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that is, grace sufficient, seasonable, suitable unto any espe- cial trial or temptation that we may be exercised withal. Our merciful High Priest is ready to give out this especial seasonable grace, over and above those constant communi- cations of supplies of the spirit, which we mentioned before. Besides the never-failing springs of ordinary covenant grace, he hath also peculiar refreshing showers for times of drought. And this is exceedingly to the advantage of the saints, for their preservation and growth in grace ; and there may very many more of the like nature be added. But now, I say, notwithstanding all these, and the residue of the like importance, such is the power and efficacy of indwelling sin, so great its deceitfulness and restlessness, so many its wiles and temptations, it often falls out that many of them for whose growth and improvement all this provision is made, do yet, as was shewed, go back and de- cline, even as to their course of walking with God. Samp- son's strength fully evidenced itself when he brake seven new withs, and seven new cords, wherewith he was bound, as burning tow and as thread. The noxious humour in the body which is so stubborn, as that no use of the most sove- reign remedies can prevail against it, ought to be regarded. Such is this indwelling sin if not watched over. It breaks all the cords made to bind it ; it blunts the instruments ap- pointed to root it up ; it resists all healing medicines, though never so sovereign, and is therefore assuredly of exceeding efficacy. Besides, believers have innumerable obligations upon them from the love, the command of God, to grow in grace, to press forward towards perfection, as they have abundant means provided for them so to do. Their doing so is a matter of the greatest advantage, profit, sweetness, contentment unto them in the world. It is the burden, the trouble of their souls, that they do not so do, that they are not more holy, more zealous, useful, fruitful ; they desire it above life itself; they know it is their duty to watch against this enemy, to fight against it, to pray against it, and so they do. They more desire his destruction than the enjoyment of all this world, and all that it can afford. And yet, not- withstanding all this, such is the subtlety, and fraud, and violence, and fury, and urgency, and importunity of this adversary, that it frequently prevails, to bring them into the
166 THE NATURE AND POWER
vvoful condition mentioned. Hence it is with believers sometimes as it is vvitii men in some places at sea. They have a good and fair gale of wind, it may be, all night long ; they ply their tackling, attend diligently their business, and it may be take great contentment to consider how they pro- ceed in their voyage. In the morning, or after a season, coming to measure what way they have made, and what progress they have had, they find that they are much back- ward of what they were, instead of getting one step for- ward ; falling into a swift tide or current against them, it hath frustrated all their labours, and rendered the wind in their sails almost useless ; somewhat thereby they have borne up against the stream, but have made no progress. So is it with believers ; they have a good gale of supplies of the Spirit from above, they attend duties diligently, pray constantly, hear attentively, and omit nothing that may carry them in their voyage towards eternity. But after awhile, coming seriously to consider by the examination of their hearts and ways, what progress they have made, they find that all their assistance and duties have not been able to bear them up against some strong tide or current of in- dwelling sin. It hath kept them indeed that they have not been driven and split on rocks and shelves ; it hath pre- served them from gross, scandalous sins ; but yet they have lost in their spiritual frame, or gone backwards, and are en- tangled under many woful decays ; which is a notable evi- dence of the life of sin, about which we are treating. Now because the end of our discovering this power of sin, is, that we may be careful to obviate and prevent it in its ope- ration, and because of all the eftects that it produceth there is none more dangerous or pernicious than that we have last insisted on, namely, that it prevails upon many professors unto an habitual declension from their former ways and at- tainments, notwithstanding all the sweetness and excellency which their souls have found in them, I shall, as was said, in the next place consider by what ways and means, and through what assistance it usually prevails in this kind, that we may the better be instructed to watch against it.
OF INDWELLING SIN. 167
CHAP. XV.
Decays in degrees of grace caused by indwelling sin. The ways of its "prevalcncy to this purpose.
The ways and means whereby indwelling sin prevaileth on believers unto habitual declensions and decays as to degrees of grace and holiness, is that now which comes under con- sideration, and are many.
1. Upon the first conversion and calling of sinners unto God and Christ, they have usually many fresh springs breaking forth in their souls, and refreshing showers coming upon them, which bear them up to a high rate of faith, love, holiness, fruitfulness, and obedience. As upon a land- flood when many lesser streams run into a river, it swells over its bounds, and rolls on with a more than ordinary ful- ness. Now if these springs be not kept open, if they pre- vail not for the continuance of these showers, they must needs decay and go backwards. We shall name one or two of them.