which hath exceed- ing efficacy towards the disappointment of the whole work of indwelling sin. Gal. vi. 14. 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' The cross of Christ he gloried and rejoiced in; this his heart was set upon, and these were the effects of it; it cru- cified the world unto him, made it a dead and undesirable thing. The baits and pleasures of sin are taken all of them out of the world, and the things that are in the world, namely, ' the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.' These are the things that are in the world ; from these doth sin take all its baits, whereby it enticeth and entan- gleth our souls. If the heart be filled with the cross of Christ, it casts death and undesirableness upon them all, it leaves no seeming beauty, no appearing pleasure or come- liness in them. Again, sarlh he, It crucifieth me to the
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world ; makes my heart, my affections, my desires dead unto any of these things. It roots up corrupt lusts and affections, leaves no principle to go forth and make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. Labour, therefore, to fill your hearts with the cross of Christ. Consider the sorrows he underwent, the curse he bore, the blood he shed, the cries he put forth, the love that was in all this to your souls, and the mystery of the grace of God therein. Meditate on the vileness, the demerit, and punishment of sin, as represented in the cross, the blood, the death of Christ. Is Christ cru- cified for sin, and shall not our hearts be crucified with him unto sin? shall we give entertainment unto that, or hearken unto its dalliances, which wounded, which pierced, which slew our dear Lord Jesus? God forbid. Fill your affections with the cross of Christ, that there may be no room for sin. The world once put him out of the house into a stable, when he came to save us ; let bim now turn the world out of doors, when he is come to sanctify us.